Who is the best piano player you know of with recordings available

[Equites Christi]

Originally Posted by Melissa

For the romantic period, how could you miss Piotr I Tchaikovsky and Anton Rubinstein?

Ah, I didn't realize how much piano music Tchaikovsky wrote, and Rubinstein I forgot!

[Melissa]

Originally Posted by Equites Christi

Ah, I didn't realize how much piano music Tchaikovsky wrote, and Rubinstein I forgot!

What can I say--Tchaikovsky is my favorite composer of all (piano works, ballets, symphonies, and all other categories).

[Cordelil]

Keith Jarrett. He is considered to be a jazz musician but fuses some classical with his playing. He does a lot of solo concerts and has a trio (Jack DeJohnette & Gary Peacock), too. His most famous recording is "The Koln Concert."

[Sarabande]

As others have mentioned, it depends on your tastes as well as the composers. Some pianists connect better and interpret certain compositions better than others. I particularly love Ivan Morevic for Chopin. He has a certain sensitivity and gentleness with his interpretation which I love for Chopin. I saw him perform live a few years ago and it was beautiful. He's not a "personality". It's just purely the music. My husband and I own his complete works of Chopin nocturnes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOUiT6SAtRY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOUB-C32WW8

Have to get back to the kiddies. Will post more pianists later.

[John Walsh]

Although I appreciate and have some classical, I still enjoy the much later Floyd Cramer, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino, perhaps too much time on elevators when they had music.

[tomarin]

Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner are considered the most important jazz pianists of the last century.

[meltzerboy]

Originally Posted by itullian

hi Josh,
a quick list of some of my classical favorites for you. imho of course

Wilhelm Kempff, Claudio Arrau, Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli, Alfred Brendel, Murray Perahia, Angella Hewitt, Andres Schiff, Mitsuko Uchida, Artur Rubenstein, Garrick Ohlsson, Emil Gilels, Maurizio Pollini, Maria Joao Pires, Ingrid Haebler, Geza Anda

just some that come to mind, each one excels in different areas, but are all great artists.

the first 3 are probably my favorites.

Great list, itullian! I would add Sviatoslav Richter.

[livnlern]

Originally Posted by joshrp

Hi,

Looking for good piano players to listen to. Who are the best piano players and composers of piano music you know of who have recordings of their musical performances available for purchase on Amazon?

Thank you for sharing any names, and God bless you all.
Joshua

Hi Joshua,
I have two words for you: Frederic Chopin.
(My absolute favorite----none can compare!!!)

Here's a link to a site with samples of his music:http://www.chopinproject.com/

[Joe 5859]

I like Vitalij Kuprij. But I don't know if that's the style of piano player you had in mind.

[wiggbuggie]

for classical i really like beathovans piano sonata no 14 also known as the moonlight sonata all 3 movements are awesome!

[joedaddy27]

I have to give some love to David Foster, who is better known as a composer, producer, and arranger. The critics hate his distinctive style, but he's made enough money to be able to ignore them.

[johnnybellino]

Keith Jarrett! check him out.... A living legend, He has to many recordings to count both solo and with bands.

[tomarin]

Originally Posted by meltzerboy

Great list, itullian! I would add Sviatoslav Richter.

Hasn't Richter's reputation suffered somewhat over the last 30 or so years?

[Sarabande]

Originally Posted by johnnybellino

Keith Jarrett! check him out.... A living legend, He has to many recordings to count both solo and with bands.

Yes, definitely. Not only is he an incredible jazz pianist, he is also a consummate classical pianist. Check out his solo album of Shostakovich: 24 Preludes and Fugues. Wonderful technique and artistry. One of the few who can cross over styles and genres successfully and equally beautifully.

[Arizona Mike]

Personal favorites:

Glenn Gould

Butch Thompson

Dave Brubeck

Jack Nitzsche

Warren Zevon

Keith Jarrett - for Jazz, check out his "Live at the Blue Note"

Akiko Grace is an amazing jazz pianist out of Japan.