Chris Anderson (February 26, 1926 – February 4, 2008) was an American jazz pianist, who might be best known as an influence on Herbie Hancock.^[1]

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.^[2]

Despite the respect of his peers, Anderson had difficulty finding work or popular acclaim due in large part to his disabilities.^[3] 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,^[3] although he continued to record until he was well into his 70s. A Down Beat profile indicated he had "Osteogenesis", probably meaning osteogenesis imperfecta.^[4]

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

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)

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