Jazz Piano?


Alright, a few months ago I would have told you that I hate Jazz. I'm 24, I'm not supposed to like it. Problem is, my wife loves the stuff. So I'm watching MTV one day, and hear an interview with Jamie Cullum. I think, "Hey, here's something my wife will like, and something I could probably get into as well."

Turns out I love jazz piano. I've tried to listen to brass and guitar leads, but nothing hits me like piano does. Problem is, I don't have much of a collection-- none would be the more appropriate term. I need more.

So where should I start?
themadmilkman
Brubeck, Evans, Monk,
Tower Records under Jazz
Classic Records
Might try Audioquest music and Bruce Katz Band (blues not jazz but great blues piano)
The above are all great suggestions. Bill evans is classic but don't forget oscar peterson. For 'popular' try claude bolling (suite for flute and jazz piano was one of the most popular jazz discs of all time at one point). There are lots more. Enjoy
Dick Hyman does (emulates/simulates/copies) just about every major jazz piano style there ever was,(and quite well I might add) from rag to swing and beyond.
Add to the previous list: Tyner,Hancock,Corea,Peterson.
Early Jazz: Jelly Roll Morton,James P. Johnson
Swing: Duke Ellington,Count Basie,**ART TATUM**
Bop: Bud Powell
Hard Bop:McCoy Tyner
Modern: Oscar Peterson,Bill Evans,Horace Silver,Herbie Hancock

Mark Gridley's one volume jazz text is a good read and a good introduction to jazz.
Many of these recommendations are fairly hard core jazz piano, and may not be as accessible to a rock fan. Don't want to scare you off right away. Jamie Cullum is nice jazz piano without going over the top. I would suggest a few others that are a bit more accessible and less hard core, like:

David Benoit
Diana Krall
Claude Bolling

Then move up a notch to:

Vince Guaraldi
Michael Petruicianni (may have spelled it wrong)
Bill Evans
Dave Brubeck
Jackie Terrasson
Marian McPartland

Then you can try harder stuff by:

Herbie Hancock
Kieth Jarrett
McCoy Tyner
Chic Corea
Oscar Peterson

Enjoy,
Bob