Who do you think is the best piano player ever?
I am not sure there is one answer to this question as there are many pianists playing many different styles of music. There can be no doubt that Oscar Peterson is an absolutely top jazz pianist, but if he had to play Chopin, his feel would be wrong. For me Memphis Slim or Meade Lux Lewis were the classic boogie players, but I wouldn’t like to hear them attempting Mozart. The reverse is normally true when the top classical musicians attempt to play jazz, the nearest exceptions being Jaques Loussier and Andre Previn. So this leaves a problem………..the best player, not composer but player. We have to look for a player with a personal style that is totally original and distinct and streets in front of others in his genre…………by now you will appreciate that I am thinking quite a way in front of Richard Clayderman or Sir Elton John !! OK deep breath………..my personal choice would be Art Tatum. Download some of his material on Limewire or similar, listen to it and then agree.
