Some of the greatest piano players in history became known for

their proficiency in jazz. Technicality and a heavy reliance upon

the ability of the musician to improvise makes jazz piano one of

the hardest styles to learn. That does NOT mean, however, that it can’t be learned, but to get to the highest rungs a pianist must have lots of talent, a great ear, and the ability to improvise.

The birth of jazz music in the early 1900s was a significant

period in musical history. Many of those who are considered among

the greatest jazz pianists of all times were pioneers of the

genre during this period. Jazz evolved from musical styles that

African slaves brought to America.

Therefore, its inception can largely be attributed to the early

African-American community. African-American pianists, such as

Scott Joplin and Ernest Hogan, are considered to be among the

fathers of ragtime music. Although the ragtime era only lasted a

few years, it was a precursor to, and contemporary of, the jazz

era.

Many of the earliest and greatest jazz pianists were African

American. For this reason, jazz music had something of a stigma

to overcome. While many embraced jazz as a new and exciting

genre, others couldn’t. The emancipation of African slaves was

still a fresh memory, and many people still carried strong

attitudes of racism. Anything that was perceived as “negro” (such

as jazz music) was inferior at best and “of the devil” at worst.

Jazz’s public image changed slowly over the first two or three

decades of the 20th century. Great African-American jazz pianists

of the early to mid 1900s were instrumental in helping transform

the perception of jazz. African-American artists like Erroll

Garner, Theoloius Monk, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Oscar

Peterson brought a level of class to the genre that was

undeniable. In fact, the Count Basie orchestra was pivotal to the

jazz culture of New York for half a century.

Noteworthy musicians in and of themselves, they also provided

back-up for critically acclaimed singers like Billie Holliday and

Big Joe Turner. Count Basie’s association with Ella Fitzgerald is

both historically and musically significant. The 1963 album the

two made together is remembered by critics as possibly the

greatest recording of her career. Count Basie also made

recordings with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Tony Bennett.

These match-ups lent even more credibility to jazz as a distinct

genre.

The evolution of jazz saw many changes over the ensuing decades.

More branches and sub-genres developed. In fact, jazz music fell

out of favor with the public for several years in the 1980s.

There was controversy within the musical community over the

fusing of so many different types of music with jazz. Some

purists viewed it as “watering down” the art form. Other

musicians and fans see jazz music as a culmination of many types

of music and view blending it with rock as simply another

variation generally known as “fusion”.

Contemporary jazz artists have brought jazz back around into

public favor in the 21st century. Today’s great jazz pianists,

like Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr. and Norah Jones bear living

proof of this by number of albums sold. While some write off

their work as “pop” jazz, many believe they are instrumental in

keeping jazz alive in the new millennium.