Pianist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article deals with those who play the piano. For other uses, see pianist (disambiguation).
A pianist is a person who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with a smaller ensemble, or accompany one or more singers or solo instrumentalists.
A performing classical pianist usually starts playing piano at a very young age, some as early as three years old. Many well-known classical composers were also virtuoso pianists: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Carl Maria von Weber, Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Charles-Valentin Alkan, Johannes Brahms, Ferruccio Busoni, Anton Rubinstein, Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich. Most pianists, to some degree, specialize in performing the music of either certain composers or certain periods.
Most western forms of music can make use of the piano. Consequently, pianists have a wide variety of repertoire and styles to choose from, including jazz, classical music, and all sorts of popular music.
Below is a list of well-known or influential contemporary pianists of different genres.
Contents |
[edit] Classical pianists
For a list of classical pianists whose work is specifically documented in recorded form, see also Classical pianists (recorded).
[edit] Pop and rock music pianists
[edit] Jazz pianists
[edit] Blues pianists
- Mark Birnbaum
- James Booker
- Ray Charles (also jazz and country music)
- Fats Domino
- Little Willie Littlefield
- Professor Longhair
- Jimmy Yancey
- Otis Spann
- Mark Andrade
- Ruth Lakin Head pianist, John of Rolleston School 1989-1997. Really gave me the blues.
See the List of boogie woogie musicians for more blues players.
[edit] Country pianists
- Owen Bradley, also a record producer
- Floyd Cramer, "Last Date"
- Mickey Gilley, "Room Full of Roses"
- Jerry Lee Lewis, also rock and roll
- Ronnie Milsap, Almost Like a Song
- Moon Mullican, "I'll Sail My Ship Alone"
- Charlie Rich, "Behind Closed Doors"
- Hargus "Pig" Robbins, legendary session player
- Fred Rose, also a music publisher
- Bobby Sowell, "Moods"
- Del Wood, "Down Yonder"
- Matt Rollings Session player most noted for country recordings
[edit] Gospel Pianists
Well known gospel or contemporary Christian pianists include:
