My favorite players of jazz ballads

pianoloverus

in no special order. Do you have others you particularly like?

twocats

pianoloverus I haven't listened to them all yet but I don't think I've actually heard much of Keith Jarrett, just bits here and there. You've mentioned that you're a fan and play transcriptions of his music. It would be wonderful if you were willing to share your playing with us sometime.

I've really enjoyed Bill Evans's playing for a long time, I think for ballads he's probably my favorite 🙂

ShiroKuro

those are all great!! I will enjoy listening through this, thanks for the selection!

I don't have anything to add right now.... but the other day I had a jazz question for you, and now I can't remember what it was! 😃 .... maybe it will come back to me...

Do you like Hiromi? I love her piece that's called something like Old Castle....

ShiroKuro

ShiroKuro Do you like Hiromi?

This one! Hiromi Uehara, Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of a forest

pianoloverus

ShiroKuro Do you like Hiromi?

Yes, but not so much for her ballade playing.

twocats

twocats I've really enjoyed Bill Evans's playing for a long time, I think for ballads he's probably my favorite 🙂

I listened to them all and I still like Bill Evans the most! 🙂

keff

twocats You've mentioned that you're a fan and play transcriptions of his music. It would be wonderful if you were willing to share your playing with us sometime.

My piano group friend transcribes many of Keith Jarrett's improvisations. This is one of his YT recordings.

lilypad

Here are a few that come to mind:
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rsl12

My favorites are:

Bill Evans (my original fave jazz pianist, good examples in the links above)
Shirley Horn, who can play a tune VERY slow like no one else
Barry Harris is amazing slow or fast
Gerald Clayton, the only one in this list that's still alive and kicking
Marian McPartland, host of the great radio show "Piano Jazz", was also great with slow tunes. I like "Twilight World", one of her own compositions.

Of course Keith Jarrett is great, though I don't like the recordings where I can hear him singing and grunting along to his improv. I sometimes sing too when practicing--It definitely improves my improv choices. But to me it ruins a performance. (Same with Glenn Gould.)

And though I wouldn't classify her as jazz (b/c no improv), Blossom Dearie is wonderful.