jazz piano

Brad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist born on August 23, 1970 in Jacksonville, Florida. He plays original compositions and jazz standards, as well as interpretations of non-jazz songs by The Beatles, Nick Drake, Radiohead and Soundgarden, for example. He has also contributed to movie soundtracks, including Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Space Cowboys (2000), Million Dollar Hotel (2000).

John Aaron Lewis (3 May 1920 – 29 March 2001) was an American jazz pianist and composer best known as the musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Born in LaGrange, Illinois and raised in Albuquerque, NM, he learned classical music and piano from his mother. He served in the Army in World War II, where he met Kenny Clarke. After the war, they moved to New York City and he joined Dizzy Gillespie's band. He also performed or recorded with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet, Miles Davis, and Lester Young.

On first listen, Canvas, the major label debut from 27-year-old pianist Robert Glasper sounds decidedly mainstream. However, Glasper comes informed by the broad range of influences that a jazz musician of his generation inevitably does, with deep jazz roots and the sometimes subconscious influence of having grown up also listening to hip hop, R&B and alternative rock. The second time around, the true nature of the music begins to reveal itself, not as much aurally as sensually. The bass is warmer, fatter, and more sanguine; the drums throb, and the piano dances freestyling swing moods.

Andrew Hill (born June 30, 1931 – April 20, 2007) was an American jazz pianist and composer. Hill first recorded as a sideman in 1955, but his reputation was made by his Blue Note recordings as leader from 1963 to 1969, which featured several other important post-bop musicians including Eric Dolphy, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Tony Williams, as well as two of John Gilmore's rare outings away from Sun Ra.