Oscar Peterson

Why All Jazz Pianists Should Study Art Tatum

2026-07-13T11:08:49+01:00

Photo credit: “Tatum in 1946–1948” by William P. Gottlieb. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, William P. Gottlieb Collection, digital ID gottlieb.08301. Few musicians have transformed the landscape of jazz piano quite like Art Tatum. Revered by fellow pianists and admired by musicians across every genre, Tatum possessed a level of technical brilliance and musical imagination that continues to astonish listeners decades after his recordings were made. While many pianists naturally gravitate towards figures such as Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner or Herbie Hancock, every serious jazz pianist should spend time studying Art Tatum. His influence reaches far beyond dazzling virtuosity; [...]

Why All Jazz Pianists Should Study Art Tatum2026-07-13T11:08:49+01:00

5 Essential Piano Solos to Transcribe: Rhythm Changes

2026-01-21T14:18:19+00:00

Transcription is an essential element of developing improvisational language in jazz. Throughout the history of jazz, emulating the sounds of artists you admire has been the fastest way of developing the sound you wish for, and in the 21st century this has become easier than ever. There are now countless albums on streaming services, thousands of bootleg recordings hidden on the web, and hundreds of concert videos of every artist on sites such as YouTube. Because of this, you can take any artist you like and transcribe their work on the spot without having to buy their music or attend their [...]

5 Essential Piano Solos to Transcribe: Rhythm Changes2026-01-21T14:18:19+00:00

Five Christmas Jazz Albums for Pianists

2025-12-17T11:45:41+00:00

December is the best month to be a pianist. Whether it’s carols, chart-toppers or jazz classics, there is a wealth of repertoire available for pianists of all levels to play. For jazz pianists, the Christmas period allows us to apply everything we have learned throughout the year to a familiar set of tunes. Many jazz artists throughout the years have taken the time to make Christmas albums, and these collections of musically simple tunes present very honest reflections of the artist. I’ve found many of these albums inspiring, and when not studying the contents they also make for excellent easy listening. [...]

Five Christmas Jazz Albums for Pianists2025-12-17T11:45:41+00:00

The Best Jazz Piano Albums of All Time

2025-02-13T11:00:07+00:00

In the world of jazz, the piano stands as the most versatile instrument, and a key figure in the continuing evolution of the genre. Throughout the history of jazz, the piano has been employed both as a rhythm section member, and as the focal instrument, either in an ensemble or solo setting. As a result, there have been countless albums released in the last 100 years that have explored the piano as a lead instrument, giving aspiring pianists a wealth of material to take inspiration from. Here I will outline the qualities of what I think are the most inspiring and [...]

The Best Jazz Piano Albums of All Time2025-02-13T11:00:07+00:00
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