To create a database for jazz pianists is an ongoing process since there are more and more jazz pianists coming onto the scene every day. This makes the task an impossible project, but one that I will attempt to tackle with further compendi-ums. I want to make everyone aware of the great talent that is out there and has not been exposed due to the lack of marketing and or financial resources to have their works known.

By listing the various jazz pianists and their albums and CD’s, I hope that every musician will seek out their work to learn from their unusual and individualistic styles so that they can experience their unique talent as I have done. Most musicians are unable to concentrate on their profession exclusively due to the lack of “gigs” available and the low pay. Therefore, they must have another source of income in order to sustain themselves in this creative art form.

When I first started this project, I never realized how much talent there was out there. My main purpose is to make you aware of the various artists and you can determine which ones suit your fancy. I personally relate to those artists who keep the melody line in tact, but I can appreciate all forms of jazz when I listen to the album more than once and therefore acquire a taste for other forms of piano playing other than the “Tatum” style.

The database is merely a guide to the many artists out there. It is in no way a list of their best albums. It is merely a reference point to look up a particular artist. Most of these records can be purchased at a record store, but many must be found at out-of-print record shops.

Some that are listed can be ordered at www.cdbaby.com. You may also find out that many artists are selling their CD’s through their own website. The artist makes more money this way and usually discounts the CD’s purchased depending upon the quantity sold.

The following pianists have great technique and style and are among my many favorites (in alphabetical order): Toshiko Akiyoshi, Joe Albany, Monty Alexander, Kenny Barron, Gordon Beck, Richie Beirach, Armand Boatman, Claude Bolling, Joanne Brackeen, Evans Bradshaw, Dave Brubeck, Ray Bryant, John Bunch, Joe Bushkin, Eddie Cano, Barbara Carroll, Bill Charlap, Herman Chittison, Nat “King” Cole, Cy Coleman, Chick Corea, Johnny Costa, Stanley Cowell, Blossom Dearie, Lorraine Desmarais, Dorothy Donegan, Kenny Drew, Duke Ellington, Bobby Enriquez, Bill Evans, Don Ewell, Irving Fields, Tommy Flanagan, Russ Freeman, Don Friedman, Dave Frishberg, Red Garland, Erroll Garner, Don Glanden, Conley Graves, Johnny Guarnieri, Herbie Hancock, Sir Roland Hanna, Barry Harris, Gene Harris, Hampton Hawes, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Dick Hyman, Calvin

Jackson, Hank Jones, Oliver Jones, Dick Katz, Diana Krall, Donald Lambert, Michel Legrand, Keith MacDonald, Adam Makowicz, Tania Maria, Dave McKenna, John Mehegan, Thelonius Monk, Tete Montoliu, Dudley Moore, Dick Morgan, Morris Nanton, Peter Nero, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Walter Norris, Bernard Peiffer, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Andre Previn, Mark Randall, George Shearing, Johnny “Hammond” Smith(organist), Derek Smith, Paul Smith, Martial Solal, Art Tatum, Billy Taylor, Fats Waller, Dick Wellstood, Jesssica Williams, John Williams, Mary Lou Williams, Jack Wilson, Teddy Wilson, Denny Zeitlin and Pablo Ziegler. These are the artists I listen to the most.

One evening as I was having dinner at a local restaurant, there was a pianist next to me playing an upright piano. I could not believe what I heard nor could I follow his hands across the keyboard. They were a complete blur! His technique was astounding and I said to my wife, “Diana,” Do you see what he’s doing?” She said, “Arnie please eat your dinner before it gets cold”. I can’t remember if I ever finished the meal. The pianist was Bernard Peiffer! After hearing him, I searched out the few albums that he made. I tried to find out where he was performing next. He appeared at the Painted Bride on South Street in Philadelphia. There was a small crowd there and everyone was in awe of him. He appeared in other locations in the Philadelphia, PA area such as Cheltenham High School, where many of his students were there to cheer him on. I also saw him at the University of the Arts and a little night spot called The Borgia Café along with his bass player, Al Stauffer. I became obsessed with him and everyone that I spoke to never even heard of him! Most jazz books don’t even mention his name! He was a cross between Art Tatum, Garner and Oscar Peterson all rolled into one.

When I asked my piano teacher who his favorite jazz pianist was, he replied “there is only one and that one is Tatum!” I then mentioned Bernard Peiffer and he said he never heard of him! I loaned him a Peiffer album and he became an immediate convert. He also, could not believe what he heard. After Peiffer died, I decided to write a compendium of jazz pianists and then I discovered Jessica Williams!! What a beautiful and talented pianist. You can purchase her CD’s through her own website, jessicawilliams. com and learn much about the music business plus.

I then heard from my daughter Pamela that there is an independent website, www.cdbaby.com, that promotes many unknown artists. Much to my surprise, I found out that a new CD titled “Formidable” just came out produced by Stephan Peiffer, (Bernard Peiffer’s son) and Don Glanden (another fabulous pianist once a student of Bernard) on Bernard Peiffer! I immediately ordered the CD and got in touch with Stephan and Don Glanden. I was so happy to talk to both of them about my experiences with Bernard Peiffer and the ten hours of live tape that I had of him.

I then went to see Don Glanden perform at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Delaware and loaned him all the information and tapes on Bernard. Don typed up the interview my wife and I had copied from the Philadelphia Public Library that was translated by Marc Kniebihler, a friend of my wife. Enclosed is a copy of that translation.

This database will cover the obscure and rarely publicized players. This book is a labor of love since I have always wanted to write a book on piano players but I felt that I didn’t have the training. I now realize that even though I am self taught, I have been exposed to so many different types of players that I feel that I am just as qualified as any other jazz or pop critic. Whether I have enough information, that will always be a problem since there will always be a new “Tatum” or and old “Tatum” still to be discovered. So that rather than wait, I feel the time is right for me to let all music lovers know all the jazz piano players of whom I am aware.

Questions that I would like answered:

Why doesn’t most of the public listen to the piano player at a club or restaurant?

Don’t the patrons of the club or restaurant realize that the pianist would like to be acknowledged by applause?

Do they take him for granted?

Why doesn’t the club owner tune the piano regularly or why doesn’t he tune it at all?

Why doesn’t the hostess ask the customer if they want to sit near the piano player? If they want to talk only and not listen, sit them as far away from the piano player as possible!

Why don’t they play the “good jazz” on the radio stations other than jazz such as easy listening?

Why aren’t there awards on TV for best jazz players like they do for rock, soul and pop?

Can’t we have general music courses in high school to educate the students as to what “good jazz” players there are?

When are people going to wake up and listen to real musicians?

How many of you have ever purchased a jazz CD or album(not downloaded)?

Why can’t newspapers review jazz CD’s?

Why are so many columnists who are music critics completely uninformed about jazz?

Why can’t the TV talk shows have guests that are jazz musicians?

It would be my fantasy if the above questions were answered the way that I want them to be!

Let’s have an “American Idol” for jazz musicians. The public must be made aware of real talent! There really is other music besides rock and rap.

The bands on TV talk shows are hardly ever featured and play for three minutes if they’re lucky and that’s only to introduce the host!

How to use the database:

1   Try one of the pianists listed. If you like the artist, see if there are reviews in the Penguin Guide, Downbeat or any other jazz magazine.

2   Go to cdbaby.com to order any on the list. Review any numbers. Try out any other artists to see if their style appeals to you.

3   If you really get hooked on jazz pianists, go to tomlord. com and order his complete discography which covers every musician not just pianists. The artist that you seek will probably be listed unless he or she is very new on the scene. I found his discography to be most useful in order to get the full picture of what the artist has recorded.

4   Try out any artists that have their own website.

5   Finally, support the musicians by attending any of their concerts. Let your friends know there is a lot of talent out there yet to be discovered.

Enjoy the database because I only have scratched the surface of the number of jazz pianists that made a record or CD. What about all those great musicians that have never recorded?