Jazz Piano

Jazz Piano

Jazz Piano has been one of foundation pillars of the jazz genre in both the solo and ensemble categories of music. Jazz Piano helps in the understanding and implementing the real nature of jazz theory. Jazz category is extremely melodic, harmonic and synchronized in nature. The different sub-categories of jazz implement different kinds of jazz pianos. Many new types of jazz pianos are being experimented which cater to the dynamic nature of rhythmic attributes of jazz style.

Background and working

The formulators of Jazz Piano include some of the geniuses of modern music like Jelly Roll Morton, James Johnson, Teddy Wilson, Mary Lou Williams and Art Tatum. In the 1960's, some new faces rose to international cognizance like Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Keith Jarrett and John Taylor. Bill Evans was the mentor and path-illuminator for these new generation pianists. The latest luminaries comprise of pianists like Mulgrew Miller, Geoffrey Keezer, Danilo Perez, Marc Van Roon and many others. Also, playing a Jazz Piano requires special skill-sets. A Jazz Pianist must be able to read his notes (music notations) by a mere glance and also interpret them quickly while his fingers tickle on the keys. This happens by way of sight and memory. In a complete accompaniment while playing in an orchestra, the pianist has to balance the interpretation from the notes in accordance with the synchronization of the soloist and other instrumentalists.

Contribution of Jazz Piano

The initial contribution of Jazz Piano in ensembles was to serve as filler and a time-adjusting component. However, later it became as one of the telepathically governed ways to interact with the soloist with the help of short and sustained chordal and melodic synchronizations. The use of Jazz Piano gave the soloist innumerous alternatives to adjust his/her voice according to the changing patterns of rhythm, scale, octave, harmonics and tones. In a style called stride piano, the left hand alternates position by playing notes as well as chords. The right hand is used to play the melodic lines or the treble. Another unique feature is the use of several faux scales like Four Beat, Twelve Step and an emulation method called Shuffling.

Piano Playing