Who's Your Favorite Piano Player?

[Julie in the rv mirror]

People seemed to like the guitar player thread, so I had been thinking of doing this one for a while. After seeing the guitar vs. piano thread (I voted piano, btw), I figured this might be a good time. :-)

Naturally, I have to start with The Professor himself, Mr. Roy Bittan. :cool:

I know that all of you are of course familiar with Roy's work on Meat's albums, and his work with Jim, so I'll skip those. I'm sure that many, if not most people here also know that Roy's main gig for the last 36 years or so has been with Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. In fact, it was Roy's playing (which I knew and loved from Bat I) that helped me love Born to Run as much as I did when I first heard it.

Roy's "signature" song with the ESB is Racing in the Street, which I've been lucky enough to hear live, which was amazing. In fact, the version I saw had one of the longest outros- the song lasted a full minute longer than other versions I've heard.

My favorite piano riff of Roy's however, is from Roll of the Dice, from Bruce's Human Touch album, and was co-written by Roy himself (along with Real World, from the same album). It's a rare thing for Bruce to share writing credit with anyone, particularly on his own albums. Anyway, here's the song. Roy was also a member of the "other band" that toured with Bruce in 1992-1993 (don't mind the slightly cheesy foam dice :lol:):

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Another favorite song of mine that Roy played on is Bob Seger's Roll Me Away, which is probably my favorite song to play in the car. I have to use the studio version here- I don't know if Roy ever played live with Bob:

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In fact, if I look at many of my favorite albums, Roy has played on them. He recorded with Dire Straits and Bon Jovi (Runaway), and recorded and toured with Stevie Nicks, as well. I know I've posted this here before, but I think it bears repeating (embedding was disabled):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atx8zb1tGbY

There were rumors a while back that Roy was working on a solo album, but as of yet, nothing has materialized. I hope it does one day.

OK, who else has somebody? Let's see those YouTubes! :D

[robgomm]

I don't really know that many piano players apart from the ones i've heard work with Meat. So for me it's between Jim and Justin Avery, I can't pick as they are both as good as each other.

[Evil One]

I think Jim is a fantastic piano player when it comes to his own songs, but what little I've heard of him doing other's songs (mainly River Deep, Mountain High and Johnny B. Goode) isn't quite as good. :twisted:

[duke knooby]

favourite piano player... thats easy :D

but i gotta say meat and jim have worked with some terrific pianists over the years...

so i'll give a mention to some i've never seen perform, but have loved what i've heard...

mr steve margoshes who met meat and jim in the early days i believe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWzTHwyFHfA

the entertaining story telling and playing of james steinman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmxQ9wZvyps

and mr andrew danube doing a steinman medley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEdG9AYOcW8

[The Flying Mouse]

:twisted: Trying to stay away from Meat's band and Jim as they are a given, i'd have to put Jerry Lee on the list.

~~~~ing madman 8)

[Wario]

besides justin and jim my personal favorites are Little Richard and Stevie Wonder

[wolfy35]

Piano player would be a close tie between Billy Joel & Les Dawson (When he played seriously he was unreal & it takes massive amounts of skill to intentionally play "badly" as he did)

If we could include keyboard players however there can be only one choice

Jean Michelle Jarre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNIjDUSIOzY

I count myself lucky to have seen him live twice. Destination Docklands & Paris La Defense where he played to a then world record audience of 2.5 million on the Champs Elysees.

[Sarge]

Roll Me Away is one of my favorite Seger songs. :-)

I have a couple of favorite piano players but the one I have listened to the most is probably Billy Joel. It's a pity that he released his last pop album almost two decades back.

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Another singer/songwriter/piano player: Carole King. One of my favorite songs from her great album Tapestry:

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Ray Charles - not only a fantastic musician and singer but also a true entertainer:

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[RSG]

Billy Joel.. no contest.

[Deena J]

Billy Joel.... Anthony Burger.... :D

[SueL]

Billy Joel; Stevie Wonder; Hugh Laurie - his CD is awesome! What he lacks in vocals he makes up in spades on the piano. Hugh, that is; not Billy or Stevie ;)

[Julie in the rv mirror]

Thanks for all the responses, guys! Lots of great videos, too. :-)

I see a lot of love for Billy Joel; he was the first "big" concert I ever saw, way back in...I won't say when. ;) lol

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Elton John yet. He's one of my favorite overall artists, as well. I've gotten to see him play this song live, and it's one of my most memorable concert experiences ever. I remember that Davey Johnstone used that cool guitar the night I was there, too: lol

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Another pianist that I love to listen to is Bruce Hornsby; Justin Avery's playing reminds me of him:


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the entertaining story telling and playing of james steinman

Agreed; Meat did an excellent job with Storytellers, but just imagine how it would have been had Jim been there. :cool:

Speaking of Storytellers, there's another favorite of mine who probably doesn't come to people's minds when you think of piano, and that's Bruce Springsteen. He's not technically the best player- it's not his primary instrument- but I love listening to him play nonetheless; there is just something about it that touches me. The solo piano versions he did of For You and Incident on 57th Street are just stunning, IMO. He wrote all of the Born to Run album on piano, and this is probably my favorite version of Thunder Road ever:

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I've never been lucky enough to catch him playing piano live- maybe that will change. :-)

[Sarge]

Elton would have been too obvious a choice. ;) I love his early stuff, especially the albums Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across The Water.

Here's another favorite of mine, Warren Zevon.

A story about two famous gunslingers :cool::

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One of his most awesome songs, great interplay of piano and drums:

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Kid Rock must have listened to this a lot. (Note the references to other musicians in this version :))):

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[Julie in the rv mirror]

Elton would have been too obvious a choice. ;) I love his early stuff, especially the albums Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across The Water.

Madman... (the song) gives me chills. :cool:

Here's another favorite of mine, Warren Zevon. [...]

Kid Rock must have listened to this a lot. (Note the references to other musicians in this version :))):

Wow, those were great- especially the last one. :lol: Although... since they were in Passaic, maybe it wasn't a werewolf after all, but the Jersey Devil...;)

[melon]

Ray & Stevie.... any blind man or woman that can play the piano is truely amazing in my book.

And of course it's hard to go past Elton & Billy.

I think Piano players are just amazing on the whole. So many keys there I wouldn't know what is where. Hats off to them.

[Sebastian.]

Ludovico Einaudi

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[Julie in the rv mirror]

Ludovico Einaudi

Wow, that's really nice! :-)

[Gracie]

Billy joel the guy is a genius!

[Sue K]

:twisted: Trying to stay away from Meat's band and Jim as they are a given, i'd have to put Jerry Lee on the list.

~~~~ing madman 8)

Thanks for the reminder, Mousie... Oh YES !!! That madman can rock !!! and to this day, STILL !!! ...

I'm quite fond of classical music so admire any piano player who can play it.

But for rockin', yes, Jerry Lee !!!

I was offered piano lessons by an aunt for my 8th birthday, the same day I began taking flute lessons in elementary school. My mother said to choose one or the other... Guess which stupid me selected ? ( or is that "stupd I" ? ... lol ... )... TWEET TWEET TWEET ... I'm kicking myself to this day !!!

If you get the offer of piano lessons, accept !!! You'll always be the life of the party ... lol ...

S ... xo

[Sue K]

I think Piano players are just amazing on the whole. So many keys there I wouldn't know what is where. Hats off to them.

We're in accord there, Sweetie !!! ... xo