Best piano accompanist

[Charlie]

Sparked by the discussion about Buika's new album with Chucho Valdes on piano under 'new CDs' in this forum, I'm looking for votes on the best piano accompanists.

1. Allen Toussaint, on just about everything he was ever involved in, but you can start with 'Get Out of My Life, Woman' and 'Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further', both by Lee Dorsey.

2. James P Johnson, backing Bessie Smith on 'Backwater Blues'.

3. Pete Johnson, backing Joe Turner on 'Roll 'Em Pete'

[Des]

Gerald Moore.

[Hugh Weldon]

Charlie

Allen Toussaint, on just about everything he was ever involved in, but you can start with 'Get Out of My Life, Woman' and 'Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further', both by Lee Dorsey.

And 'Holy Cow', which I assume he was on as well.

Teddy Wilson with Billie Holliday.

[Adam Blake]

Teddy Wilson with Billie Holliday.

Game, set and match!

[Neil Foxlee]

Des said:

Gerald Moore

[German classical lieder (songs), eg Schubert]

Dudley Moore. ;-)

Art Tatum with Ben Webster.

But Teddy Wilson has to be tops.

[Charlie]

Noting uiwangimike's posting under Obituaries:

Larry Knechtel, with Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water

[NormanD]

Lincoln Mayorga.

Who?

Pretty much a two-off, but memorably both times as the pianist on "Big Man" by The Four Preps, and "Love Letters" by Ketty Lester.

[judith]

Another with the last name of Johnson would be Johnny Johnson (accompanied Chuck Berry).

[Alan Balfour]

Otis Spann accompanying.....who does one start with? Muddy? Wolf? Sonny Boy?

I'll go for Lonnie Johnson, Copenhagen 16 October 1963. Two masters of their individual crafts in perfect accord, recorded by Karl Emil Knudsen.

[Hugh Weldon]

All this reminded me of Pete Atkin/Clive James's 'Thirty Year Man', still one of my favourite lyrics about a musician:

Nobody here yet
From the spotlight that will ring her not a glimmer
Not a finger on its squeaky dimmer
I play piano in a jazz quartet
That works here late with a young girl singer

And along from the darkened and empty tables
By the covered-up drums and the microphone cables
At the end of the room the piano glistens
Like the rail at the end of the nave

Thirty years in the racket
A brindled crew-cut and a silk-lined jacket
And it isn't my hands that fill this place
It's a kid's voice still reaching into space
It's her they're driving down to hear
And it's my bent-over back she's standing near

Nobody talks yet
From the glasses that will touch soon not a tinkle
Not a paper napkin shows a wrinkle
I play piano in a jazz quartet
That backs a winner while the big notes crinkle

And along from the darkened and empty tables
By the covered-up drums and the microphone cables
At the end of the room the piano glistens
Like the rail at the end of the nave
And I play a few things while no-one listens

Thirty years in the racket
A brindled crew-cut and a silk-lined jacket
And it isn't my name that brings them in
It's a little girl just starting to begin
It's her they're piling in to see
And I'd kill that kid if she wasn't killing me

Nobody moves yet
From the tables near the bandstand not a rustle
Not a loudmouth even moves a muscle
I play piano in a jazz quartet
That backs a giver while the takers hustle

And along from the darkened and empty tables
By the covered-up drums and the microphone cables
At the end of the room the piano glistens
Like bones at the end of a cave
And I play a few things while no-one listens
For an hour alone spells freedom to the slave

[Rob Hall]

Otis Spann accompanying.....who does one start with? Muddy? Wolf? Sonny Boy?

I'll go for Lonnie Johnson, Copenhagen 16 October 1963. Two masters of their individual crafts in perfect accord, recorded by Karl Emil Knudsen.

Actually - and I apologise that his goes against the objective of Charlie's original post - Otis spann accompanying himself does it for me. The album "Good Morning Mr Blues" (also recorded in Copenhagen in the early 60s I think?) tells you all you need to know about blues piano. His singing is pretty special too.

[judith]

Otis Spann accompanying.....who does one start with? Muddy? Wolf? Sonny Boy?

I'll go for Lonnie Johnson, Copenhagen 16 October 1963. Two masters of their individual crafts in perfect accord, recorded by Karl Emil Knudsen.

Something like this Alan? (Rob, I found lots of Otis Spann as you mentioned, but I'm practicing sticking to the point at hand. However, this might not have been recorded in Copenhagen.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSa_JluRs4E[/youtube]

[Alan Balfour]

Otis Spann accompanying.....who does one start with? Muddy? Wolf? Sonny Boy?

I'll go for Lonnie Johnson, Copenhagen 16 October 1963. Two masters of their individual crafts in perfect accord, recorded by Karl Emil Knudsen.[/quote]

Something like this Alan? ]

That's my girl. Lovely thanks. From memory this was shot on the German leg of the 1963 AFBF.

[Alan Balfour]

[Actually - and I apologise that his goes against the objective of Charlie's original post - Otis spann accompanying himself does it for me. The album "Good Morning Mr Blues" (also recorded in Copenhagen in the early 60s I think?) tells you all you need to know about blues piano. His singing is pretty special too.

From tha 1963 session I cite. No apologies necessary to me, can't speak for anybody else.

[john poole]

Lincoln Mayorga.

Who?

Pretty much a two-off, but memorably both times as the pianist on "Big Man" by The Four Preps, and "Love Letters" by Ketty Lester.

and "Every Little Bit Hurts" by Brenda Holloway.