There have been many piano giants in history, with the title of the greatest being something of a cluttered list. To choose one greatest ever is impossible, but there are many people, regardless, who have shown a level of aptitude for this well-loved instrument that goes far enough to be deemed legendary. Here are a few examples of the best people that ever worked in this medium.
The jazz age was a massive age of development for piano music. Artists began to experiment with metre and dissonant notes in an effort to create a more soulful, vocal form of music. In the early days of pianos arrival on the jazz scene was the legendary Earl 'Fatha' Hines. Hines lead a colourful life and one that saw him become Al Capone's personal 'piano man,' and it was not just his contribution to early jazz, but also his influence of other jazz players that earns him the right to his place amongst the greats.
One of these stars was the genius Art Tatum. Genius is a widely used word these days, so you'd be forgiven for thinking this might be overstatement, but Tatum really was a genius. He had a photographic memory that he applied mainly to music and baseball facts. Beyond this he also had natural perfect pitch, and a passion for improvisation that took him beyond the level that most people can ever hope to achieve. From his humble beginnings as a visually impaired boy in a bleak city of Ohio, he grew into one of the best, perhaps the best, jazz pianists ever.
Beethoven is a more well known name when it comes to influencing piano music and it's wrong to dismiss classical music as something of the past, even if you don't like it. The innovation of Beethoven isn't something that we've moved on from - he still typifies everything that new, inspiring music can be. Powerful, controlled, emotional and above all original.
With piano's early days you'll find the giant of Bach. As an amazing organist he also applied himself to piano with a fervour that produced incredible results. Bach's music feels ahead of its time when you listen to his contemporaries - he too was a piano pioneer.
So it's easy to see why there is no clear 'winner' when it comes to great people in piano, but there's certainly a lot to be proud of for anyone that aspires to follow in the footsteps of these legends.
The jazz age was a massive age of development for piano music. Artists began to experiment with metre and dissonant notes in an effort to create a more soulful, vocal form of music. In the early days of pianos arrival on the jazz scene was the legendary Earl 'Fatha' Hines. Hines lead a colourful life and one that saw him become Al Capone's personal 'piano man,' and it was not just his contribution to early jazz, but also his influence of other jazz players that earns him the right to his place amongst the greats.
One of these stars was the genius Art Tatum. Genius is a widely used word these days, so you'd be forgiven for thinking this might be overstatement, but Tatum really was a genius. He had a photographic memory that he applied mainly to music and baseball facts. Beyond this he also had natural perfect pitch, and a passion for improvisation that took him beyond the level that most people can ever hope to achieve. From his humble beginnings as a visually impaired boy in a bleak city of Ohio, he grew into one of the best, perhaps the best, jazz pianists ever.
Beethoven is a more well known name when it comes to influencing piano music and it's wrong to dismiss classical music as something of the past, even if you don't like it. The innovation of Beethoven isn't something that we've moved on from - he still typifies everything that new, inspiring music can be. Powerful, controlled, emotional and above all original.
With piano's early days you'll find the giant of Bach. As an amazing organist he also applied himself to piano with a fervour that produced incredible results. Bach's music feels ahead of its time when you listen to his contemporaries - he too was a piano pioneer.
So it's easy to see why there is no clear 'winner' when it comes to great people in piano, but there's certainly a lot to be proud of for anyone that aspires to follow in the footsteps of these legends.
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