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jazz piano

what it is

Jazz piano is the use of an acoustic piano or electric piano as an improvising instrument in a jazz group or jazz fusion ensemble. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. The instrument is also an important tool in the understanding of jazz theory and arranging for jazz musicians and composers because of its combined melodic and harmonic nature.

✦ meet the girls making jazz piano →
women, non-binary artists, and bands with women, level by level

✦ start here: albums

Being There by Tord Gustavsen Trio
Being There
Tord Gustavsen Trio
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The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett
The Köln Concert
Keith Jarrett
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Conversations With Myself by Bill Evans
Conversations With Myself
Bill Evans
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Time Out by Dave Brubeck
Time Out
Dave Brubeck
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In My Element by Robert Glasper
In My Element
Robert Glasper
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Jazz på svenska by Jan Johansson
Jazz på svenska
Jan Johansson
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✦ who's making it, level by level

level 2 · the door

big names with a sharper edge

Bill Evans
1.2m listeners
Vince Guaraldi Trio
1.3m listeners
Thelonious Monk
1.1m listeners

level 3 · one step out

cult favorites and indie darlings

Bill Evans Trio
730k listeners
Erroll Garner
519k listeners
Red Garland
314k listeners
Oscar Peterson Trio
647k listeners
McCoy Tyner
691k listeners
Oscar Peterson
794k listeners
Ahmad Jamal Trio
305k listeners
Keith Jarrett
657k listeners
Robert Glasper
493k listeners
Ahmad Jamal
437k listeners
Tommy Flanagan
253k listeners

level 4 · further

art pop, hyperpop, and the underground

Junior Mance
184k listeners
Chihiro Yamanaka
129k listeners
Tommy Flanagan Trio
135k listeners
Bob Baldwin
65k listeners
Renee Rosnes
52k listeners
Albert Ammons
45k listeners
Ray Bryant Trio
54k listeners

level 5 · all the way

deep experimental

The Gene Harris Quartet
22k listeners
Marcus Johnson
34k listeners
Alan Hewitt
7k listeners
Eugene Maslov
6k listeners
Paul Kuhn
16k listeners
Artur Dutkiewicz
1k listeners
Bob Florence
2k listeners
Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson & Jon Christensen
3k listeners
Biff Smith
2k listeners
Martin Tingvall
8k listeners
Alberto Rosenblit
2k listeners
Sir Roland Hanna
3k listeners

✦ make jazz piano a playlist

turn these 33 artists into something you can press play on.

each artist's most played song, easing from level 1 out to 5

✦ nearby genres

jazzpianobebopinstrumentalhard bopswingpiano jazzjazz triosmooth jazzfusion

questions

What is jazz piano?

Jazz piano is the use of an acoustic piano or electric piano as an improvising instrument in a jazz group or jazz fusion ensemble. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. The instrument is also an important tool in the understanding of jazz theory and arranging for jazz musicians and composers because of its combined melodic and harmonic nature.

What are good jazz piano albums to start with?

Try Being There by Tord Gustavsen Trio, The Köln Concert by Keith Jarrett, Conversations With Myself by Bill Evans, and Time Out by Dave Brubeck.

Who are some women making jazz piano?

musicisforgirls.com/genres/jazz-piano/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making jazz piano, from mainstream to underground.

genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-19