Doesn’t sound like a shortage of pianists , does it?
I never said there was a shortage of pianist. However, as I read this list, there are very few that I would consider to be great pianists. There is a difference between being a good pianist and a great pianist. A good pianist can play a song, or maybe even hit a lot of notes without hitting too many wrong ones. That is the category that most of these on this list fall under. A great pianist is one that can deliver the song, make you feel every note that is played (not just hear them).
Someone mentioned Gary Jones. He is a great example and was critical to Gold City stepping to the forefront when they did. He is a great musician.
Someone mentioned Kim Collingsworth. Again a great pianist, but for totally different reasons. She is a great performer and her arrangements grab the attention of anyone who hears them. They can’t help but listen They don’t leave talking about silly antics, but they leave talking about how they were in awe of the arrangements she played.
Anthony Burger was a great performer and was efficient in many different styles. He was more versatile than a typical SG player.
Roger Bennett was not a fantastic player, but he was a great personality and you couldn’t help but love that.
Gordon Mote is a great player, but in a totally different way again. He intermingles jazz in a way that most would not even think about. His chord structures are pretty unique and that sets him a part.
The others mentioned on this list I would simply categorize as good. In most cases, there is nothing unique about their styles. They usually play things the same old way as the person before them. They are usually “copy catting” someone rather than developing a uniqueness that sets them apart.
I’ll have to reserve judgment on
Brian Hanson
Caleb Matheny
Barry Patrick
I have not heard them yet.
By the way, Clayton Watson.
I checked out some of your music. I think you are off to a good start. Try not to get too entrenched into the (hokey) Branson sound though. Focus more on making the runs smooth and the arrangements unique to you. The competition is stiff and you have to be able to set yourself apart. Just my thoughts. Keep up the work.
I will agree w/ your main point. On the other hand, when you consider Anthony Burger, Jackie Marshal, Wally Varner, Roger Bennett...in all honesty...Can you get much better at all? To a degree, they done almost everything you can do w/ a piano.
Anthony was a good piano player. But there are those that are better at individual styles. What made him good was that he was versatile, even with the extra piano in stacks on his tracks toward the end.
Jackie Marshal and Walley Varner were good pianists in there own right. Buth they are not major players today.
Roger Bennett was a great personality, but just a good piano player. He did nothing in his playing technically that set him apart and above.
My original point was that we don’t have any “masters” of the craft to look to in SG right now. At least not in the level as in the past.
He is not SG, but is definitely a great pianist. Another that I have been impressed with is a guy by the name of Huntley Brown. Check some of his material out, then you’ll see what can be done with a piano.
Doesn’t sound like a shortage of pianists , does it?
I never said there was a shortage of pianist. However, as I read this list, there are very few that I would consider to be great pianists. There is a difference between being a good pianist and a great pianist. A good pianist can play a song, or maybe even hit a lot of notes without hitting too many wrong ones. That is the category that most of these on this list fall under. A great pianist is one that can deliver the song, make you feel every note that is played (not just hear them).
Someone mentioned Gary Jones. He is a great example and was critical to Gold City stepping to the forefront when they did. He is a great musician.
Someone mentioned Kim Collingsworth. Again a great pianist, but for totally different reasons. She is a great performer and her arrangements grab the attention of anyone who hears them. They can’t help but listen They don’t leave talking about silly antics, but they leave talking about how they were in awe of the arrangements she played.
Anthony Burger was a great performer and was efficient in many different styles. He was more versatile than a typical SG player.
Roger Bennett was not a fantastic player, but he was a great personality and you couldn’t help but love that.
Gordon Mote is a great player, but in a totally different way again. He intermingles jazz in a way that most would not even think about. His chord structures are pretty unique and that sets him a part.
The others mentioned on this list I would simply categorize as good. In most cases, there is nothing unique about their styles. They usually play things the same old way as the person before them. They are usually “copy catting” someone rather than developing a uniqueness that sets them apart.
I’ll have to reserve judgment on
Brian Hanson
Caleb Matheny
Barry Patrick
I have not heard them yet.
By the way, Clayton Watson.
I checked out some of your music. I think you are off to a good start. Try not to get too entrenched into the (hokey) Branson sound though. Focus more on making the runs smooth and the arrangements unique to you. The competition is stiff and you have to be able to set yourself apart. Just my thoughts. Keep up the work.
SGmusician,
Were you REALLY interested in who anyone else’s opinion or were you looking for a chance to “critique” most of the ones mentioned? Just curious.
Well Sarah,
I asked a question. I wanted to know if there was a player in SG that could be considered the next “master of the craft” so to speak. The critique was explaining my opinion on why I would not consider some of the ones mentioned.
As far as the Clayton Lawson critique, he asked. It was not meant to hurt any feelings. It was meant to provide insight on areas to be working on, again in my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own.
In the end, if you reread my quote that you seem to take issue with, I agree with some of the ones being mentioned as great players and I tell what I think sets them apart from the crowd of others mentioned.
So to answer your question, yes I was interested to see what others opinions were. I think the lack of consistency in the responses helped prove my point though. There were very few names that were repeated, so very few stood out from the crowd.
One really great piano player that often gets overlooked is Justin Ellis of The Crabb Family/Jason Crabb Ministries. He is a tremendously talented player that can play any style. From pure SG (the days with the accords and perrys) to contemporary and gospel styles...its tough to beat him ...especially creativity wise.
Another one, who is not on the road any more, is former Kingsmen Pianist Nick Succi. He can really play the keys. Very good style...he wasn’t a flamboyant showman on stage, because he let his playing do the talking. Listen to the arrangement of “God rest ye merry gentlemen” on the latest kingsmen live cd “I’ll not turn back” GOOD STUFF! Incorporated alot of jazz and different feeling into great kingsmen songs (added the organ live...as did justin ellis)
The future is bright with so many great pianists in the industry. There will never be another Anthony, Roger, ect but that’s a good thing.
I agree that Justin Ellis is one of the best out there. I have known him and his family for many years and watched him mature as a player.
Although I don’t play myself, I know what a great pianist is. My father, who had a big band many moons ago, did arangements for the likes of the Dorsey brothers and Paul Whiteman. In doing so, he actually played the orchestra on a piano. He would tell you he was NOT a pianist, but a sax player, but I have yet to hear ANYONE play the piano as great as he did.
Back to Justin, I see that kind of talent emerging from him.
BTW,You don’t have to play all over the keyboard hitting every key to be a great player. I love to listen to Nick Bruno play. His Peacful Meditation CD is pure and simple and proves that point.
I echo earlier postings about Joe Cox with the Old Paths and Andy Stringfield with the Kingdom Heirs. While both are still quite young (22-23), they are already making their mark in Southern Gospel. It is interesting that both came from the same high school and graduated only one year apart. I used to sing with a local quartet for which Andy provided accompaniment while still in high school – he was good then and even better now. He has always had a heart for Southern Gospel. I recruited Joe (he will always be Joseph to me) to play piano at our church when he was only 16. He had already gleaned all he could from local piano teachers and was taking instruction at the University of Tennessee at that time. I also recorded Joe’s first CD a few months later. It was a mix of gospel, classical, blues, and pop – he can play any style equally well, and I think his gospel music benefits from being so well rounded. While I can’t compare them to other pianists that have been mentioned in this thread, I have no doubt that Joe and Andy will continue to progress and be recognized as among the very best.
By the way, when considering who is best, I think it is important to differentiate between soloists and accompanists. I have heard some good soloists who aren’t very effective at accompanying a vocal group. It seems to take a special ability to support the vocalists without having the piano dominate the arrangement.
He is not SG, but is definitely a great pianist. Another that I have been impressed with is a guy by the name of Huntley Brown. Check some of his material out, then you’ll see what can be done with a piano.
Nice dexterity...extremely fast. Burger was better, though. Personally I’d just as soon listen to Hovie.
Another one, who is not on the road any more, is former Kingsmen Pianist Nick Succi. He can really play the keys. Very good style...he wasn’t a flamboyant showman on stage, because he let his playing do the talking. Listen to the arrangement of “God rest ye merry gentlemen” on the latest kingsmen live cd “I’ll not turn back” GOOD STUFF! Incorporated alot of jazz and different feeling into great kingsmen songs (added the organ live...as did justin ellis)
he was one of my favorites. Very much rooted in jazz, but could make SG come alive. What’s he doing these days? He’s one of the few pianist I would buy a solo CD from.
Aside from some greats that have passed and been mentioned, and some greats like Jones that have been mentioned...one of the all time best and most talented would be Mr. Eddie Crook.
By the way, when considering who is best, I think it is important to differentiate between soloists and accompanists. I have heard some good soloists who aren’t very effective at accompanying a vocal group. It seems to take a special ability to support the vocalists without having the piano dominate the arrangement.
By the way, when considering who is best, I think it is important to differentiate between soloists and accompanists. I have heard some good soloists who aren’t very effective at accompanying a vocal group. It seems to take a special ability to support the vocalists without having the piano dominate the arrangement.
We have a winner!
Yep...great explanation.
Lets divide it once more.....great studio piano players don’t always make great live musicians and great live piano players are rarely capable in the studio.
By the way, when considering who is best, I think it is important to differentiate between soloists and accompanists. I have heard some good soloists who aren’t very effective at accompanying a vocal group. It seems to take a special ability to support the vocalists without having the piano dominate the arrangement.
We have a winner!
Yep...great explanation.
Lets divide it once more.....great studio piano players don’t always make great live musicians and great live piano players are rarely capable in the studio.
thats true all the way but i’d have too say at least that people like garry jones who plays live and at the studio, arranges tons of music and does an amazing job and sings baritone and can tare up a piano id have too say he is a rare thing
not saying that people mentioned in this thread can’t do it they probally do but i think people like Garry are a rare find right now
