Peter Friedman

Gabrielle Cavassa is perhaps the best new vocalist I have heard in a very long time.

K.545 and K.570

Symphony No.7

This morning early I decided to start the day with some Bud Powell.

String Quartet D.804

When I said Bebop Piano Player I pointed out I was referring to playing STRONGLY in the tradition of Bud Powell and Barry Harris. Of course Charlie Parker is also a key. Listen to more recent Rein De Graaff and perhaps you will see what I mean????? Back sometime ago I was at a jazz weekend at a hotel in Florida. My good friend the late jazz pianist George Ziskind was with me. George decided one morning to go to one of the rooms that had a piano and play some solo tunes. It just happened that Dutch jazz pianist Rein De Graaf was walking by and heard George playing. He came into the room and asked if he could also play. So Rein and George alternated at the piano for at least an hour with only 3 or 4 people stopping by to listen when they heard the music. It was a wonderful hour of music. Afterward I recall George saying to me that Rein sure knows his bebop. Rein played a variety of tunes by Bird, Bud, Tadd etc. Tardo Hammer and few others may also be (what I consider) bebop pianists.

Bob Brookmeyer Quartet with John Williams, Bill Anthony or Red Mitchell, Frank Isola recorded in 1954 Piano player John Williams reminds me at times of Eddie Costa.

Mozart - Symphony No.28 and No.35 "Haffner"

Earlier today I was listening in my car to this album - Rein De Graaff Trio - Chasin' the Bird. It is my impression that De Graaff is the last living true bebop piano player. He follows directly in the footsteps of Bud Powell and Barry Harris. I hear no evidence of his being influenced by Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner ,Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson or Keith Jarrett. He is a true bebop player. If anyone can think of another living jazz piano player as strongly tied to the Bud Powell, Barry Harris bebop tradition, please share that with us.