The Joy of the Piano – Sunday Jammin’ November 8th
At a solo Herbie Hancock concert in Sydney Town Hall that I attended some years ago, some wag in the audience called out as Herbie came on stage “Where is your band?”. In answer, Herbie held up his ten spread fingers and then ticked off each finger separately. The piano has many voices and many moods; truly something for every occasion!
The piano is basic to so many musical genres and certainly is a staple in Jazz. So many piano greats, both in solo performance and in combos! How to choose among them? Here is my deeply personal survey of my favorites from Fats Waller and Erroll Garner through Art Tatum and Keith Jarrett to Herbie Hancock and Paul Grabowsky and Joey Alexander. All are highly individual. All are timeless. I hope you find some of your favorites among them.