LENNIE TRISTANO

Too often the least heralded icon in the jazz Pantheon, Lennie Tristano was, in this one-time jazz pianist's humble opinion, second only to Thelonious Monk in his unique blend of jazz piano tradition(s) and one-of-a-kind originality.

Thanks to my friend Doc Burke for sending a link to this timeless performance of the '40s standard "Tangerine" by Tristano, who was blind and in this clip was his usual inexpressive physical self (compared to other blind piano geniuses like Ray Charles or George Shearing et. al.) except for his hands, more expressive than almost any pianist I can think of, like they're independent creatures not playing piano but dancing over the keys.