Who's the greatest jazz pianist?

[Arkham House]

Poll question: Who's the greatest jazz pianist?

I've been in agony making my choice--but Bill Evans was the greatest I ever heard *in person*, and I heard everyone on this list except Tatum and Powell. So I chose Bill--as "first among equals"--I love them all deeply...

[Zomby Woof]

1. I can't choose

My first instinct is to go with Monk. But Tatum, Evans, and Tyner could make the cut for first ANY day.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

2. Damn! Why the fuck do you do this to me?

Make me choose from Evans, Monk, Tatum, Powell?? You are evil incarnate, I say! EEEVIL!

The only one of those artists I have heard in great depth is Evans. I'm just such a fan of all that he did, PLUS he was a wicked, wicked smart dude beyond music (not that the others weren't, but Evans had such eloquence in writing about music, just as he had in playing it....)

Meh. Going with Evans.

[Arkham House]

8. So you've figured it out?

:evilgrin: I created this poll simply to drive you crazy...

[WritingIsMyReligion]

16. I'm honored.

:P

[ohiosmith]

3. Oscar Peterson.

[Magrittes Pipe]

5. The question was best jazz pianist, not best basketball player.

[ohiosmith]

9. I see that your knowledge of Jazz pianists is equal to your knowledge

of basketball players.

[Arkham House]

14. I dunno--did anyone ever see Oscar Peterson and Oscar Robertson...

...together at the same time?

[brentspeak]

10. But he also played a mean piano

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:OscarPetersoncomposer.jpg

[Magrittes Pipe]

4. Monk. So creative, inventive, percussive.

Saw McCoy live. Great show, great player, and a magnificent counterpoint to Trane. But I've still gotta go with Monk.

[democracyindanger]

6. Monk, Diz and Bird

The Holy Trinity of Bebop.

[brentspeak]

7. Wow, so many great jazz pianists

Bill Evans was famous for ushering in a whole new harmonic template into jazz, but was criticized sometimes for having too "heavy" a touch. Monk was your quintessential eccentric jazz pianist, playing odd pianos, occasionally ones that were broken and had a few non-functional keys. He had a lot of character, but wasn't exactly a polished performer.

Tommy Flanagan is my pick. He was a great complementary player, very versatile, and always deferred to the feature performers, not taking any attention away from them.

[brentspeak]

13. Tommy Flanagan

http://members.tripod.com/~hardbop/tommyf.html

[valerief]

11. Of course, this is like trying to choose your best orgasm. They're

all the best!

[Zomby Woof]

12. There ya go

:rofl:

[Jazz2006]

15. Lol ~ exactly!

I can't possibly choose among them.

:rofl:

[ornotna]

17. Tatum

Monk's genius was in his composing.