The Most Famous Piano In The World ?
by David Binns
While researching for a future Hollywood documentary film on ‘The Most Famous Piano in the World’, I have come across two jazz albums that deserve a reprise. The albums are Space and Under The Jasmin Tree, by The Modern Jazz Quartet both unusual departures from their elegant classical jazz style. The piano was the 100-year-old Bechstein C, resident in the world-famous Trident Studios in Soho, which opened in 1968. The ‘trippy’ space theme on the two tracks, Visitor From Mars and Visitor From Venus, both by John Lewis, was inspired by the Apollo 8 mission that made history with the first crewed mission to orbit the moon, leading to the first moon landing in July 1969.
​
In the same year the year the Beatles founded Apple Records and the MJQ were one of several artists signed to the new label. Apple were looking for experimental artists and head of A&R, Peter Asher, brother of Paul McCartney's girlfriend Jane Asher, persuaded the MJQ, who were touring Europe and the UK, to move from Atlantic Records. It was an unlikely match for Apples’ contemporary rock; the albums did not produce significant sales and the MJQ returned to Atlantic in 1971.
​
Owner of the studio Norman Sheffield wrote "The leader of the MJQ, John Lewis, had been so excited about working with our new 8 track equipment that he rewrote part of the space album for two pianos. He asked whether we could find a Steinway piano that was a close match to the Trident Bechstein. I personally helped John find it – and the results were magical".
​
The sessions were recorded by Norman’s brother and co-owner of the studio, Barry Sheffield, in March 1969, shortly after Trident opened. Peter Asher later explained that he wanted to experiment with a rock and roll engineer recording jazz. John Lewis’ modus operandi made a particular impression on him: "He totally ran the show. He was the band leader in the old sense of the word. If you recall, the MJQ's whole thing was to take jazz and present it as if it was classical music. They all wore suits and ties. They were all very buttoned up and controlled, that was their thing. It was like chamber jazz. That was all him.”
The Modern Jazz Quartet
The Bechstein’s unique sound was said to come from its age-stiff hammers requiring players to strike the keys forcefully to produce a bright and crystal-clear sound. It remained in the studio until it closed and this was perhaps the only time that an artist asked for another piano. I would like to think that John Lewis used it on the Rodrigo Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez where the piano has a softer and more lyrical sound.
​
The only other jazz album recorded at Trident in May 16th 1971 was In The Evening by Sandy Brown and the Brian Lemon Trio (here is the title track). Sandy was the architect and acoustic consultant for the studio and the album was recorded in a free session negotiated by Sandy as part of his fee. So why am I researching the studios? – because I was the architect assisting Sandy on Trident Studios and this job led to the formation of Sandy Brown Associates, architects and acoustic consultants. I am no longer with them, but nearly 60 years later the business is booming. Now called just 'Sandy Brown', they are the largest acoustic consultants in the UK and amongst the top ten in the world. The studio scarred me for life. In the dark one evening I fell down the newly dug lift pit and still bear the scar on my leg.
​
David Binns was Sandy Brown's partner at the original Sandy Brown Associates company and is the editor of The McJazz Manuscripts, A Collection Of The Writings Of Sandy Brown; and Homes Of The Hits, a limited edition softcover book, about the twenty-one studios that the company were involved in setting up.
There is a YouTube video about the Bechstein piano here. The video is concerned primarily with rock bands that used the piano at Trident studios but it gives examples of the sound achieved with the piano. It also notes that when the studio closed, the piano was damaged and then sold and its location became unknown.
© Sandy Brown Jazz 2026.1