Slick2: There are some good suggestions above, but here are a few more that you should add to your list:
1. Michel Petrucciani -- a French player who suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta (also known as china bone disease). He's now deceased, much too young, but a marvellous player with some excellent group and solo recordings.
2. Chucho Valdez -- a Cuban pianist with a lot of Latin fire. Check out his recent solo album recorded (I think) at the Village Vanguard.
3. Abdullah Ibrahim, the jazz pianist formerly known as Dollar Brand -- a South African pianist with a wonderful swinging lilt to his style. One of my favorites recordings by him is "Water From An Ancient Well".
4. Erroll Garner -- one of the truly great American pianists. His recording "Concert by the Sea" is a classic, and truly deserves to be.
5. Marian McPartland -- originally from England, Marian is the real deal. She hosts a NPR show called "Piano Jazz" which features a lot of great players.
6. McCoy Tyner -- the piano player for many years in John Coltrane's great quartet of the 1960's. Tyner has a lot of fine recordings, but I'd start with "New York Reunion" on the Chesky label.