Jazz Pianists Tickle the Ivories Quiz

Answer:

Dave Brubeck (1920-2012) was an American pianist and composer, and leader of the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the 1950s and '60s. The group's signature tune "Take Five" was arranged by Brubeck, and composed by saxophonist Paul Desmond. Written in an unusual 5/4 time signature, it may be one of the most recognizable of all jazz compositions.

Armando "Chick" Corea (1941-2021) was born in Massachusetts, and was a percussionist as well as a pianist. He was a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, and later formed bands of his own. His music covered several genres, including fusion, avant-garde jazz and Latin jazz.

Edward "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974) formed his self-named jazz band in 1924, and led it for the next fifty years. As well as playing piano and leading his band, he was a composer of such standards as "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got that Swing)" and "Mood Indigo". He and his orchestra also appeared in a number of movies during the 1940s and '50s.

Bill Evans (1929-1980) was born in New Jersey, and studied classical music before joining Miles Davis' sextet in 1959. He was a composer as well as a piano player, with the likes of "Waltz for Debby" becoming jazz standards. Evans often recorded as part of a trio, consisting of piano, double bass and drums, though the members of the group were not constant.

Erroll Garner (1921-1977) came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and showed an aptitude for music from an early age, though he never learned to read music and always played "by ear". He recorded his instrumental composition, "Misty" in 1954. The familiar lyrics, by Johnny Burke, were added at a later date. You might have heard them in the Clint Eastwood film "Play 'Misty' for Me".

Herbie Hancock was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1940, and studied at the Manhattan School of Music and Roosevelt University. He was a member of the Miles Davis Quintet in the 1960s, and besides piano has been known to play other instruments such as the keytar. In 2012 he became a professor at UCLA, and has also served long term as the chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz (previously named for Thelonious Monk).

Earl "Fatha" Hines (1903-1983) was renowned amongst his contemporaries as one of the greatest jazz pianists ever and even as the "father of modern jazz". Count Basie, who was no slouch himself, called Hines "the greatest piano player in the world". Hines hailed from Duquesne, Pennsylvania.

Scott Joplin (1868-1917) became a familiar name to whole new generations of fans when his composition "The Entertainer" was used in the soundtrack of the movie "The Sting" (1973). In fact, almost all of the ragtime music used in the Newman/Redford film had been written by Joplin. Budding piano players (including my downstairs neighbour) attempted to emulate the Texas-born piano player's style and expertise, with varying degrees of success.

Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (1890-1941), known to his fans as Jelly Roll Morton, came from that bastion of jazz music, Louisiana. His first job at age 14 was as a piano player in a brothel, and he moved up from there. His claim to have "invented" jazz is widely disputed.

Thelonious Monk (1917-1982) came from North Carolina. Like many of the pianists in this quiz, he was also a composer, and was known for improvisational works featuring dissonances and hesitations.

Canadian icon, Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was born in Montreal, Quebec and was proficient in classical music as well as jazz and boogie-woogie. He has been featured on postage stamps in Austria and Canada, won numerous Grammy awards and Queen Elizabeth II herself unveiled the statue of "O.P." with his piano in Canada's capital, Ottawa, in 2010.

Arthur Tatum Jr. (1909-1956), known as Art, was born and grew up in Toledo, Ohio. His vision was poor from an early age, but he was capable of playing almost anything by ear. Some accounts credit him with having perfect pitch. He played with an unusual straight finger technique that contrasted with the norm, and which can be seen in the 1947 film "The Fabulous Dorseys" in which he appeared.

(Alfred) McCoy Tyner (1938-2020) had a long solo career after a stint with the John Coltrane Quartet in the 1960s. He was born in Philadelphia, PA, where he studied piano and theory at the Granoff School of Music as a teenager. He was the recipient of several Grammy awards.

Thomas Wright "Fats" Waller (1904-1943) was born in Kansas City, Missouri and was an organist as well as a pianist. Among his compositions are "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Honeysuckle Rose". He composed the hit Broadway musical "Early to Bed", shortly before his death from pneumonia in 1943.

Mary Elfrieda Scruggs (1910-1981) was known professionally as Mary Lou Williams, jazz pianist, composer and arranger. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was under the age of ten when she began playing piano in public, helping support her large family. Her adult career included arranging music for such greats as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and others; composing pieces in such diverse genres as bebop and gospel; and playing in various venues.

Of the incorrect choices, Miller and Teagarden were trombone players, while Armstrong, Davis and Gillespie were trumpeters.