Some of the earliest jazz music was performed on piano, from composers like Scott Joplin and Jelly Roll Morton, during a time when many households had a piano and sheet music was a great influence on then-modern music. This week's show will focus on keyboard players from the recent history of modern improvisation.

First up, we'll listen to a 1958 album by the Cecil Taylor Quintet with Louis Hayes on drums and Buell Neidlinger on bass, from an album titled Hard Driving Jazz reissued on the Portugese Mad About Records label. Taylor was a forward thinking player who moved against the more rigid standards of jazz at the time - in this track called "Wallering" you can hear a Monk influence, but also strong technical skills in an idiosyncratic approach to soloing.

South African and London influences converged with the band Blue Notes led by pianist Chris McGregor, with

Louis Moholo-Moholo-drums, voice Dudu Pukwana-alto sax, whistle, voice Johnny Dyani-double bass, voice

The track is called "The Bride" from the Ogun album "Before The Wind Changes", documenting their 1979 tour of Belgium and Holland.

Alexander Von Schlippenbach is one of the great European Free Jazz pianists, having come up in the 60s with that generation of legendary players. This is from his 1972 debut album of his Trio, titled "Pakistani Pomade", and reissued on the Atavistic album, with Evan Parker on sax and Paul Lovens on drums.

Pianist Ran Blake was part of the "Third Stream" movement, initiated by New England jazz composer Gunther Schuller, and influential movement that combined new compositional techniques with classic jazz. Here we hear Blake in a duo with saxophonist, composer and conceptualist Anthony Braxton from the "A Memory Of Vienna" on the Hatology label.

Next up is Japanese pianist Aki Takase in a duo with reedist Louis Sclavis playing the title track from their Intakt release Yokohama, named after the port city of Yokohama that represents Japan's intersection of people of various cultural backgrounds. In this track you'll hear the piano modified by preparations on the string, giving the piano a unique rhythmic sound.

An unusual track mixing keys and voice comes to us from a large band led by the trio of pianist Keith Tippett, vocalist Julie Tippett, and drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo, from their "Viva La Black" Ogun album. Tippett is known from his influential London free improvising band, Mujician, and his crossing over into the Canterbury and UK progressive rock scenes. The track is called "Dedicated To Mingus".

Another important European Free players is pianist Fred Van Hove, heard in his "Piano Solo" album in a track recorded in the mid 1980s titled "Grote Tremolo Met Klap" on the great German free improvising label, FMP.

Thollem McDonas is a modern West Coast players, using an unorthodox and technically amazing approach to the piano solo and in various grouping, in both improvised and rock settings. This track, titled "And Then And Then And Then" is from his "Racing The Sun - Chasing The Sun" album on the Portugese Creative Sources label. McDonas describes his approach as "post-classical circus punk world jazz free".

Matthew Shipp is an active New York player, adept in both traditional jazz and Downtown NY settings. Here we hear the title track from his Thirsty Ear album, "Nu Bop", where Shipp set out to build a platform of acoustic and electronic rhythm figures to serve as a backdrop for a canvas of organic compositions based on improvisational impulses. The track is performed with

William Parker-Bass Daniel Carter-Saxophone & Flute Guillermo E. Brown-Drums FLAM-Synths & Programming

Taking a different approach to improvisation, UK pianist Ross Bolleter plays on "ruined" pianos, which are abandoned & unpredictable instruments that he rescued and set up in his kitchen so that he can play them simultaneously. The track is called "Ravine" from his 2002 Emanem release, "Night Kitchen".

We end the show with pianist Satoko Fujii from her trio album "Trace A River" with bassist Mark Dresser and drummer Jim Black, matching great players from Japan and the Downtown NY scene. The track is titled "A Maze Of Alleys", a playful piece that merges great ideas from modern improvisation while keeping the music melodic and accessible.