Through curated essays, readers will experience a deeply personal and engaging survey of key figures in jazz in the book that Publishers Weekly calls "a cheerful celebration of an uniquely American musical form.” Whether in the compositions of foundational figures like Jelly Roll Morton, Thomas “Fats” Waller. and Earl “Fatha” Hines; swing pioneers such as Teddy Wilson and Joe Bushkin; torch-bearers like Mary Lou Williams and her student Thelonious Monk; technical masters including Bud Powell and Bill Evans; or modern mixologists such as Sun Ra and Keith Jarrett, the piano has been the site of historic innovations in jazz, and the stage on which some of its most colorful personalities have cemented their legacies. It’s no coincidence that several legendary pianists―Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Nat King Cole―are named after royalty. As one of the leading writers on jazz today, author, journalist, and historian Will Friedwald has witnessed over a half-century of epochal developments in the genre and the central role that the piano has played in its evolution. Nights at the Red Steinway collects key writings (from the Wall Street Journal and elsewhere) to form a deeply personal and engaging survey of key figures from Abrams to Zawinul. Irreverent when it wants to be but serious when it counts, Friedwald’s writing offers a wide-ranging, deeply considered tour through the history of jazz piano. It is an indispensable collection for fans of all stripes. “Music journalist Friedwald collects his columns published in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Sun between 2003 and 2024 for this exuberant ode to the great jazz pianists. Beginning in turn-of-the-20th century New Orleans, Friedwald spotlights “founding fathers” like Jelly Roll Morton, who proved that jazz could “be written down, annotated, and played by ensembles of any size,” and the lesser-known Earl “Fatha” Hines. From there, Friedwald moves on to such contemporary up-and-comers as Indonesian “wunderkind” Joey Alexander, who mixes “soul and smarts” in his original compositions…. [J]azz devotees…. will be charmed by Friedwald’s lyrical prose (“On ‘Rainy Day,’ Monsieur Solal danced around the tune as though he were darting between the raindrops falling outside on Seventh Avenue”), irrepressible enthusiasm, and keen eye for jazz’s rising stars. The result is a cheerful celebration of an uniquely American musical form.” ― Publishers Weekly ““With his vast knowledge of the players art and his love of singers and the song, Will Friedwald always hones in on the drama, personality, and unique charisma of each musician he profiles.”” ―Bill Charlap Music journalist Friedwald collects his columns published in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Sun between 2003 and 2024 for this exuberant ode to the great jazz pianists. Beginning in turn-of-the-20th century New Orleans, Friedwald spotlights ldquo;founding fathersrdquo; like Jelly Roll Morton, who proved that jazz could ldquo;be written down, annotated, and played by ensembles of any size,rdquo; and the lesser-known Earl ldquo;Fathardquo; Hines. From there, Friedwald moves on to such contemporary up-and-comers as Indonesian ldquo;wunderkindrdquo; Joey Alexander, who mixes ldquo;soul and smartsrdquo; in his original compositionshellip;. [J]azz devoteeshellip;. will be charmed by Friedwaldrsquo;s lyrical prose (ldquo;On lsquo;Rainy Day,rsquo; Monsieur Solal danced around the tune as though he were darting between the raindrops falling outside on Seventh Avenuerdquo;), irrepressible enthusiasm, and keen eye for jazzrsquo;s rising stars. The result is a cheerful celebration of an uniquely American musical form. ― Publishers Weekly ldquo;With his vast knowledge of the players art and his love of singers and the song, Will Friedwald always hones in on the drama, personality, and unique charisma of each musician he profiles.rdquo; -- Bill Charlap Will Friedwald writes about music and popular culture for The Wall Street Journal , The New York Sun , The New York Stage Review , Vanity Fair, Playboy, and other publications. He is also the host of the Saturday morning radio show “Sing! Sing! Sing!” on San Diego’s KSDS. He is the author of ten previous books including the award-winning A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers, Sinatra!: The Song Is You, Stardust Melodies: A Biography of 12 of America's Most Popular Songs, Tony Bennett: The Good Life, Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies: A Complete Illustrated Guide to the Warner Bros. Cartoons, Straighten Up and Fly Right: The Life and Music of Nat King Cole, and Jazz Singing: America's Great Voices from Bessie Smith to Bebop and Beyond . He has written over 600 sets of album liner notes, has received eleven Grammy nominations, and appears frequently on television and in documentaries.