• Board index ‹ The Music Room ‹ Best of Everything and Anything
  • Change font size
  • Print view
  • Home • FAQ • Search • Register • Login

It is currently Wed May 22, 2013 8:03 pm

Best piano accompanist

Who recommends what, for the perfect record collection, including best guitar solos, African records and singers with gravelly voices
Post a reply
23 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2

Best piano accompanist

Postby Charlie » Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:05 pm

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'
Charlie
Site Admin
 
Posts: 6163
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 5:09 pm
  • Website
Top

Postby Des » Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:57 pm

Gerald Moore.
Des
 
Posts: 5280
Joined: Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:33 pm
Location: Bristle
  • Website
Top

Postby Hugh Weldon » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:01 pm

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.
Hugh Weldon
 
Posts: 2027
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:01 pm
Location: London N11
Top

Postby Adam Blake » Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:15 pm

Hugh Weldon wrote:Teddy Wilson with Billie Holliday.


Game, set and match!
Adam Blake
 
Posts: 7199
Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 1:02 pm
Location: Notting Hill Gate, London
Top

Postby Neil Foxlee » Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:34 pm

Des said:

Gerald Moore
[German classical lieder (songs), eg Schubert]

Dudley Moore. ;-)

Art Tatum with Ben Webster.

But Teddy Wilson has to be tops.
Neil Foxlee
 
Posts: 3393
Joined: Fri Sep 16, 2005 2:30 pm
Location: Bay Area (Morecambe, not San Francisco)
Top

Postby Charlie » Fri Sep 25, 2009 3:59 pm

Noting uiwangimike's posting under Obituaries:

Larry Knechtel, with Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water
Charlie
Site Admin
 
Posts: 6163
Joined: Fri May 28, 2004 5:09 pm
  • Website
Top

Postby NormanD » Fri Sep 25, 2009 5:56 pm

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.
NormanD
 
Posts: 4982
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2004 8:28 pm
Location: 77 Sunset Strip
  • E-mail
Top

Postby judith » Fri Sep 25, 2009 6:11 pm

Another with the last name of Johnson would be Johnny Johnson (accompanied Chuck Berry).
judith
 
Posts: 3204
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:54 am
Location: pacific northcoast, usa
Top

Postby Alan Balfour » Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:31 pm

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.
Alan Balfour
 
Posts: 1347
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Southampton
Top

Postby Hugh Weldon » Sat Sep 26, 2009 12:54 am

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
Hugh Weldon
 
Posts: 2027
Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:01 pm
Location: London N11
Top

Postby Rob Hall » Sat Sep 26, 2009 1:43 am

Alan Balfour wrote: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.
Rob Hall
Site Admin
 
Posts: 3104
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:13 pm
Location: Home, home on the range
Top

Postby judith » Sat Sep 26, 2009 2:16 am

Alan Balfour wrote: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]
judith
 
Posts: 3204
Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:54 am
Location: pacific northcoast, usa
Top

Postby Alan Balfour » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:11 am

I wrote: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]
judith wrote: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
 
Posts: 1347
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Southampton
Top

Postby Alan Balfour » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:13 am

Rob Hall wrote:[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.
Alan Balfour
 
Posts: 1347
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:40 pm
Location: Southampton
Top

Postby john poole » Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:05 pm

NormanD wrote: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.
john poole
 
Posts: 3214
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:48 pm
Location: Certain Circles
Top

Next

Post a reply
23 posts • Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2

Return to Best of Everything and Anything

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest

  • Board index
  • The team • Delete all board cookies • All times are UTC [ DST ]
© 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group