The piano has been a fundamental part of jazz music. Jazz piano is a domain of limitless possibilities. Right from playing the simple and tested sets to the downright obscure, the world has seen a large variety of jazz pianists who have been envied by their counter figures from other genres. By it as a solo instrument or as part of a rhythm section, the jazz piano has it covered.

Arthur Tatum

Arthur Tatum or simply Art Tatum was one of the most technically brilliant pianists of his time. His improvisation skills and ingenious ideas put him light years ahead of any of the other players at the time. His complex style has made him one of the hardest artists to ape.

Oscar Peterson

There is only one word that can be used to describe the master of the grand piano- Grand. If there ever was any one person who conquered jazz music as a whole, and not the jazz piano, it would be Oscar Peterson. Listening to Oscar the conqueror play was a delight no doubt, but one had to see Oscar play at times to see how easy he made it look in his usual smiling swagger.

Chick Corea

Playing jazz is in itself a big accomplishment. Few would dare to take jazz and mix it with other genres without being extremely confident of their own abilities. One such player was Chick Corea. One of Miles Davis’s numerous findings, Chick was instrumental in the advent of jazz fusion music and is considered one of the greatest pianist/composers of the genre of all time.

Herbie Hancock

Miles Davis was one of the coolest guys in the jazz industry going in and out of traditional jazz music, and adding more toppings onto jazz that could be found in the neighboring ice cream parlour. Herbie was one of the greatest additions to Miles team of musicians. He was easily one of the most connectible players to Miles, as he complemented the man’s keen interest for innovation. A proponent of the use of synthesizers and a keen lover of funk music he was one of the first players to successfully fuse them into jazz playing.

Thelonious Monk

Monk the man of high standards of playing, has contributed more standards to jazz music than most could imagine. Jazz masterpieces such as Round Midnight and Blue Monk have arisen from his head, added to that he is also credited as one of the founders of the tastefully exciting style of Bebop.

David Brubeck

Jazz timings were never the easiest thing to comprehend fully in music. Now being able to play jazz timing is one thing, but being able to master unusual jazz timings is a very different ball game. The master of these abnormalities was David Brubeck. Dave could playing anything in any timing and that was his greatest asset. He played through these weird timings  with ease and poise, while others would have to toil hard not to stray.

Duke Ellington

Think Jazz, think Duke Ellington. The equation is that simple. Duke was the greatest jazz musicians of all time and one of the greatest composers across any genre of any era. The man’s stature and contribution to music are beyond measurement.

Jan Hammer

Many people who are familiar with Jan Hammer’s may not even release that do so. Although Jan’s most famous works would be composing the music for the television series Miami Vice, he has worked with some of the most prominent figures in the music industry and earned their respect. Elvin Jones, Stanley Clarke, Jeff Beck are some of the names that have played with the man. For proof of why he deserves to be on this list check out the Mahavishnu Orchestra albums Birds of Fire and Between Nothingness and Eternity.

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Rishi Agarwal is a student of finance and is a multi genre guitarist. He likes playing with his dog, christened Elvis after The King. He lives off the likes of Hendrix and Clapton , and aspires to one day jam with John Mclaughlin of The Mahavishnu Orchestra.