Favorite Pianist?

[cjedick]

So, who's your favorite pop/rock pianist? Elton John? Ben Folds?

I'm gonna go with Billy Joel. I love his stuff. "Summer, Highland Falls," "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," and "Vienna" are some of my favorite piano tunes.

All right, let everyone know. I'm sure the poll is inadequate, so feel free to post your favorite.

Speaking of Ben Folds, does anyone recommend "Songs for Silverman"? I loved "Ben Folds Live" and "Rockin' the Suburbs" was pretty good. Is there a better album I should be getting by Folds?

Thanks

 

[allofgrace]

So difficult to choose, cjedick! Billy Joel and Elton John are both incredible. I've seen them both in concert, even performing together. Billy would even tell you though that Elton is the man when it comes to performance. But Billy wins hands down when it comes to composing. His melodies are beautiful! Anyone else give them a run for their money? How about jazz piano player Diana Krall! Excellent post....I'm partial to piano players!

 

[cygnusx1]

my fav isn't on the list .............. Freddie Mercury!

 

[TheDandyMan]

Dave Brubeck.

 

[cjedick]

my fav isn't on the list .............. Freddie Mercury!

I didn't know that he played piano??? Haha. I guess I've never seen any live footage of Queen.

 

[nadroj1985]

Meh, I'm not a big fan of any of those. Jazz pianists are cooler, especially Thelonius Monk.

 

[MetalBlade]

I'd have to go with Elton John, but there are a lot of good ones to choose

 

[jerseyfresh]

Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ben Folds, Ben Jelen, Andrew McMahon.

 

[cjedick]

Elton John, Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ben Folds, Ben Jelen, Andrew McMahon.

 

[allofgrace]

For those who like Elton John, what are your favorite piano songs? I think mine is "Tonight." For Billy Joel I think I'd have to go with "Good Night My Angel." Absolutely gorgeous!

 

[12volt_man]

I'm going to have to go with my buddy, Billy Payne.

After that, I'm going to list Mike Utley.

It was fun to see the two of them together on the Salty Piece of Land Tour this year.

A little surprised that nobody here said Professor Longhair or James Booker.

 

[thenewageriseth]

I like Ray Charles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Norah Jones' nice, Alicia Keys is boring and lastly I like Yanni, John Tesh, Jim Brickman and those in the Smooth Jazz and New Age Music world!

 

[fieldlily]

Roger Williams used to be my favorite. My husband gave me one of his albums (33 1/3 record) the first Christmas we were married. It was called, Near You.

Now I like Dino..although he often plays Christian music he does a lot of secular music also.

 

[cjedick]

come on...where are my Joel fans?! "They say that these are not the best of times, but they're the only times I've ever known." I mean, it's not my favorite song, but he DID write "Piano Man"! Oh well.

 

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

Speaking of Ben Folds, does anyone recommend "Songs for Silverman"? I loved "Ben Folds Live" and "Rockin' the Suburbs" was pretty good. Is there a better album I should be getting by Folds?

Do you have Songs for Goldfish? It's a li'l side release that came out at the same time that Songs for Silverman did. (I think it may be a special thing you get whenever you order Songs for Silverman off of Ben's site, but I'm not sure.)Get Whatever and Ever Amen - it's Ben Folds Five, not a solo album, but it's still good. Also, Fear of Pop is an interesting little side project that Ben's put out with (no joke) William Shatner.

Ben Folds is definitely my favorite pianist. He plays like...to put it nicely, like he's male. You get my drift.

 

[cjedick]

He plays like...to put it nicely, like he's male. You get my drift.

I don't get it? You mean you find him attractive? Maybe I'm slow.

I have "Whatever and Ever." I was just curious if "Songs For Silverman" was a disappointment to anyone? Because all the pop albums released this year have already disappointed me!

 

[WhenFinallySetFree777]

I don't get it? You mean you find him attractive? Maybe I'm slow.

Oh, you sneaky devil. You know what I mean...I hope.

 

[allofgrace]

I can quote Mr. Joel all day long. It used to be an obsession of mine, but now I'm in recovery. "It's either sadness or euphoria...."

 

[drew.dominguez]

JOHN CAGE is the best pianist. Hands down!

But Billy Joel is pretty sweet, haha

 

[Tsarina]

Alicia Keys and Elton john..