| Chris Anderson | |
| Birth Date: | 26 February 1926 |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Manhattan, New York |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Occupation: | Musician |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Years Active: | 1945–2000 |
Chris Anderson (February 26, 1926 – February 4, 2008) was an American jazz pianist, who might be best known as an influence on Herbie Hancock.[1]
Born in Chicago on February 26, 1926, Anderson taught himself piano and started playing in Chicago clubs in the mid-1940s and played with Von Freeman and Charlie Parker, among others.[2]
Despite the respect of his peers, Anderson had difficulty finding work or popular acclaim due in large part 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,[3] although he continued to record until he was well into his 70s. A Down Beat profile indicated he had "Osteogenesis", probably meaning osteogenesis imperfecta.[4]
He died of a stroke on February 4, 2008, in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 81.
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Personnel/Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | My Romance | Vee-Jay | Trio, with Bill Lee (bass), Art Taylor (drums) | |
| 1961 | Inverted Image | Jazzland | Most tracks trio, with Bill Lee (bass), Walter Perkins (drums); some tracks trio with Lee (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) | |
| 1987 | Love Locked Out | Mapleshade | Solo piano; Anderson also sings on two tracks | |
| 1991 | Blues One | DIW | Trio, with Ray Drummond (bass), Billy Higgins (drums) | |
| 1994 | Live at Bradley's | Alsut | Some tracks solo piano; some tracks trio, with Ray Drummond (bass), Frank Gant; one track trio, with Drummond (bass), Billy Higgins (drums); in concert | |
| 1996 | Solo Ballads | Alsut | Solo piano | |
| 1997 | None but the Lonely Heart | Naim | Duo, with Charlie Haden (bass) | |
| 1998 | You Don't Know What Love Is | Naim | Quartet, with Sabina Sciubba (vocals), David Williams (bass), Billy Higgins (drums) | |
| 1998 | From the Heart | Naim | Solo piano | |
| 2001 | Solo Ballads Two | Alsut | Solo piano |
With Clifford Jordan
With Charlie Parker
With others