Pianists Alphabetically

 Alphabetically, here are some jazz pianists I admire. Undoubtedly, I've overlooked a few. If you care to add names to this list, contact me at jazzfens13@gmail.com.

Thank you,

George Fendel

Toshiko Akiyoshi

Monty Alexander

Ehud Asherie

Kenny Barron

Count Basie

Shelly Berg

Alan Broadbent

Dave Brubeck

John Bunch

Dave Catney

Bill Charlap

Sonny Clark

Nat Cole

Duke Ellington

Bill Evans

Tommy Flanagan

Russ Freeman

Don Friedman

Red Garland

Errol Garner

Lorraine Geller

Darrell Grant

Tardo Hammer

Hampton Hawes

Tamir Hendelman

Eddie Higgins

Jutta Hipp

Elmo Hope

Keith Jarrett

Pete Jolly

Hank Jones

Oliver Jones

Roger Kellaway

Lou Levy

Adam Makovich

Pete Malinverni

Dodo Marmarosa

Jon Mayer

Bill Mays

Marion McPartland

Mulgrew Miller

Thelonious Monk

Dado Moroni

Phineas Newborn

Tony Pacini

Jeb Patton

Dave Peck

Oscar Peterson

Enrico Pieranunzi

Randy Porter

Sidney Porter

Bud Powell

Andre Previn

John Proulx

Jean Ronne

Jimmy Rowles

George Shearing

Don Shirley

Billy Strayhorn

Art Tatum

Billy Taylor

Lennie Tristano

McCoy Tyner

Fats Waller

Cedar Walton

Gerry Wiggins

James Williams

Jessica Williams

Claude Williamson

Richard Wyands

And finally, Denny Zeitlin

ANSWERS TO GEORGE'S QUIZ:

1.  Anything Goes

2.  I Get A Kick Out Of You

3.  Just One Of Those Things

4.  All Of You

5.  From This Moment On

6.  I Love Paris

7.  Easy To Love

8.  It's All Right With Me

9.  You're The Top

10. I've Got You Under My Skin

HAVE SOME FUN WITH GEORGE'S QUIZZES:

We're supplying you with a list of partial lyrics to very well known American Songbook classics.How many actual titles can you identify? Hit melodies and lyrics ALL by Cole Porter:

1.   only use four letter words

2.   mere alcohol

3.   we'll meet now and then

4.   east, west, north, and the south of you

5.   no more blues songs

6.   every moment of the year

7.   it does seem a shame

8.   your face is lovely

9.   you're Mickey Mouse

10. use your mentality

GEORGE'S BRIEFS:

Janet Evra; Meet Me In Paris

As the title suggests, this is a charming recital with an accent on French material. There's a happy musicality here featuring singer and bassist Janet Evra. Both the familiar and the rather obscure are on board. A very hip little ensemble works seamlessly with the leader. This is a definite detour in the jazz world. But it works ever so intimately. 

Plum Jazz Records; 2023; times not indicated.

Joe Wittman; Trio Works

Jazz guitar fans need to check this one out! Joe Wittman leads a guitar-bass-drums trio on six of his own compositions plus two standards, “Sweet Lorraine” and Mel Torme's “Born To Be Blue”. Unlike the bevy of funk guitar things out there, this is simply a solid jazz group jammin' for fun.

Sol Records; 2023; appx. 45 min.

Constantine Alexander; Firetet

From the opening notes of this session, you'll understand why it's called Firetet. For the record, this is actually a quintet led by the trumpet and flugelhorn of Constantine Alexander. On seven originals, Alexander and friends present a contemporary hard bop that is challenging, swinging and authentic. Tempos vary, solos are demanding and vigorous, and all these new names are exuberant and fully involved as modern real deal players.

Self-produced; 2023; appx. 52 min.

Thomas Linger; Out In It

Speaking of new names, here's Thomas Linger. His quartet includes some seasoned players who know when to turn on the heat AND when to display a more modest but always swinging approach. Linger himself always sounds impressively right in the center of the jazz tradition. Joined by Peter Bernstein on guitar; Vasushi Nakamura, bass; and Joe Farnsworth, drums, this lyrical quartet tells the truth on nine fresh, invigorating originals and one classic standard: I always love hearing Billy Strayhorn's masterpiece, “Lush Life”. To put it simply, this is yet another jazz triumph for Cellar Music.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 56 min.

Antoine Drye; Retreat To Beauty

It's a rare occasion when any jazz musician gets an opportunity to record with strings. But thankfully, that was the case with the haunting and beautiful trumpet of Antoine Drye and a luxurious pairing of supporting jazz players and subtle strings, all arranged to perfection. As the album title tells us, beauty is the object here and it's in full flower from note one. Among many highlights are these: 1) the slowest and most heartfelt reading of Billy Strayhorn's “Isfahan” I've ever heard; 2) a charming revisit to the Louis Armstrong hit “When It's Sleepy Time Down South”; 3) Jimmy Rowles now classic “The Peacocks”; 4) Monk's stunning ballad “Reflections”; 5) “Goodbye”, a ballad from decades ago from orchestra leader Gordon Jenkins; 6) Drye's own creation, “Friend”, named for a musical colleague; 7) a near tear jerker in “Send In The Clowns”; and 8) Laura, a tune with special meaning for me. On every one of these and a half dozen more, Antoine Drye and his numerous friends recall a time when recordings like this were somewhat frequent, if not plentiful. Antoine Drye is a trumpet master to keep an eye on. He could make a dozen albums like this and I'd welcome each and every one.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 52 min.

John Lang; Earotica

New York bassist John Lang has put together a scintillating ensemble larger than a “combo” but smaller than a big band. It is in fact comprised of trumpet, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, and of course a rhythm section including leader and bassist John Lang. All twelve tunes are originals and swing with resonating authority. And being that this group is as complete as it is, all players get generous opportunity to strut their stuff, solo-wise. There is a very “urban” contemporary feeling at work here. Now and then things get a tad more electric than my straight ahead veins can handle. Aside from that, this big-small band puts it all out there. I guess the term is muscular because these guys certainly work out!

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 73 min.

Brad Turner; The Magnificent

And just who is the driving force behind the consistent quality of Cellar Music? It's their founder and yet another superb tenor sax man, Cory Weeds. I mention that because Weeds appears on this session which is actually under the leadership of Brad Turner on both piano and trumpet! Remaining players, all highly admired, are Peter Bernstein, guitar; Neil Swainson, bass; and Quincy Davis, drums. There are nine Turner originals here and they are bright, lilting, fresh examples of guys who are really good at the game! These are all musicians with lengthy resumes, and they undoubtedly reject the flash and formula in favor of the history, musicianship, and dedication served up here in every note.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 61 min.

Kelly Jefferson; Rituals

By now, Vancouver B.C.'s Cellar Music has established itself as a dependable, no-nonsense, high class record label. Among many things to be admired is Cellar's insistence on giving studio time to deserving new jazz talents. On what I assume is his debut CD, Jefferson's saxophone prowess and versatile compositions are heard in a riveting quartet setting featuring nine of his original compositions. Moods move from sprightly to mysterious, and often intricate and compelling. His colleagues, often providing strong support and prime solo work, include Amanda Tosoff, piano; Jon Maharaj, bass; and Norman Childs, drums. All are new names to me, but it's obvious that they are deeply embedded in the art of pure and meaningful jazz making.

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 57 min.

Dave Stryker; Groove Street

Considering one “groove” CD after another, one might easily surmise the guitarist Dave Stryker is pretty locked in to this style. This time he brings veteran sax man Bob Mintzer along for the ride. There's always an organist on these dates and this time the steamy B3 in the hands of Jared Gold. Completing the quartet is McClenty Hunter on drums. The two familiar choices are Wayne Shorter's “Infant Eyes” and the standard “The More I See You”. All the players are really good in finding that “guitar-organ” thing. Granted, there's a sameness to these “groove-funk” outings. Call it what you want, but this format always finds its followers.

Strikezone Records; 2024; appx. 54 min.

Sarah McKenzie; Without You

Nine of the fourteen songs on this recording were composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim! That alone would catch my eye and pique my curiosity. Singer Sarah McKenzie interprets these Jobim gems and other similarly flavored choices with sincere straight forward dignity and beauty. She is accompanied by a small group featuring gentle, bossa-like contributions from piano, guitar, and reeds. The arrangements are never showy, but rather always tasteful and appropriate. To name a few of the AC Jobim tunes, how about “Quiet Nights”, “Wave”, “Dindi”, “Once I Loved”, and of course “The Girl From Ipanema”. All of these and more add up to a lovely rendering of unforgettable combinations of melody and lyrics.

Normandy Lane Music; 2023; appx. 48 min.

Bernie Senensky; Moment To Moment

Several years ago, a Portland friend (originally from Toronto) hipped me to fellow Canadian pianist Bernie Senensky. Finally here was my chance to hear him along a totally on board group of real deal players. Featured quite prominently is Eric Alexander, a fully engaged multi-talented tenor sax man. Bass and drums arrangements are divided between no less than five players and each is a true believer. Senensky is right at home in these various quartets on two standards, “Speak Low” and the Johnny Mercer rarity, “Moment To Moment”. The surprise of the set is the boppiest version yet on the Fiddler show tune “Matchmaker”. The remaining selections are originals, most from pianist Selensky. Alexander is as always, breathtaking and stunning---as complete a tenor player as there is on this planet. Senensky's solos are bright and optimistic, never flashy. This is an album of superb players performing the music they love to play. I'll bet you'd love to hear them!

Cellar Music; 2023; appx. 67 min.

Answers!

 

ANSWERS:

ALL GERSHWIN:

1.   I’ve Got A Crush On You

2.   How Long Has This Been Going On

3.   Embraceable You

4.   The Man I Love

5.   They Can’t Take That Away From Me

6.   It Ain’t Necessarily So

7.   Summertime

8.   ‘S Wonderful

9.   I Got Rhythm

10. Liza

ALL JEROME KERN

1.   A Fine Romance

2.   All The Things You Are

3.   I’m Old Fashioned

4.   The Way You Look Tonight

5.   Yesterdays

6.   Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man

7.   Remind Me

8.   Let’s Begin

COLE PORTER

1.   Anything Goes

2.   In The Still Of The Night

    3.   I Get A Kick Out Of You

4.   Let’s Do It

5.   Just One Of Those Things

6.   From This Moment On

7.   You Do Something To Me

8.   Easy To Love

9.   Night And Day

10. I Concentrate On You

HAVE SOME FUN WITH GEORGE’S QUIZZES

Here are some more lyric portions. Can you name them?

ALL GERSHWIN:

1.   could you care?

2.   what a dunce I was

3.   my heart grows tipsy in me

4.   my good news day

5.   the memory of all that

6.   liable to read in the Bible

7.   hush little baby

8.   feeling amorous

9.   in green pastures

            10. the clouds will roll away

        ALL JEROME KERN:

        1.   my friend, this is

        2.   the dearest things I know

3.   sighing sighs; holding hands

4.   I will feel a glow

        5.   youth was mine

6.   birds gotta fly

7.   the world is full of men

8.   is it up to me

ALL COLE PORTER

1    all use four letter words

2.   like the moon growing dim

3.   mere alcohol

4.   educated fleas

5.   here’s hoping we meet again

6.   no more blue songs

7.   you do that voodoo

8.   so easy to idolize

9.   it’s torment won’t be through

10. people declare we’re through