Favorite Pianists


I've recently become obsessed with great piano music. Not necessarily classical, just great. Like the thread I started regarding acoustic guitar, this follows the same lines. Who is your favorite? It doesn't have to be based on the ability to play fast or on the technical ability side of it. It just needs to be moving. Needs to be able to pull you in and tell a story of your past. I guess the best term to describe this is simply beautiful music.

As of right now, Ludovico Einaudi is my absolute favorite. I've listened to quite a bit of this genre lately and George Winston, Peter Kater and Kevin Kern all get high marks from me. But none of them move me like Ludovico Einaudi.

If you have an absolute favorite, just one that hits you like no other, post it. If you have several, list them.

Thanks!
tiggerfc
Martha Argerich - especially her Prokofiev and Rachmaninov recordings
Lyle Mays - solo and with Pat Metheny group
Nicky Hopkins - with so many, too many to count, Stones, Who...
Rabbit - on Pete Townshend's solo albums
Elton John
Stephen Kovacevich - on the 5 Beethoven piano concertos
Serge Rachmaninov
Chris Stainton - on Tommy and Quadrophenia
Roy Bittan
Hank Jones, wonderfully fluid & lyrical pianist from the great Pontiac Michigan musical family, including Thad & Elvin...all gone sadly.
Surprised nobody mentioned Mike Garson. ( David Bowie) Garson is my personal favorite and runner up is Keith Emerson.
Anyone heard any recent releases from Keith Emerson? Any good?

I have not kept up with him since his ELP days.
manny perahia and marc hamelin.i have many cd's of each of them,and not one a dud.