A Question for music fans, piano and keyboard players...

[battleknight24]

Lately, I have been listening to Dream Theater and other Hard Rock and Progressive Rock bands. I've also watched some killer keyboard solos by Jordan Rudess on youtube. Can any of you music guys and gals recommend any other great keyboard or piano players to listen to, besides Jordan? Although I like good melodies and compositions as a whole, it's the high speed technical stuff that really gets my blood pumping. Although I'm mainly into rock music, I would mind listening to some classical stuff if it's good.

Peace,

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. Art Tatum, George Gershwin, Arthur Rubinstein, Lang Lang.

First two are jazz & ragtime; second two are classical.

Get the CD of "Gershwin Plays Gershwin:The Piano Rolls, Vol. 1" for some breathtaking virtuosity. I think there is a volume 2 I am not familiar with, as well.

[VenusRising]

2. Chick Corea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVRzkDFDDUM

He plays a lot of progressive jazz.

[Elidor]

5. Ooo, thanks for posting it!

Aren't the intertubes wonderful? We can hear all this great shit for free.

Chick's playing face cracks me up. He looks confused: "What the hell am I playing here?"

[VenusRising]

7. You're so welcome!

I love that face. I see that look on my husband's face when he goes off on his bass. It's entertaining.

[SeattleGirl]

6. I love Chick Corea!

He's been a fav of mine for years!

[VenusRising]

8. My husband introduced me to his music.

I think he's just wonderful.

My husband loves Stanley Clarke, so I got to hear Chick for the first time on the Return to Forever CD. Love it!!

[Elidor]

3. I'm more of a boogie-woogie piano person...

Billy Payne is my keyboard god, though I also like Wakeman and Lord. (And Emerson, as Oedi points out below.)

But here's a little classical gem: The Rustle of Spring (Frühlingsrauschen), composed by Christian Sinding, and played reasonably well by a young girl of 12:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xerxu8mdxQ

Sinding is a somewhat controversial figure, but damn, what a composer. A genius.

And now I have to go watch that video again. If you can find a professional recording of it, it will be even faster, more fluid and emotional, with monstrous crescendos and a delicate pianissimo section; altogether a virtuoso piece. (Ay, I feel like Ima talkin Italiano!)

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. I can think of none better than Keith Emerson

He played some of the best boogie-woogie I've ever heard ("Benny the Bouncer") and can also make a keyboard rack sound symphonic or techno.

[Joe Fields]

14. That's because there is none better, although he has gone through some

physical problems lately, related to his hands, either severe arthritis or carpal tunnel I hear.

[grasswire]

9. Zez Confrey, Duke Ellington, Scott Joplin

....and some more recent performers who play their music.

Go nose around on www.redhotjazz.com. It's all free there.

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. How about Eubie Blake?

I loved watching him play. Those fingers were made for the piano.

[VenusRising]

10. Another favorite - Bill Evans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89B6OmBuG4A

[lildreamer316]

11. Not quite that intense; but don't forget Saga.(On The Loose)

And the new Toto album has some good stuff too.

[Joe Fields]

13. Check out Emerson Lake and Palmer...

[AllegroRondo]

17. seconded - Keith Emerson is darn good

[meegbear]

15. Rick Wakeman ...

Yes and solo works.

[mitchum]

16. McCoy Tyner and Bud Powell

[begin_within]

18. Oscar Levant, Vince Guaraldi, and - yes - the very early Liberace records.

[SteppingRazor]

19. Pinetop Perkins! 93 years old and STILL touring!

Last of the old bluesmen still pushing air through his teeth. Definitely worth seeing if he happens by your neck of the woods.