Top Pianists of the Century
NEW YORK, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Pops piano duo Landsberg and Yount have
composed a list of the 25 most influential pianists of the Twentieth Century.
Their controversial list of keyboard elite includes classical superstar
Vladimir Horowitz, legendary showman Liberace and "the piano's worst
nightmare" Jerry Lee Lewis.
Over the past two decades, Norman Landsberg and Robert Blue Yount have
performed with the world's leading orchestras and released several acclaimed
recordings making them America's most successful piano duo since the 1960's
team of Arthur Ferrante and Louis Teicher who not coincidentally made the all
male list.
"Technical ability was not our only criteria," said Yount. "We also
considered the impact the pianist had on other pianists and his ability to
keep the piano in front of the public. The dazzling finger work and machine
gun octaves of Horowitz are impossible to compare to Jerry Lee Lewis who
attacked, thrashed and beat the poor beast to death. To say the least, our
top 25 is an eclectic group."
American icons Scott Joplin, George Gershwin and Liberace were naturals
for their list according to Landsberg.
"Gershwin created the world's most famous piano composition, 'Rhapsody In
Blue,' and Liberace was the ultimate publicist for the instrument," said
Landsberg. "Not to mention the candelabra industry," added Yount.
Also honored are country pianist Floyd Cramer, rock legend Elton John,
pops virtuoso Peter Nero and America's best selling pianist, Roger Williams.
Along with Horowitz, Landsberg & Yount gave the nod to classical pianists
Van Cliburn, Glen Gould, Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Sergi Rachmaninoff and Artur
Rubinstein.
Jazz pianists include Dave Brubeck, Count Basie, Chick Corea, Bill Evans,
Vince Guaraldi, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Art Tatum and Fats Waller.
"We overlooked 'New Age' pianists and our reasoning should be obvious,"
said Landsberg. "Perhaps Yanni or John Tesh will make the 3000 list," added
Yount.
Do Landsberg and Yount have one favorite? Their latest album, "George
Gershwin then & NOW" (Pair 0 Dactyl Records), features the piano duo
performing with Gershwin thanks to the conversion of Gershwin's original paper
piano rolls to computer files played on a Yamaha Disklavier.
"Gershwin would be thrilled that today's teenagers recognize 'Rhapsody In
Blue' as the United Airlines theme song," noted Yount.
SOURCE CFB Productions
-0- 12/27/1999
/CONTACT: Clinton Billups of CFB Productions, Personal Management,
860-738-3801/
CO: CFB Productions
ST: New York
IN: ENT
SU:
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