Jazz Piano "In Tune"

Miles Davis to Herbie Hancock: "I pay you to practice on my bandstand."

2007-08-26T21:18:00.001-06:00

Here's a great article about the innovative jazz pianist, Herbie Hancock. Sounds like a really interesting guy, and one who only began to shine once he played the way he wanted to play. Miles Davis encouraged him early in his career, and the rest, as they say, is history. Check out this update on Herbie, his family, his gadgets, and what makes him tick:Technorati Tags: herbie hancock, herbie,

A Great Blog Hub For Great Jazz

2007-08-22T14:06:00.001-06:00

This awesome blog has some terrific links, reviews, news, etc., etc. It's a great place to get lost in jazz for a while...like I just was!100 Greatest Jazz Albums 100 Greatest Jazz albums brings you the best in jazz, highlighting the great jazz albums, selecting the best of the jazz new releases.Technorati Tags: jazz piano, jazz, musicPowered by ScribeFire.

Oscar Peterson May Be Aging, But He's Alive And Well In This Detroit Piano Prodigy

2007-08-21T21:45:00.001-06:00

Detroit JazzStage - Jazz Spotlite Channel Here's a really nice brief interview with up-and-coming jazz pianist Steve Richko, followed by his beautiful title piece from his Oscar Peterson tribute album, the sales of which benefit the ALS Foundation (that's Lou Gerhig's disease). Here's a clip from the Jazz Spotlite website:"Pianist Steve Richko lives in Dearborn, MI. He is a 27-year-old prodigy

The Things You'll Find On The Internet...

2007-08-18T20:59:00.001-06:00

Check out this 75-year-old cartoon about Tom and Jerry, the "Piano Tooners" (not the cat and mouse), which features a "jazz" piano performance near the end of the cartoon, after they remove a bad key on the piano like pulling a tooth. Cute, and a fun little diversion down memory lane...although I don't remember this one! Tom and Jerry (the human versions, not the cat and mouse) work as piano

Excellent 1964 Jazz Piano Trio Music You've Never Heard

2007-08-18T20:30:00.001-06:00

Here's something I think I may have to hunt down for my music collection...a piano trio recording from 1964 by Michael Garrick - "Moonscape". Just the rarity of it intrigues me. Check out this snippet from the New York Times: But “Moonscape” out-rares them all; 99 copies were pressed by Mr. Garrick, a British pianist, after he formed what sounds like an excellent working band but before he

Nothing To Do? These Podcasts Will Keep You Busy For A While!

2007-05-12T18:58:00.001-06:00

Check out this awesome list of jazz podcasts I found recently - better carve some time out of your schedule for these gems. Enjoy... Jazz Podcasts - A New Collection BeginsWe've previously put you in touch with great classical music podcasts (here and here).Now it's time to focus on jazz. Today, we're highlighting 16 podcasts that will keep you current on today's jazz scene. You'll know what's

Go "Behind The Fingers" Of Jazz Great, Art Tatum

2007-04-12T21:50:00.001-06:00

I should have posted this much earlier, since this series is just brilliant. Not sure when it was done, but Dick Hyman breaks down some of Art Tatum's harmonic devices and licks, making them very accessible, even for beginning-intermediate pianists. Do yourself a favor and check this out, then study and practice it and see where it gets you. Enjoy! http://youtube.com/watch?v=OQoiTxx1mDM technorati tags:

Playing Outside the Box, If There Ever Was a Box to Begin With

2007-02-21T17:23:00.001-06:00

I don't know much about Bela Fleck's work, except that it pushes the envelope. However, I'm a big fan of Chick Corea, with not nearly as many of his albums as I'd like. Here's an awesome sample of his acoustic work, courtesy of YouTube. Watch how he reaches inside the piano while he plays - wild. I almost feel a connection to him, since his Akoustic Band drummer, Dave Weckl, is a St. Louis

Is Boogie Woogie Really "Jazz"?

2007-02-19T17:42:00.001-06:00

Some may argue whether boogie woogie (or Dixieland, for that matter, which is the central music of many local "Jazz" clubs [member organizations, that is...too many nested parens now...]) is actually jazz. Well, I feel like it's just one more piece of the large foundation of jazz music as we know it today, and well worth any musician's respect. I've only heard Ammons play once on a Smithsonian

Two Artists At Their Peak

2007-02-19T10:28:00.001-06:00

Man oh man...this will get your blood moving. I know this is the Jazz Piano blog, but when you toss Ella in the mix, it's just an added treat. This number swings like nobody's business. How long did they rehearse this, I wonder? The sign of a truly great artist is making the near-impossible look unbelievably easy...they hardly look like they're even trying (except for Oscar wiping his brow),

Jazz Piano Great, Bill Evans - A Great Listener

2007-02-11T18:33:00.001-06:00

This is a really interesting article about a journalist who had kind of a "reverse interview" with Bill Evans one night. It's kind of a personal insight into Bill Evans, the man. I don't know, something about this article touched me somehow... On this night, I talked while Bill Evans listenedIn my early teens, I had an unusual hobby. Whenever the urge grew strong enough to overcome my basic

A Magazine You Can Play!

2007-02-08T15:28:00.001-06:00

Here's a nice magazine with a little something for all tastes, including music that you can play in each issue. Granted, there are only 4 issues per year, but it reminds me of the old Keyboard Magazine, or Jazz Pianist, or something like that that I used to subscribe to. In fact, I just subscribed myself! Check it out: http://www.pianotoday.com/ For pianists with an

This Crazy Italian Guy Seems To Be Making A Splash!

2007-02-08T10:06:00.001-06:00

I keep seeing Stefano Bollani's name in the news and watched is "Maple Leaf Rag" video that was in a previous article posted. I must say that I may have to buy his CD. I wish I could have seen the performance talked about in this NY Times article. Sounds like he's gonna cause some trouble for the pop and jazz purists by "playing outside the box." From Italy, a Pianistic Palette With

Reviving the Classics...Rebuilding a City

2007-02-07T16:19:00.001-06:00

Review: Connick's memories inspire `Nola' - Albuquerque TribuneI'm kind of an on-again-off-again fan of Harry Connick, Jr. The guy can certainly play a mean piano, but I've always found his vocals to be a bit flat, stylized as they may be. At any rate, this new album (Oh My Nola) has some tasty treats on it. You can check out some pretty short clips at Amazon, along with a video of "Yes We Can

If This Doesn't Move You, Check Your Pulse

2007-02-07T10:47:00.001-06:00

To say that I love to see and hear Oscar play is an understatement. Words cannot express it - just listen, that's all. BUT...I also really enjoy listening to him talk. He's obviously careful about what he says and how he says it, and I think his warmth and intelligence are obvious, not only in his playing, but also in his speech. OK, enough said...just listen to this gem... http://

A Personal (Re-)Discovery of a Smooth, Brazilian Pianist/Singer/Songwriter

2007-02-06T21:35:00.001-06:00

I know I've heard this woman play and sing before, but I guess it never stuck in the front of my brain for very long. She has such a smooth, rich, rhythmic sound. Might not be your cup of tea, and it's not always mine, but every now and then I like to take a musical vacation, if only for a minute or two. Eliane's music will certainly do that for you. From her website bio: Pianist / singer

The Song Sinatra Gave Up On

2007-02-06T21:02:00.001-06:00

More about Billy Strayhorn and his wonderful, biographical tune, "Lush Life,' in this article and audio from NPR's Morning Edition. Strayhorn wrote this piece when he was still a teenager, which is amazing, when you consider the songs longevity, poignancy, and musical compexity. Was he predicting his own future in the song, or did he feel somehow compelled to live out the "Lush Life" that he

Speaking of Eubie...Here's an Oldie But Goodie!

2007-02-06T13:11:00.001-06:00

Eubie Blake and his Orchestra 1932 VERY dated, but a treat nonetheless. Man, I love YouTube - all these great old recordings coming back to life again. Eubie Blake on piano and his band play "Memories Of You" and accompany the fabulous Nina Mae McKinney when she sings "Everything I Got Belongs To You" with lots of Louis Armstrong timing! Author: harryoakley

One of LA's Best Kept Secrets - Keep an Eye on This Pianist

2007-02-06T13:07:00.001-06:00

Gaea Schell CD Release Celebrations in Los Angeles - Jazz PoliceGaea's vocals are very clean and direct, with a very unique style, and her piano playing is also clean, uncluttered, and technically very smooth, from the small sound samples I heard at CD Baby. Her voice reminds me a bit of Astrud Gilberto. Hopefully, her new recording will have a smoother, less harsh piano recording. Jazz

This New Jazz Pianist Might Rock Your World a Little...

2007-02-06T09:59:00.001-06:00

Stefano Bollani Piano Solo - PopMattersWow. I may have to pick up this recording, just from watching the video that accompanies this article. It's Stefano Bollani's take on "Maple Leaf Rag," and I must say it's both a little arresting and refreshing at the same time. I'm not sure what to say about it, or even if I totally like all of it, but this guy definitely has something to say, something

I Guess 100 Years Was All He Needed

2007-02-06T09:52:00.001-06:00

Eubie Blake - Baltimore SunWhen I think of the song, "I'm Just Wild About Harry," I immediately think of a cartoon I once saw, but I just learned it was written by Eubie Blake, an amazing pianist born to former slave parents in 1883 who received the Medal of Freedom from President Reagan in 1981 and was honored by having his name on the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center in

'Things Ain't The Way They Used to Be' ... Right On!

2007-02-05T20:41:00.001-06:00

Seems Ramsey Lewis is enjoying what his son refers to as his Third Coming. This is the second or third article I've seen about him this week. You gotta admit - whether you like the guy's playing or not...he's had some kind of influence on music. Check out this nice article by Charles Leroux: http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/6/music/20070206092729&sec=music

Marian McPartland, a Living Jazz Piano Legend - 89 and Going Strong!

2007-02-04T23:56:00.001-06:00

I was fortunate enough to hear and meet Marian years ago in the St. Louis area and was blown away. Such a kind, intelligent, TALENTED, interesting woman who has met and performed with virtually anybody who IS anybody in jazz. I don't get to hear her NPR show nearly as often as I'd like, but I highly recommend you find it in your area, or check it out on her website - there are a few streaming

Ramsey Lewis: Brilliant, Pop "Sellout" or Both?!

2007-02-04T06:48:00.001-06:00

A CAREER IN FULL - Chicago TribuneHere's an interesting article about Ramsey Lewis, whose jazz reputation may have suffered at the hands of his early pop success with "The In Crowd." However, no one can argue that his jazz playing is top notch, and if you haven't seen his PBS show "Legends of Jazz" on the tube or DVD/CD yet, it is a must for any serious fan/student of jazz. A CAREER IN

Jazz Piano Intros, Comping Patterns, and Endings

2007-02-03T00:24:00.001-06:00

Here are several very nice jazz piano licks, including an intro, some comping patterns, and a few classic endings. Some great, easy tools to add to your arsenal.http://www.melbay.com/creativekeyboard/oct04/tricks.htmltechnorati tags:jazz, piano, tricks, intros, comping, endings, ellington, ray, charles, bossa, pedal

Billy Strayhorn Remembered on PBS' Independent Lens Beginning 2/6/2007

2007-02-03T00:18:00.001-06:00

My first thought upon seeing this article was that I don't care if the guy was gay, straight, black, white, short, tall, or an alien, he wrote some of the most memorable, interesting, beautiful music of all time. "Satin Doll," "Take the 'A' Train," "Lush Life," I mean REALLY! After reading the article about the upcoming PBS program on his life, I began to realize that the discrimination he may

Kenny Barron - One of jazz piano's true "go-to" players

2007-02-03T00:03:00.001-06:00

I'm not very familiar with Kenny Barron's playing, but with such stellar references, it sounds like it's high time I listen to some of his "pictures." Maybe someone else out there is more familiar with his work...? Bend WeeklyPop Talk: Barron's goal is to 'paint pictures when I'm playing'Bend Weekly, OR - 19 hours agoKenny Barron is held in such high esteem by some of the legends of jazz that

Hello Jazz Piano Enthusiasts

2007-02-02T15:32:00.000-06:00

Hello Everyone - I look forward to bringing you all the latest jazz piano news, tips, and information.Talk to you soon!Bill