Chris Anderson (piano)
Encyclopedia
Chris Anderson was a jazz pianist who might be best known as an influence on Herbie Hancock
.
Self-taught, he began in Chicago
clubs in the mid-1940s and played with Von Freeman
and Charlie Parker
, among others. Hired as Dinah Washington
's accompanist, like other arrangers before him, he didn't last long with the cantankerous singer; fired in New York six weeks later, he stayed there.
In 1960 he recorded what might be his best regarded album with bassist Bill Lee
and drummer Art Taylor
. His student Herbie Hancock
praised him highly saying that, "After hearing him play just once, I begged him to let me study with him."
Despite the respect of his peers, Anderson had difficulty finding work or popular acclaim due in large to his disabilities. 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 although he continued to record until he was well into his 70s.
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
.
Self-taught, he began in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
clubs in the mid-1940s and played with Von Freeman
Von Freeman
Earle Lavon Freeman Sr. is an American hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist. He is the father of jazz saxophonist Chico Freeman.-Biography:...
and Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
, among others. Hired as Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
's accompanist, like other arrangers before him, he didn't last long with the cantankerous singer; fired in New York six weeks later, he stayed there.
In 1960 he recorded what might be his best regarded album with bassist Bill Lee
Bill Lee (musician)
William James Edwards "Bill" Lee III is an American musician. He has played the bass for many artists including Cat Stevens, Harry Belafonte, Chad Mitchell Trio, Gordon Lightfoot, Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Simon and Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan...
and drummer Art Taylor
Art Taylor
Arthur S. Taylor, Jr. was an American jazz drummer of the hard bop school.After playing in the bands of Howard McGhee, Coleman Hawkins, Buddy DeFranco, Bud Powell, and George Wallington from 1948 to 1957, he formed his own group, the Wailers...
. His student Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
praised him highly saying that, "After hearing him play just once, I begged him to let me study with him."
Despite the respect of his peers, Anderson had difficulty finding work or popular acclaim due in large to his disabilities. 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 although he continued to record until he was well into his 70s.