Really really solid musicianship. Just yummy to listen to. What a pleasure. I really appreciate how tightly your improvisation ties in with the composition such that it's difficult to separate it. Do you have recordings available for download someplace?
I love that episode, I knew right when you started taking that's the episode you'd be talking about, remember me I studied piano with you in 1990. I came to your house in Glendale at 11:00. Then I got a job playing at the Northridge mall I played there until the earthquake in 1994. Jim I've been a pro Pianist and still use most everything you taught me. I'm trying to learn that double time "Rod Miller style and I just can't get. What should I do one word..........HELP. Give my love to all.
Technically you can put anything in a stride style; however, The Crave. is timeless in its habanera style. Heck, I may give it a try one day.Thanks for listening.
This is really outstanding. I watched your performance of 'Fingerbreaker' and can tell after watching the first minute of this video that I'm going to definitely going to be watching a lot of them. I love the stride improvisation you chuck in as well. It really lightens the mood and makes a great performance. AWESOME MATE!!
Thanks for sharing, Jim. You most certainly do "crank it up!" After visiting this video again, I was also reminded how much I LOVE what you did at 2:07 with the 3 over 4 polyrhythmic feel. Brilliant!
Morton's piano solos mostly relied on a 4 beat feel, typified by early New Orleans jazz, an outgrowth of ragtime. Stride swings in a different way, more often with a 2 beat feel. I would not put the "Fingerbreaker" in the stride category......
At 2:50 I begin the chorus in Gm ( moving from Dm ). The left hand figure, something I had never tried, alternates the single note G with a chord of D and Db. The note values are syncopated 8th notes and adjust as the next chord moves to Cm. My usual approach to improvised renditions is to crank it up, keep it moving, never falter, try anything and finish with a flourish! Things they don't teach you in music theory! Glad you enjoyed it.
You rock! Jim, what's your left hand doin' right around 2:50? It's like a rock n roll rumble that I can't distinguish... I can't place it in terms of era. Is that something of your own creation? Anyway, you're a badass!
You don't think you could take a little trip to sweden? we desperately need some of this boogie woogie tunes insted of the terror of swedish house mafia. Please save our nation!
Great rendition Jim! One of my all time favorites. As a kid, my late friend and I used to see how many different ways we could play the tune. You have a very nice assortment. Cool...
Awesome. I've been listening to this over and over again for the past few months and never get tired of it. I should definetely go back to my piano classes, maybe I will be able to play like this before I die :)
