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Chris Anderson (February 26, 1926 – February 4, 2008) was an American jazz pianist, who might be best known as an influence on Herbie Hancock.

Biography

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.

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, although he continued to record until he was well into his 70s. A Down Beat profile indicated he had "Osteogenesis", probably meaning osteogenesis imperfecta.

He died of a stroke on February 4, 2008, in Manhattan, New York City, at the age of 81.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With Clifford Jordan

• Remembering Me-Me (Muse, 1977)
• The Mellow Side of Clifford Jordan (Mapleshade, 1997)

With Charlie Parker

• An Evening at Home with the Bird (Savoy, 1961)
• One Night in Chicago (Savoy, 1980)

With others

• Sun Ra, Sun Ra Sextet at the Village Vanguard (Rounder, 1993)
• Frank Strozier, Long Night (Jazzland, 1961)

References

1. "The Last Post" Obituary at jazzhouse.org
2. Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London: Penguin Books. pp. 13–14. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.
3. ^ John S. Wilson, "Pop Jazz", The New York Times, September 24, 1982.
4. "Not close to lonely" from Down Beat via highbeam

External links

• All Music
• The New York Times obituary
• "Herbie Hancock, Chris Anderson and the Chicago School of Modern Jazz Piano" at Jazz.com.

• 1926 births
• 2008 deaths
• 20th-century American pianists
• American jazz pianists
• American male jazz pianists
• Bienen School of Music alumni
• Blind musicians
• Jazz musicians from Chicago
• 20th-century American male musicians
• American blind people
• American musicians with disabilities