J*** Pianist Jon Mayer
Posted by: Oldnslow on 05 May 2006
I have been a jazz piano geek for decades. While I listen and like many styles, the older I get the more I find myself listening most often to what are now considered mainstream straight ahead bebop players in the mold of Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Wynton Kelly, and the like. The ECM classically based school doesn't really do much for me anymore.
One obscure pianist I have very much enjoyed lately is Jon Mayer, now in his late 60's. He grew up in the late 50's and 60's, had a long haitus, and returned to the scene in the last ten years or so. Great swing, deep feeling, complete command. Just thought I would toss his name out as I doubt many have heard of him. He has 5 superb CDs available--the best two (in astounding fidelity by the way) are on Fresh Sound--a live album called Rip Van Winkle and a recently released studio CD called Strictly Confidential. He also has 3 excellent CDs on Resevour titled My Romance, Classics, and Full Circle. Give this fellow a try if you like swinging cliche free jazz piano--wonderful stuff.
I would also recommend another wonderful bebop pianist named Hod O'Brien, also in his late 60s now, who has two excellent CDs available on Fresh Sound, again in great sound.
One final recommendation for straight ahead piano is a younger player named Jan Lundgrun, who has several CDs on Fresh Sound too. I am particularly fond of his Live at the Jazz Bakery CD, the same venue of Jon Mayer's live CD--some of the best recorded live sound I have ever heard.
Enjoy!
One obscure pianist I have very much enjoyed lately is Jon Mayer, now in his late 60's. He grew up in the late 50's and 60's, had a long haitus, and returned to the scene in the last ten years or so. Great swing, deep feeling, complete command. Just thought I would toss his name out as I doubt many have heard of him. He has 5 superb CDs available--the best two (in astounding fidelity by the way) are on Fresh Sound--a live album called Rip Van Winkle and a recently released studio CD called Strictly Confidential. He also has 3 excellent CDs on Resevour titled My Romance, Classics, and Full Circle. Give this fellow a try if you like swinging cliche free jazz piano--wonderful stuff.
I would also recommend another wonderful bebop pianist named Hod O'Brien, also in his late 60s now, who has two excellent CDs available on Fresh Sound, again in great sound.
One final recommendation for straight ahead piano is a younger player named Jan Lundgrun, who has several CDs on Fresh Sound too. I am particularly fond of his Live at the Jazz Bakery CD, the same venue of Jon Mayer's live CD--some of the best recorded live sound I have ever heard.
Enjoy!