Okay, I'll have my say as an oldie; who cares if such statements are politically incorrect these days. For me the answer is easy - Mary Lou Williams. As it happens I adore her music too - she must have been an overwhelming presence at the piano in her prime.
Ted has fine taste! Uh, what's not PC? And who cares anyway?
Mary Lou Williams was the first important for many years the foremost female jazz pianist in the world. She started as a boogie woogie pianist in Kansas City, became an arranger for Andy Kirk's big band and soon developed a sophisticated and individual style of playing that never lost touch with her blues n' boogie roots. In the 1950's she became a devout Catholic and moved to France, performing infrequently but composing jazz influenced classical music. She returned to playing Jazz Piano full time in the 1960's and taught at the University of North Carolina until her death in 1981. I had the good fortune to hear her play in 1980. Her playing was restrained but profound, if that makes sense...
And she was definitely one of the hottest female pianists ever!
The elegant art deco Mary Lou Williams...



"The Giggin' Gal from East Liberty, MO". Title of a paper from my Jazz History class last year.

Live and in person

Around age 60!!!

Very few of us will look this good...
