| Some of the greatest piano players in history | | | | Ellington and Oscar Peterson brought a level of |
| became known for their proficiency in jazz. | | | | class to the genre that was undeniable. In fact, |
| Technicality and a heavy reliance upon the ability | | | | the Count Basie orchestra was pivotal to the jazz |
| of the musician to improvise makes jazz piano | | | | culture of New York for half a century. |
| one of the hardest styles to learn. That does | | | | Noteworthy musicians in and of themselves, they |
| NOT mean, however, that it can't be learned, but | | | | also provided back-up for critically acclaimed |
| to get to the highest rungs a pianist must have | | | | singers like Billie Holliday and Big Joe Turner. |
| lots of talent, a great ear, and the ability to | | | | Count Basie's association with Ella Fitzgerald is both |
| improvise. | | | | historically and musically significant. The 1963 |
| The birth of jazz music in the early 1900s was a | | | | album the two made together is remembered by |
| significant period in musical history. Many of those | | | | critics as possibly the greatest recording of her |
| who are considered among the greatest jazz | | | | career. Count Basie also made recordings with |
| pianists of all times were pioneers of the genre | | | | Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony |
| during this period. Jazz evolved from musical | | | | Bennett. These match-ups lent even more |
| styles that African slaves brought to America. | | | | credibility to jazz as a distinct genre. |
| Therefore, its inception can largely be attributed | | | | The evolution of jazz saw many changes over |
| to the early African-American community. | | | | the ensuing decades. More branches and |
| African-American pianists, such as Scott Joplin and | | | | sub-genres developed. In fact, jazz music fell out |
| Ernest Hogan, are considered to be among the | | | | of favor with the public for several years in the |
| fathers of ragtime music. Although the ragtime | | | | 1980s. There was controversy within the musical |
| era only lasted a few years, it was a precursor | | | | community over the fusing of so many different |
| to, and contemporary of, the jazz era. | | | | types of music with jazz. Some purists viewed it |
| Many of the earliest and greatest jazz pianists | | | | as "watering down" the art form. Other musicians |
| were African American. For this reason, jazz | | | | and fans see jazz music as a culmination of many |
| music had something of a hurdle to overcome. | | | | types of music and view blending it with rock as |
| While many embraced jazz as a new and exciting | | | | simply another variation generally known as |
| genre, others didn't. The emancipation of African | | | | "fusion". |
| slaves was still a fresh memory, and many people | | | | Contemporary jazz artists have brought jazz |
| still carried strong attitudes of racism. | | | | back around into public favor in the 21st century. |
| Jazz's public image changed slowly over the first | | | | Today's great jazz pianists, like Diana Krall, Harry |
| two or three decades of the 20th century. Great | | | | Connick Jr. and Norah Jones bear living proof of |
| African-American jazz pianists of the early to mid | | | | this by number of albums sold. While some write |
| 1900s were instrumental in helping transform the | | | | off their work as "pop" jazz, many believe they |
| perception of jazz. African-American artists like | | | | are instrumental in keeping jazz alive in the new |
| Erroll Garner, Theoloius Monk, Count Basie, Duke | | | | millennium. |