An Introduction to Jazz Piano

The piano has been an important part of jazz from the very start. Whether playing solo or with an ensemble, the jazz pianist provides the technical backbone that supports the rest of the music harmonically while also adding melodic color. Learning the piano is essential to students of jazz because the piano can produce harmony and melody at the same time, allowing a jazz pianist to play chords and lead lines simultaneously. Other than the guitar, the piano is the only instrument in a jazz combo that can play chords.

Early jazz piano pioneers include Earl Hines, James P. Johnson, Jelly Roll Morton, Willie “The Lion” Smith, Art Tatum, and Fats Waller. Their style was heavily influenced by the stride piano style (also known as New York Ragtime) that was often performed in solo settings (see The Swing Jazz Piano Style). Then came the “golden age of jazz”: the 1950s and 1960s. This period produced legends such as Red Garland, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Kelly, Thelonious Monk, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, and many others. During this period, the piano became the centerpiece of jazz duos, trios, and quartets.