Duke Ellington / Thelonious Monk / Horace Silver / Herbie Hancock
Piano Giants Vol. 1
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1975 2LP US Original in Gatefold Featuring 24 Of The Most Influential Keyboard Artists Including Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Bud Powell, George Shearing, Oscar Peterson, Phineas Newborn, Red Garland, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul And Others. Rather than being a collaborative recording, the album presents a curated selection of tracks from these artists, each representing a distinct era and style within the jazz piano tradition. Ellington, known for his sophisticated orchestrations and elegant phrasing, laid the groundwork for modern jazz composition and big band arranging. Monk, whose unorthodox harmonies and angular melodies revolutionized the language of jazz piano, brought a new level of abstraction and wit to the form. Horace Silver and Herbie Hancock, though both rooted in the hard bop tradition, pushed the genre in different directions—Silver with his earthy blues-influenced vamps and punchy rhythms, Hancock with his adventurous harmonies and innovative use of electric keyboards. "Piano Giants Vol. 1" offers listeners a rare opportunity to trace the evolution of jazz piano across several decades, from swing and bebop through hard bop and into the post-bop and fusion eras. The album stands as a testament to the diversity and creativity of these four pianists, whose individual voices have collectively shaped the narrative of jazz music.