Still Learning Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Flipping through the cable tv channels last night I came up on some talking head interviewing Smokey Robinson. The head asked Smokey, "What was the best all-time album" and Smokey answered, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On In honor of Black History Month here in the U.S., my question to you is: Who do you consider to be the best black piano/keys/synth player of all time? (my vote has to go to Ray Charles) :grin: When most people go to work, they work. When musicians go to work, they play. Which do you prefer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legatoboy Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 sl, Bud Powell! lb CP-50, YC 73, FP-80, PX5-S, NE-5d61, Kurzweil SP6, XK-3, CX-3, Hammond XK-3, Yamaha YUX Upright, '66 B3/Leslie 145/122 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Impossible question to answer. There are just so many brilliant African-American keyboard players in so many varied styles. A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DafDuc Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Herbie. I played in an 8 piece horn band. We would often get bored. So...three words: "Tower of Polka." - Calumet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrokeys Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 I agree with Kanker. This is really like being asked to pick your favorite galaxy. Still if you want to talk "best" in terms of influence, then the answer for me is Jimmy Smith. You cannot find a rock or jazz organist who has not played a Smith lick at one time or another. The very fact that "jazz organ" is a real term and not some sort of joke is due to that man's presence on the planet. He sure changed my life and for the better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 As others have said, it's way too hard to pick the best African-American keyboardist, so how about we go a step further and name 28 great African American keyboardists -- a different musician for each day of Black History Month -- to show just how extensive the influence of black musicians has been on the American musical scene. Since four of the all-time greats have already been named (Ray Charles, Bud Powell, Jimmy Smith, and Herbie Hancock), here are 24 more: Art Tatum Thelonious Monk McCoy Tyner Oscar Peterson Erroll Garner Ahmad Jamal Jimmy McGriff Dr. Lonnie Smith Sly Stone Stevie Wonder Fats Domino Little Richard Professor Longhair Allen Toussaint Earl Hines Fats Waller Cecil Taylor James P. Johnson Billy Preston Booker T. Jones Bernie Worrell David Sancious Count Basie Duke Ellington (Okay, the last two are better known as bandleaders than pianists, but piano was the main instrument of each and their influence and significance is both pervasive and undeniable.) Peace, Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gismo Recording Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Great list there Noah. I was about to post Billy Preston. And I had forgotten about David Sancious. Awesome. Only one name I can think of that's missing from that list is Art Neville. Ken Denny Gismo Recording So Cliché Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corner Pocket Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Oliver Jones. Peace, Paul ---------------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Ken: That's funny, because Art Neville would've been next on my list. I'm sure, however, that there are many more that I left off that are equally (or more) deserving of inclusion than those that I listed (e.g., Kenny Kirkland?). At the end of the day, my only real point is that a list of the "all-time great African American keyboardists" looks a helluva lot like a list of the "all-time great keyboardists, period" (but for some obvious exceptions like Chick Corea, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett). Regards, Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 More for the list. Benny Green Chester Thompson This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 I'll just name 29 folks for every day of the month in a leap year. In addition to those already mentioned: Brother Jack McDuff Richard Groove Holmes Charles Earland Larry Young Nat King Cole Bobby Timmons Ramsey Lewis Allen Toussaint Donny Hathaway Les McCann Larry Dunn Roberta Flack Ronnie Foster George Duke Patrice Rushen Joe Sample Isaac Hayes Barry White Richard Tee Jackie Mittoo Bobby Lyle Junie Morrison Greg Phillinganes Thomas Whitfield Twinkie Clark Richard Smallwood Curtis Lloyd D'Angelo James Poyser Ok... PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Wow, what about Otis Spann Little Brother Montgomery Roosevelt Sykes Jimmy Yancey Meade Lux Lewis Pete Johnson Pinetop Perkins Big Maceo Merriweather Jelly Roll Morton Wille 'The Lion' Smith Sunnyland Slim James Booker Larry Young Jay McShann Memphis Slim Johnnie Johnson Albert Ammons Melvin Rhyne Really, the list just goes on and on A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meccajay Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Donny Hathaway Joe Sample [font:Georgia]2 of the greatest electric piano players ever!![/font] Bobby Lyle Junie Morrison James Poyser [font:Georgia]You sly dogg!![/font] TROLL . . . ish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 I guess I don't see colors when it comes to musicians. This is impossible to answer. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b3keys Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Nice lists, but nobody is giving it up for the Ladies! What about: Aretha Franklin Nina Simone just to name a few! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoahZark Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Uh, Keith Jarrett is black. No, he's not (although it's apparently a common misperception). In his own words . . . LISTEN TO THE NPR INTERVIEW POSTED HERE. The relevant discussion starts at 14:36 of the interview. Noah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.