Handy resource for jazz listeners and hardcore fans. Spanning players from eighty years of history, this bold book steps forward and claims who are the greatest. Compiled from an extensive survey conducted with the best jazz minds in the education, publishing and entertainment worlds, noted jazz journalist Gene Rizzo summarized the chosen and presents a concise bio on the essence of these jazz giants. Choices were made on the basis of chops, originality, creativity, and degree of influence. This book will either confirm some readers' opinions or open debate with others, but ultimately the book provides an impressive summary of the greatest jazz piano players of all time. A photo accompanies each listing
• Landmark recordings are listed
• Extra lists include the next twenty to be selected, the top women players and an alphabetical list of all the other players considered
| The Top Fifty | 1 | |
| 1 | Oscar Peterson | 3 |
| 2 | Bill Evans | 7 |
| 3 | Bud Powell | 11 |
| 4 | Art Tatum | 15 |
| 5 | Monty Alexander | 19 |
| 6 | Benny Green | 23 |
| 7 | Andre Previn | 27 |
| 8 | Tommy Flanagan | 31 |
| 9 | George Shearing | 35 |
| 10 | Red Garland | 39 |
| 11 | McCoy Tyner | 43 |
| 12 | Gene Harris | 47 |
| 13 | Kenny Drew | 51 |
| 14 | Hampton Hawes | 55 |
| 15 | Thelonious Monk | 59 |
| 16 | Ahmad Jamal | 63 |
| 17 | Billy Taylor | 67 |
| 18 | Horace Silver | 71 |
| 19 | Hank Jones | 75 |
| 20 | Chick Corea | 79 |
| 21 | Tete Montoliu | 83 |
| 22 | Phineas Newborn, Jr. | 87 |
| 23 | Teddy Wilson | 91 |
| 24 | Nat "King" Cole | 95 |
| 25 | Erroll Garner | 99 |
| 26 | Cedar Walton | 103 |
| 27 | Count Basie | 107 |
| 28 | Dave Brubeck | 111 |
| 29 | Cyrus Chestnut | 115 |
| 30 | Lennie Tristano | 119 |
| 31 | Fats Waller | 123 |
| 32 | Dick Hyman | 127 |
| 33 | Wynton Kelly | 131 |
| 34 | Dave McKenna | 135 |
| 35 | John Bunch | 139 |
| 36 | Kenny Barron | 143 |
| 37 | Bobby Timmons | 147 |
| 38 | Duke Ellington | 151 |
| 39 | Earl Hines | 155 |
| 40 | Jimmy Rowles | 159 |
| 41 | Ray Bryant | 163 |
| 42 | Herbie Hancock | 167 |
| 43 | Jelly Roll Morton | 171 |
| 44 | Al Haig | 175 |
| 45 | Derek Smith | 179 |
| 46 | Ralph Sharon | 183 |
| 47 | Mary Lou Williams | 187 |
| 48 | Willie "The Lion" Smith | 191 |
| 49 | Roland Hanna | 195 |
| 50 | Keith Jarrett | 199 |
| The Next Twenty | 203 | |
| Top Ten Women | 205 | |
| Honorable Mention | 219 | |
| About the Author | 222 |
Overview
Handy resource for jazz listeners and hardcore fans. Spanning players from eighty years of history, this bold book steps forward and claims who are the greatest. Compiled from an extensive survey conducted with the best jazz minds in the education, publishing and entertainment worlds, noted jazz journalist Gene Rizzo summarized the chosen and presents a concise bio on the essence of these jazz giants. Choices were made on the basis of chops, originality, creativity, and degree of influence. This book will either ...