Pianists/Keyboard Players that'll challenge me?

nealb · 12-07-2003, 03:36 PM

So the drummers have their "Steve Gadd"s and their "Elvin Jones"... What keyboard/piano players should i listen to to hear some audacious piano music!? what should i listen to that'll challenge the way that i think about my piano playin at the mo?

(i'm kinda thinkin of like pop/jazz keyboardists/pianists... that kinda genre. Athough if you think theres anything else i should try.. I'm definately open to suggestions..!

Thank u!

n

PianoMan · 12-07-2003, 04:02 PM

First, we have no idea of your level of playing so we can't really recommend pieces that would be appropriate

Aside from that I have always been a big fan of Dino. Besides arranging his own stuff (that more often then not is extremely weird), he arranges famous hymns and secular songs into very flamboyant pieces that are a lot of fun to play. I can send you a song or two of his if you want to PM me your e-mail address.

nealb · 12-07-2003, 04:27 PM

sounds good! PM on the way...

well... i've got a classical background - i did my Grade 8 Piano Exam with an exam board (altho maybe that doesn't correspond with much with anythin state-side - i'm a UK boy

to explain it a bit - i had to play a bach prelude and fugue - book2 no 2 from well tempered klavier, mozart sonata..can't remember the name, and a tchaikovsky piece called L'espiegle. I finished lessons after that - about 2 years ago..(gettin those pieces perfected for the exam was a killer..!) but play loads still within our worship team and also play just solo piano stuff at home. Since joinin the worship team in church 4 or 5 yrs ago, i've also kinda really developed in the improv/playin from chords way.. to the extent that that probably currently dominates my own playin style.

I suppose i'm really just trying to find a piano hero...

something jst inspirational. Would also be really interested in hearing any pieces in any of the more random time signitures.. anyone know any good pop/jazz/other music in 5/4 7/8 9/8 17/8 or that kinda thing?

PianoMan · 12-07-2003, 07:02 PM

let me know if you got them, I was having a bit of trouble...

LWatford · 12-08-2003, 01:13 AM

Alot of the guys that play in Fusion/Progressive bands are amazing players, even if they do play to much sometimes...

A few personal favorites:
Jordan Rudess
Rick Wakeman
Chick Corea
Joe Zawinul

The Professor · 12-10-2003, 10:53 PM

I don't know much about piano (who's good and who's not (even though I am in my 2nd year of piano for beginners)) but I really enjoy Stan Kenton. I think pretty much any jazz pianist is gonna blow your mind away, at least that's the case with me. If I think of any others, I'll let you know.