Jump to content

Chris Anderson (pianist)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Chris Anderson (piano))
Chris Anderson
Born(1926-02-26)February 26, 1926
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 2008(2008-02-04) (aged 81)
Manhattan, New York
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1945–2000

Chris Anderson (February 26, 1926 – February 4, 2008) was an American jazz pianist, who might be best known as an influence on Herbie Hancock.[1]

Biography

[edit]

Born in Chicago on February 26, 1926, Anderson taught himself piano and started playing in Chicago clubs in the mid-1940s and played with Von Freeman and Charlie Parker, among others.[2]

Despite the respect of his peers, Anderson had difficulty finding work or popular acclaim due in large part to his disabilities.[3] He was blind and his bones were unusually fragile, causing numerous fractures, which at times compromised his ability to perform at the times or places requested,[3] although he continued to record until he was well into his 70s. A Down Beat profile indicated he had "Osteogenesis", probably meaning osteogenesis imperfecta.[4]

He died of a stroke on February 4, 2008, in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 81.

Discography

[edit]

As leader/co-leader

[edit]
Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1960 My Romance Vee-Jay Trio, with Bill Lee (bass), Art Taylor (drums)
1961 Inverted Image Jazzland Most tracks trio, with Bill Lee (bass), Walter Perkins (drums); some tracks trio with Lee (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)
1987 Love Locked Out Mapleshade Solo piano; Anderson also sings on two tracks
1991 Blues One DIW Trio, with Ray Drummond (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)
1994 Live at Bradley's Alsut Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Ray Drummond (bass), Frank Gant; one track trio, with Drummond (bass), Billy Higgins (drums); in concert
1996 Solo Ballads Alsut Solo piano
1997 None but the Lonely Heart Naim Duo, with Charlie Haden (bass)
1998 You Don't Know What Love Is Naim Quartet, with Sabina Sciubba (vocals), David Williams (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)
1998 From the Heart Naim Solo piano
2001 Solo Ballads Two Alsut Solo piano

As sideman

[edit]

With Clifford Jordan

With Charlie Parker

  • An Evening at Home with the Bird (Savoy, 1961)
  • One Night in Chicago (Savoy, 1980)

With others

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Last Post" Obituary at jazzhouse.org
  2. ^ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. pp. 13–14. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.
  3. ^ a b John S. Wilson, "Pop Jazz", The New York Times, September 24, 1982.
  4. ^ "Not close to lonely" from Down Beat via highbeam
[edit]