When I got into jazz in the 1970s, it seemed everyone was playing either electric piano, Rhodes, or some type of synthesizer. Then, things went acoustic and the grand piano was back in style. These days, except for the Hammond B3, electric keyboards are on the fringe of things, not quite in the center, but still used at times.
So, if you were to get into the overlooked keyboards, where would one start. Here’s a good s hopping list of artists and albums. Some obvious, some not so much.
- Joe Sample-Carmel/Rainbow Seeker: Sample is one of the coolest of the smooth/soul jazz players, and these two capture his world view perfectly
- Chick Corea-My Spanish Heart/Elektric Band. Arguably one of the pioneers of electric piano, Corea’s catalogue includes classic sessions with Miles Davis, but these show what he did on his own, both in solo and group format. At let’s not forget his classic Return to Forever albums!
- Joe Zawinul-Weather Report-Zawinul started also with Davis, as on Bitches Brew, but the first six albums he did with his band Weather Report set the gold standard for what being plugged in can do. Still paradigm-shifting
- Herbie Hancock: Headhunters/Mwandishi-I know it’s starting to get repetitive, but Hancock also got his electric piano chops with Davis. His mega hit album Headhunters is still a funky classic, but in retrospect his advanced plugged in freebop albums from the early 1970s are slowly becoming
appreciated more and more. - George Duke-The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience with the George Duke Trio. George Duke brought his keyboards in tow for bands
ranging from Cannonball Adderley to Frank Zappa. All of these were great sessions, as were his teamings with Stanley Clarke, but this one with Ponty is a real cooker.
- Mike Ratledge: Soft Machine-One of the few bands still recording and playing, Soft Machine’s early days with Wyatt, Ayers and Ratledge were and are a psychedelic delight
- Alan Pasqua: Blues for Tony-Mostly known for his acoustic piano, Alan Pasqua teamed up with Allan Holdsworth for a searing gig back in 2007. WHEW!
- Jan Hammer: Blow By Blow/The Inner Mounting Flame-Jan Hammer’s keyboards are best known for the searing work with Mahavishnu Orchestra, but his work with a couple of Jeff Beck albums are equally thrilling.
- Eumir Deodato: Prelude-This album featured the jazz-disco hit version of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” , but the entire album is a
sublime and seductive samba fest. - CTI Record: Red Clay, Good King Bad, Sugar, Sunflower, etc. During the 1970s the label CTI specialized in soulful and funky albums by artists like Freddie Hubbard, Joe Farrell, Ron Carter, Gabor Szabo, George Benson and Milt Jackson. The rotating rhythm sections, which include Herbie Hancock, Lonnie Liston Smith and Cliff Carter
Rod Argent: The Zombies-The rock group The Zombies had Rod Argent on keyboards, and his work on the pop hit “Time of the Season” definitely has stood the test of time. Why hasn’t anyone covered it?
