good jazz piano

Ditto to all previous postings! To throw a few different names into the mix, one of the best from-every-perspective recordings I've come across in recent history is "McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster," - Telarc 2000. On a decent playback system, it really gives you that intimate jazz club, you are “there” live, experience. Also, check out Lyle Mays’ (of Pat Metheny Group fame) “Fictionary,” with Marc Johnson and Jack DeJonnette,
- Geffen 1993; an excellent virtuoso performance most closely aligned with mainstream classic jazz. Mays’ “Lyle Mays,” – Geffen 1986, on the other hand, is actually a “suite” of original works showcasing an amalgamation of styles that is Lyle’s alone. To me, it’s a work of pure genius. Finally, anything by Eliane Elias.

Gene Harris man! Mostly on Blue Note, Concord. Unbelievable player, fronted the Basie Band. A real pounder with great ideas and a style reminiscent of Errol Garner. Good luck.

Good list espcially from Frap. Here's a few more, most of them are well recorded some on electric piano:
Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Pat Coil
Remsey Lewis
Alphonse Mouzon
Joanne Brackeen
Antonio Carlos Jobim
Bobby Lyle
Gregg Karukas

Eddie Higgins has at least one well recorded disc (I have it but the name escapes me and my CDs are all out of order at the moment), great playing on this.
also try Dick Hyman's playing on reference recordings, awesome sound there!

I am glad to see Marian Mc Partland and Dick Hyman given their "props" in this thread.

Try:
Marian Mc Partland's "Reprise"- excellent sound, beautiful playing. Also
"Live at Yoshi's"

Also you can try a number of her Piano Jazz CD's, which are recordings of her NPR radio show. I particularly like the one with bassist Milt Hinton and the one with Dave Brubeck.

Dick Hyman on Reference Recordings:
"From the Age of Swing"
"Recital"
"Plays Duke Ellington"
"Plays Fats Waller"
"Swing is Here"

(I ordered the Dick Hyman recordings from best to worst, IMO. However, all or excellent and worth owning.)


Cyrus Chestnut:

"Blessed Quietness"

For piano playing, but not for singing:

Diana Krall, "Stepping Out"

This is an excellent recording, also. Very dynamic.

If this category can be extended to blues:

Jay Mc Shann's Hybrid SACD "What a Wonderful World". This is dynamic, excellent musicianship all around. Again, he is not a great singer.

Dave Brubeck has a double hybrid SACD of two live performances done, I believe, for his 80th birthday called "From the USA and the UK". There is some excellent jazz improvisation on here. I absolutely hate the alto sax work on these recordings, though. Paul Desmond, where are you when we need you?