🎹 5 Underrated Pianists You Need to Hear

We all know the legends—Chopin, Oscar Peterson, Billy Joel.

But what about the pianists who should be household names but aren’t quite there yet?

Today, we’re sharing our top five picks for incredible players who deserve way more recognition.

If you love piano, these are names you need to check out.

1. Luca Sestak (Boogie Woogie/Blues/Jazz Fusion)

Luca Sestak takes boogie-woogie and blues piano to a whole new level. His insane technique, groove, and modern twist make him one of the most exciting pianists out there. He blends traditional blues with jazz and pop influences, and the result is pure magic.

🎧 Must-listen: Key Engine. Powerful groove you probably have never heard before.

2. Cory Henry (Funk/Blues/Jazz Fusion)

If groove had a face, it’d be Cory Henry. His piano and organ playing is straight-up infectious. He mixes gospel, jazz, and funk in a way that’s both fresh and timeless. Whether he’s playing solo or with Snarky Puppy, he always brings the fire.

🎧 Must-listen: "Switch" – this solo at 3:40 is legendary. This video gets better by the minute. Please do yourself a favor and watch the whole thing, but especially the solo.

3. Jon Batiste (Jazz/Pop/Classical Fusion)

Jon Batiste is a Grammy-winning artist, but outside of jazz circles, he’s still underrated. His style is a mix of jazz, classical, R&B, and New Orleans street music. It’s soulful, expressive, and always full of life.

🎧 Must-listen: "Für Elise" – here’s Jon playing an absolute classic - with his twist.

4. Jamie Cullum (Jazz/Pop/Singer-Songwriter)

Jamie Cullum brings jazz into the mainstream like no one else. He mixes pop, rock, and swing, and his improvisation skills are next level. Whether he’s reworking jazz standards or creating original songs, his piano playing always shines.

🎧 Must-listen: "Please Don’t Stop The Music" – jazzy rehash of Rihanna’s cult-classic song. The solo is unreal.

5. Matthew Lee (Rock n’ Roll/Boogie Woogie)

Matthew Lee is pure rock ’n roll energy at the piano. He’s got blazing technique, wild showmanship, and the kind of charisma that brings vintage boogie woogie roaring into the 21st century. Think Jerry Lee Lewis meets modern-day flair. His live performances are explosive—standing, jumping, even dancing while tearing up the keys.

🎧 Must-listen: Johnny B. Goode – thunderous piano, infectious rhythm, and a killer performance. If you’re new to rock ’n roll piano, this is your perfect entry point.

🎵 Bonus: Michael Kaeshammer (Boogie Woogie/Jazz/Blues)

Michael Kaeshammer is all about high-energy piano. He combines boogie-woogie with new orleans, jazz, and blues, and his performances are ridiculously fun to watch. His playing is full of life, rhythm, and feel. He often uses the piano as a percussion instrument. See below.

🎧 Must-listen → 2 songs, but especially the 2nd is absolutely crazy. You’re in for a surprise with this one. The video starts at the 2nd song, so you can just click and listen (but the 1st is also worth to hear!)

💬 Who’s a pianist you think deserves more recognition? Hit reply and let me know!

If you want to learn piano so you can play all of these songs, check out Flowkey!

It’s by far all of our favourites piano learning app.

As a professional pianist myself, I personally tried all of them, and stuck with Flowkey. 🎹

So click that link, sign up for a 14 day free trial, and see if you like it or not. :)

Stay tuned for more piano inspiration in next week’s edition.

🎶 Keep playing,
- Jon