Black Pianists? (Politicly incorrect thread)

[f0bul0us]

Has a black person ever recorded the Chopin Etudes? Preludes? Ballades? Scherzi? Impromptus? Waltzes? Mazurkas? (HA! Mazurkas, fat chance). Has a black person ever recorded anything (classical only btw ) that Hamelin, Kissin, Pollini, Ashkenazy, Cziffra, Horowitz, or Argerich have recorded? I've never heard a professional black pianist interpret a European composer!

[RappinPhil]

I have recently attended a concert by Andre Watts. He was masterful.

https://www.cramermarderartists.com/watts.htm

[f0bul0us]

I mean black! Like...rapper black...(I really don't know how to say it in a politicly correct form)

[Saturn]

I mean black! Like...rapper black...(I really don't know how to say it in a politicly correct form)

You mean, complete with bling bling?

[f0bul0us]

It's not "Bling Bling" anymore, any  type of jewellry is now called "ice".

[bernhard]

Here are a few:

Andre Watts

Awadaggin Pratt (he even has dreadlocks…)
(read an interesting interview with him here:
https://modeweekly.com/1999/0699/AwadaginPratt0699.htm)

Wayne Marshall (although he plays a lot of Copland and Gershwin, he has also recorded Saint Saens).

Glen Inanga

Keith Jarret (He plays Bach and other baroque repertory – check out his CD of the Handel sonatas for treble recorder and harpsichord with Michala Petri)

Jordan Adams (have a look here:
https://articles.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_11_55/ai_65014621)

Ludovic Lamothe (Haitian pianist and composer often called the “Black Chopin”)

There are also some black andfemale pianists! (Top that for minorities!)

Natalie Hinderas
Hazel Harrisson (a student of Busoni, she is cinsidered to be the first black pianist ever – male or female).
Ernestine Dents
Margareth Bond. (“the name is Bond, Margarteh Bond” )

I am sure there are many others…

What about Native American classical pianists?

Best wishes,
Bernhard

[Motrax]

I must derail the topic by saying Awadagin Pratt sits on the smallest bench I've ever seen. His elbows, to be above the keyboard, almost tower over his forehead. Sort of like Glenn Gould, except even more extreme I believe.

Though he is a very good pianist - he plays Bach very well if I recall correctly (saw him 3 years ago). An odd spectacle to see, however.

[pianiststrongbad]

Though he never recorded any classical, I consider Art Tatum perhaps the best pianist of our time.  In my opinion his improvisations are the quality of Liszt- just jazz instead.

[sharon_f]

Leon Bates is another terrific African-American pianist. (By the way, he studied with Natalie Hinderas.) I've seen him perform several times with the Philadelphia Orchestra, including a terrific reading of the "Emperor" Concerto.

I've also seen Awadaggin Pratt perform on two occasions. He is definitely "something" to behold. He sits so low at the piano, he could just as well be sitting on the floor. (I have no idea how he plays at all.) The first time I saw him was in a very disappointing and eccentric reading of the Beethoven Fourth. He actually played along during the opening orchestral tutti in the first movement. The second time I saw him, he played the Fifth Brandenburg Concerto absolutely beautifully. No pedal whatsoever. The articulation was unbelievable. It was an amazing performance that reminded me very much of Glenn Gould.

[thracozaag]

 The best black pianist I've heard personally is a friend of mine, Stewart Goodyear; he's also a terrific composer.

koji

[thomas_williams]

Hasn't Anyone ever heard of Blind Tom?  Check out this biography:
https://www.twainquotes.com/archangels.html

[MasterTuner]

Awadagin Pratt is a spectacular pianist.  I also have an anecdote about him.

About ten years ago, he gave a solo recital to a packed audience at the University at Buffalo.  What was interesting to me about his playing was that every single note could be heard.  Anyway, after the performance I was in the parking lot (which was now vacant) and a woman in wheelchair locked her car keys in her car.  I attempted to help her but lo and behold, Mr. Pratt walked over to assist.  He used a hanger from his wardrobe bag to open the woman's car.  That event has left a lasting impression on me.  Not only was he an outstanding pianist but a very decent human being!