Jazz Piano
52 articles
Wynton Kelly
Wynton Kelly (1931–1971), ranked #33 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the buoyant, swinging accompanist behind Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Willie "The Lion" Smith
Willie "The Lion" Smith (1893–1973), ranked #48 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the flamboyant Harlem stride master and most harmonically daring of the superstriders — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan (1930–2001), ranked #8 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — jazz's most tasteful accompanist, from Coltrane's 'Giant Steps' to a celebrated trio career.
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk (1917–1982), ranked #15 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the singular composer-pianist behind "'Round Midnight" and angular, swinging jazz — with scores to play.
Tete Montoliu
Tete Montoliu (1933–1997), ranked #21 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blind Catalan bebopper who became Europe's premier jazz pianist — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Teddy Wilson
Teddy Wilson (1912–1986), ranked #23 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the definitive swing stylist of the "walking tenths," a Benny Goodman mainstay — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Roland Hanna
Roland Hanna (1932–2002), ranked #49 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the classically trained Detroit-school pianist, composer and teacher who fused every idiom into one voice — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Red Garland
Red Garland (1923–1984), ranked #10 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the block-chord bluesman who powered the classic Miles Davis Quintet — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Ray Bryant
Ray Bryant (1931–2011), #41 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the gospel-and-blues master of solo piano who wrote 'Little Susie' — with recordings and scores to play.
Ralph Sharon
Ralph Sharon (1923–2015), ranked #46 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: Tony Bennett's longtime pianist and musical director and a master Songbook accompanist — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Phineas Newborn Jr.
Phineas Newborn Jr. (1931–1989), ranked #22 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the phenomenal virtuoso of two-handed octave lines, praised and undervalued alike — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson (1925–2007), ranked #1 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Montreal virtuoso whose flawless technique and mighty swing defined the jazz piano trio.
Nat "King" Cole
Nat "King" Cole (1919–1965), ranked #24 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the supple, riffing pianist whose drummerless trio reshaped small-group jazz — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander (b. 1944), ranked #5 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Kingston-born virtuoso who fuses Caribbean rhythm with hard-swinging jazz; still touring in 2026.
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner (1938–2020), ranked #11 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: Coltrane's pianist whose quartal, modal, percussive sound reshaped jazz piano — with recordings and scores to play.
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981), ranked #47 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught pianist-composer who spanned every jazz era and opened doors for women — her life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano (1919–1978), ranked #30 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blind innovator whose free-improv and overdubbing experiments predated free jazz — with essential recordings and scores.
Kenny Drew
Kenny Drew (1928–1993), ranked #13 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the hard-bop pianist and prized accompanist who anchored Copenhagen's jazz scene — with recordings and scores to play.
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron (b. 1943), #36 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the unhurried modern master bridging bebop and today, still touring in 2026 — with scores to play.
Keith Jarrett
Keith Jarrett (born 1945), ranked #50 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the improviser behind The Köln Concert, jazz's best-selling solo piano album — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
John Bunch
John Bunch (1921–2010), #35 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the tasteful swing pianist who bridged Teddy Wilson and Bud Powell — with recordings and scores to play.
Jimmy Rowles
Jimmy Rowles (1918–1996), #40 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the great singers' accompanist and composer of 'The Peacocks' — with recordings and scores to play.
Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton (c. 1890–1941), #43 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the boastful New Orleans pioneer whose ragtime solos swung with new freedom — with scores to play.
Horace Silver
Horace Silver (1928–2014), ranked #18 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught architect of hard bop and composer of "Song for My Father" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock (born 1940), ranked #42 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list and the highest-ranked living pianist on it: Blue Note, Miles Davis, Head Hunters and "Watermelon Man" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Hank Jones
Hank Jones (1918–2010), ranked #19 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the velvet-touch accompanist and harmonist who headed the Detroit piano school — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Hampton Hawes
Hampton Hawes (1928–1977), ranked #14 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the fiery Los Angeles bebopper who disproved the cool-West-Coast cliché — with recordings and scores to play.
George Shearing
George Shearing (1919–2011), ranked #9 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the blind British-born master of the 'locked-hands' block-chord sound and 'Lullaby of Birdland'.
Gene Harris
Gene Harris (1933–2000), ranked #12 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the blues- and gospel-rooted groove master of the Three Sounds — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Fats Waller
Fats Waller (1904–1943), ranked #31 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the joyous stride master and hit songwriter who taught Tatum and Basie — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Erroll Garner
Erroll Garner (1921–1977), ranked #25 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the self-taught, orchestral-sounding pianist who wrote "Misty" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Earl Hines
Earl 'Fatha' Hines (1903–1983), #39 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the father of modern jazz piano whose 'trumpet-style' made ragtime obsolete — with scores to play.
Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington (1899–1974), #38 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: apart from the composer, an original pianist whose angular touch pointed toward Monk — with scores to play.
Dick Hyman
Dick Hyman (b. 1927), ranked #32 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the stylistic chameleon who can re-create any era of jazz piano — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Derek Smith
Derek Smith (1931–2016), ranked #45 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the English-born virtuoso and Tonight Show pianist who fused Powell and Peterson — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Dave McKenna
Dave McKenna (1930–2008), ranked #34 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the 'three-handed' solo swinger whose self-contained left hand made him a one-man band — with essential recordings and scores.
Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck (1920–2012), ranked #28 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the classically schooled star of odd meters and polytonality behind Time Out — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Cyrus Chestnut
Cyrus Chestnut (b. 1963), ranked #29 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the gospel-rooted, dynamically nuanced pianist modeled on Ahmad Jamal — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Count Basie
Count Basie (1904–1984), ranked #27 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the Kansas City bandleader whose spare, blues-drenched stride piano is the art of leaving things out — with essential recordings and scores.
Chick Corea
Chick Corea (1941–2021), ranked #20 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: fusion pioneer with Return to Forever, Miles Davis alumnus and composer of "Spain" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Cedar Walton
Cedar Walton (1934–2013), ranked #26 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the hard-bop mainstay and composer of "Bolivia" and "Firm Roots" — with essential recordings and scores to play.
Bud Powell
Bud Powell (1924–1966), ranked #3 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the New York pianist who invented the language of bebop piano and shaped every player after him.
Bobby Timmons
Bobby Timmons (1935–1974), #37 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists ranking: the soul-jazz composer of 'Moanin'' whose anthems outshone his own career — with scores to play.
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor (1921–2010), ranked #17 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the polished bebop stylist and tireless jazz educator and advocate — with recordings and scores to play.
Bill Evans
Bill Evans (1929–1980), ranked #2 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the New Jersey pianist whose singing tone and impressionist harmony reinvented the modern jazz trio.
The Best Women Jazz Pianists
The ten greatest women jazz pianists in Gene Rizzo's ranking — from Mary Lou Williams and Marian McPartland to Eliane Elias, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Renee Rosnes — with corrected dates and scores to play.
The Best Jazz Pianists of All Time
Jazz journalist Gene Rizzo's ranking of the 50 greatest jazz piano players — Peterson, Evans, Powell, Tatum, Monk, Hancock, Corea and more — with a full table, the eras of jazz piano, and scores to play.
Benny Green
Benny Green (b. 1963), ranked #6 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the blues-steeped hard-bop pianist Oscar Peterson picked as his protégé; still recording in 2026.
Art Tatum
Art Tatum (1909–1956), ranked #4 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the nearly blind Toledo virtuoso whose speed and harmonic daring redefined the instrument — with essential recordings and scores to play.
André Previn
André Previn (1929–2019), ranked #7 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list — the Oscar-winning composer-conductor whose brilliant, blues-tinged jazz-trio records sold in the millions.
Al Haig
Al Haig (1924–1982), ranked #44 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the lyrical bebop pianist and favorite Charlie Parker accompanist — his life, style, essential recordings, and scores to play.
Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal (1930–2023), ranked #16 in Gene Rizzo's greatest-jazz-pianists list: the space-conscious trio master whose economy shaped Miles Davis and "Poinciana" — with recordings and scores to play.