Who's The Best Modern Pianist?

[synthcomposer]

Vladimir Ashkenazy

[Jwarmen]

I suspect a trick question

[synthcomposer]

No trick questions. I am just starting a poll.

[Liquid Shadow]

There are obvious rifts in the field, such as Art Tatum being seven steps higher than the beginner you heard at the store the other night, but other than things like this, I find it impossible to rank any one musician "better" than another.

Unless you are talking technique, and technique don't mean shit if you don't have something to say with it. If you have two musicians with something worthwhile to say, then how are you going to decide which one is saying the best thing?

[Bastardo Demono]

There are obvious rifts in the field, such as Art Tatum being seven steps higher than the beginner you heard at the store the other night, but other than things like this, I find it impossible to rank any one musician "better" than another.

Unless you are talking technique, and technique don't mean shit if you don't have something to say with it. If you have two musicians with something worthwhile to say, then how are you going to decide which one is saying the best thing?

Well technique is very important if by pianist you mean "concert pianist", as is musical interpretation of the piece by another composer. And technique is also important because in my opinion a top class piano/any musician must be a virtuoso so they have no limits on whatever they choose to do.

But anyway, "best" pianist, or anything in music cannot be determined. You see, to be a true master of such a general term, you have to master ALL current genres of music for that instrument, as well as be well learned in the past and do something to move it FORWARD. that is my definition. and only a few great masters, like js bach, fit that. rudess to me is a good example of what a modern version of that would be, but I am not about to make that huge a statement.

As far as "technique is nothing if you have nothing to say", totally agree with you on that one, and its the reason a lot of virtuoso musicians get bad rap. But I think its less what one says but how effective one is at saying it. People get too caught up in saying something profound they often miss how difficult it is to really accurately convey simple concepts. I don't care if you are writing a song about the usefulness of paper clips or the damaging effects of child abuse later on in life. But you can judge if it is done well or not.

[Analogkid]

Since im not a huge fan of piano I think I'll take my name out of the running :biggrin:

[Syrinx]

I think if the word "best" was replaced by "favorite", the question/poll will make more sense to me at least.
And speaking of favorites, I have many, too many to list, but my top choices for contemporary ones (and they keep changing every once in a while) would be:

Jazz: Brad Mehldau, Chick Corea, Hiromi.
Classical: Boris Berezovsky, Yundi Li, Marc-André Hamelin, Fredrik ULLÉN.

And I'm sure I have missed someone :)

Best.

[Liquid Shadow]

And technique is also important because in my opinion a top class piano/any musician must be a virtuoso so they have no limits on whatever they choose to do.



http://www.monkinstitute.com/images/pix/monkpic1big.jpg

[PsawniK]

Marc-Andre Hamelin's version (with his own candenza) of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 is the most incredible display of piano technique I have ever witnessed.

[grayson mclean]

yeah lets not go there, I remember recently rolling stones did an article on the top/best 100 guitarists. I wasnt happy with putting half of them in the top 100 but if they had of rephrased the title to the top 100 most favourite,it would have made more sense. Likewise with keyboardists I can name a dozen I like but to put them on a pedestal as the best wouldnt be right. But most favourite would have to be the Wizard not only does he perform at a very high standard but he experiments with all styles of music. He also contributes back to the industry by teaching and developing new learning methods. I can appreciate someone for having a gift, but I respect someone more if they share that gift and knowledge.

[Asho]

That rolling stone guitar list is utter garabge! There is no definent way to rank any musician, because each possessess characteristics that cannot be accounted for (creativity etc). Sure we can have the technically best pianist, but the best....

Its all personal opinion.

[Alkemist]

While I, like most other people that have commented, cannot say I am interested in ranking musicians, I believe that many of these lists can introduce people to new names. So, let me tell who I like most.

Jazz: Michel Camilo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Egberto Gismonti (although he's not a pianist really).
Classical: I'll second Marc-André Hamelin, Roland Pöntinen, Pletnev, Keith Jarrett.. I would probably love Jordan too, but I haven't had the fortune to hear his classical side yet, so I'll have to refrain from adding him.

[agamemnon]

Olga Kern being a single working mother from Russia at 26 took gold at the Van Cliburn. Her adherance to tradition when playing very traditional pieces coupled with her extrodinary class and commanding presence on the stage overshadowed a number of older masters and younger prodigies from around the world.

She really for the duration of that compitition drew more interest into classical music from people who normally wouldn't follow such a thing, that to me is what makes a truely great musician. Giving her genre some mystical traits, (using origional hand inscribed sheet music centuries old, but knowing the piece so well by heart the sheet music sat there for inspiration only), and leaving an audiance that normally goes to a bar and listens to a jukebox a reason to hold they're breath makes her for those moments the greatest musician of her time.

Van Cliburn himself is not dead, although its very rare that he ever plays. Given the fact that he alone opened a channel for Gorbie to fly to American soil the first time and open a Dialog with Regan who was also a fan, which in turn led to a major cutback on nuclear weapons, what musican can say they have anything on him.

[eviani]

Going on living pianists alone...Martha Argerich, Boris Berezovsky, Nicholai Lugansky, Stephen Hough, Krystian Zimerman, Emmanuel Ax, Aldo Ciccolini...those are all the ones I have off the top of my head...

[synthcomposer]

I appreciate all your opinions. Maybe I should categorize it, because I think there are pianists that are great in there own style.

Best:

Classical
Jazz
Rock
Prog Rock

[gazzelle]

My personal favorite is Lyle Mays (of the Pat Metheny Group). His first solo album (self-titled) is one of my favorite top ten recordings of all time. He may not be the "best" pianist, but none other has inspired me as he has. I try to catch him at Lisner Hall in Georgetown (DC) every winter when the Metheny Group usually plays there.

[Alkemist]

Uuuuuhh.. Lyle Mays.. I adore his work with the PMG! His comping is brilliant.. his solos are awesome, inspiring. He is definitely one of my favorites!

However, I heard a solo (well actually a trio) album of his, fictionary, was it called? I don't remember anything sticking out, it was a bit of a bleak album.

[pianofan]

What means the best? This is so banal... For me this is one of the best Prokofiev, although you possibly never heard of this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17eY339td4M

[gylfih]

I cant belive that no-one's mentioned Oscar Peterson yet! Such great talent. It's a big loss to the world that he died.

So, my list of favourites:

Jazz: Oscar Peterson, Eldar, Jacques Loussier, Art Tatum, George Duke, John Horler, Brad Cole. I suppose that Gershwin should be in there, and maybe Scott Joplin.

Classical: Daniel Baremboim, Vladimir Horowitz, Leonard Bernstein, maybe Lang-Lang but sometimes he pisses me off with his over the top tempo swaying, and his too flamboyant flashy showmanship.

Prog: Jordan Rudess, Keith Emerson, Richard Wright, and maybe Kevin Moore.

Just general musicians (not pianists): Matt Ford, John Barber, Les Neish, Vincent, Charbonnier, Andy Scott.

[Premetheus37]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Richard Joo yet. He may be young, but he's pretty incredible.

~Premetheus