Jazz piano music

There are as many styles of jazz piano as there are jazz itself, as it has gradually been transformed in the context the changing roles played in the rhythm section in the various styles of Jazz.

How jazz piano is played

The jazz pianist requires a unique set of skills. One must be able to read notes by sight, in a similar fashion to other styles, and must also be able to quickly interpret the content of chord symbols and lead sheets. Often, the pianist is doing this while recalling that information from memory. In an accompaniment setting, the pianist must balance this interpretation with choices appropriate to the musical context of the soloist and other accompanists.

The extended range of the piano as an instrument offers soloists an exhaustive amount of choices. One could use the bass register to play an ostinato pattern, such as those found in boogie-woogie, or a melodic counterline emulating the walking of an upright bass. Often the left hand alternates positions rapidly playing notes and chords in a style known as Stride piano. This is also done in more syncopated variants. The right hand will often play melodic lines, but might also play harmonic content, chordally or in octaves, sometimes in lockstep with the Left Hand using a technique called "Block Voicing"

Greatest jazz piano players

There have been many proponents of jazz piano in the history of the music. It is impossible to make a perfect list, but early influential players included Jelly Roll Morton, Thomas "Fat's" Waller, James P. Johnson, Teddy Wilson, Mary Lou Williams, and Art Tatum. Players following these include Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Red Garland, Phineus Newborn, Jr., Wynton Kelly, Thelonius Monk, Horace Silver, and Lennie Tristano. Bill Evans was at the vanguard of a new generation of players emerging in the 1960's including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner and Keith Jarrett. Today, luminaries include Mulgrew Miller, Brad Mehldau, Esbjorn Svensson, Benny Green, Bill Charlap, and Jackie Terrasson.