Dave, so great to see you with a Legend, Dick Hyman. So glad to get back to the piano finally and keep it going , keeping it alive, Great vid, Awesome!
What a treat to be in the same room as the great Dick Hyman. And listening to what he has to say about piano playing, that answers many questions I've had over the years. He must be well into his nineties now. Just amazing. I hope he reaches 100, what a loss when he eventually leaves this world.
Wow, thank you so much Sir for your work in giving us these extremely informative classes. They bring me so much joy as an aspiring composer and pianist.
Dave, this is amazing. You couldn't ;t have done a better job, and you and Dick together was a real joy to behold. He's the real American master of the idiom --- and you held your end up beautifully, as one would expect. Some great jazz piano here from you both, and food for thought at all levels. From Jan S.
He kind of reminds me of Hoagy Carmichael who costarred in the movie Young man with a horn.Great musician,and 84 y old..just amazing how he is at the top of the pianists' crop at that age!
Masterful indeed. I heard Dick live at Lock Haven University (Central Pa. early 90's) he gave a monstrously prodigious performance covering all genre's of Piano playing up to the mid- 90's. Performance royalty here !!!
There a Dick Hyman CD from 2002, I just got it in the mail (eBay) - one of the best solo piano albums of all time. "Dick Hyman - An Evening at the Cookery - June 17, 1973" JRB Records.
It's a shame Dick Hyman didn't play more electronic organ in filmed settings, or have 'Electronic Organ master classes with Dick Hyman.' The 1936-1992 analog electronic organ is so underrated! Too many "Hammond or bust" organ aficionados. Have you ever spent a day or two listening to *The Organ Jukebox* ytb ch? Lots of Dick Hyman albums! And lots of great organs. I have and have had many organs myself, but lately I've been on a Baldwin organ kick. The Baldwin organ is one brand that has the sweetest warmest tone, but can speak out in it's reed and string voices. Here is a great color promo film with the legendary Eddie Osborn- *Baldwin Organ (16mm 1950s)* Calvin Yawn ( ytb channel- *Ccyawn123* had a tape of his grandmother playing her all vacuum tube Baldwin model 42 or 48 Orga-sonic. Calvin loved it so much he learned every song and either played her old organ or got the same model. His channel has vids of him playing Baldwin organ, Baldwin piano, Hammond, and he has several great Baldwin organ albums up as well. The Baldwin MCO model was very special. ( btw, the organs tone generator system is the heart of any organ. Keep the pdf of Jan Giradot's Master Electronic Organ List handy. Jan put the brand, model, year, whether spinet or console, and the tone generation system. Also see the 1986 electronic organ bluebook. Also, Andy Gilbert moderator of the Organ Forum has also compiled an excellent thorough electronic organ database. Speaking of jazz, listen this to 1987 Garry Rossi album on ' The Organ Jukebox ' ytb ch. title: *Gary Rossi - Organ Standards Vol.1 - Baldwin Orchestra (1080p HD 320kbps)*
Thanks, commenters). FYI, ATM there are 18 in-depth classes on YT + Ustream under my name including Bill Evans, Dave McKenna, Charles Ives, walking bassline clinic, playing outside the changes, Frank Zappa, Charlie Parker, Eric Dolphy, the Marx Bros, Bruce Hornsby, Grateful Dead, Lennie Tristano, Dick Hyman, Eric Dolphy, Oscar Peterson, Liberace, etc.. All free, no commercials:) Blessings and keep swingin! Dave Frank
Dick says plans are in the works with Arbors Jazz to release transcriptions of all the pieces on the "Century Of Jazz Piano" set. Can't wait for those to become available!! Dick is an American treasure.
I am surprised that he moves his legs and feet a little. Most really great pianists do not move much at all. They tend to have quiet bodies. D minor for Just One of Those Things is a good vehicle to mess around with. No jokes about Dick's and Hyman's please. Too much going on with the two pianos improvising on Fine and Dandy in F. I have always liked AATYA because I know Cmajor is related to A flat Major which is C phrygian it is 02212221 up and 02212221 down. In all keys. Go back to the future.
Thanks for this wonderful post. Dicks "Century Of Jazz Piano" was initially a CD-ROM for the somewhat musically deprived PC, it is great to see that it found its way onto CD /DVD. As a CD-ROM , like its' author -it remains 1 of a kind. It would be a great service to future generations of Jazz Pianists if the coding for the CD-ROM somehow was updated to run and made it to DVD, it is a magnificent resource. Happy 84th Dick - may you always speak such splendid "Swahili"
Extremely insightful and should be watched in the hundreds of thousands by students of jazz piano all around the world. I am more optimistic about the human brain than Mr Hyman. I feel that the human brain has proved itself able to learn anything if the drive and will is strong enough. Perhaps he means that typically accustomization to music is essential, just like accustomization to any kind of language is essential? My case in point: People talk often about playing by ear, however most people seem to be born with the ability to sing by ear. Most people essentially have an innate perfect pitch when it comes to singing !
+Dave Frank Dear Dave, apologies, I did slur out the wrong name in my hurried comment earlier. I meant Dick Hyman's opinion expressed at 10:30, not at all your opinion. Really sorry man. I have enjoyed your videos for years and they express nothing but jazz being accessible to anyone that is willing. My comment was triggered by my feeling that his description of the need for "something to begin with" was probably overly negative a message to aspiring musicians. Finally I edited my comment so that it was correct, and more respectful of what I think he was trying to conway. I have heard similar things regarding language. It's apparently exceedingly hard to learn language in adulthood after never having been exposed to it in childhood. Never the less our brains are always able to do learn something, and do something in their own character.
+Hrobjartur Thorsteinsson I can diggit, you both have good points..it all lies in the middle there somewhere for most of us I reckon) Thanks for writing man!
+Dave Frank I just want to say thank you! What a joy to see your interview with master Dick Hyman. There can be no doubt that 100 years from now people are still being made wiser by these sessions.
+Hrobjartur Thorsteinsson yeah, but what about 1,000,000 years from now haha? Thank you for writing, please enjoy a visit to the master class archive at www.davefrankjazz.com, there are currently 31 in-depth classes for your amusement, all phree)
Sorry Dick, I somewhat disagree with 10:39. Its impossible to know something unless you learn it, it's inevitable. (i.e you see colors, but dont know the names of them unless you take the time to know what they are) If i developed my ear (incidentally or not) when i was 3, like many greats, one would say i have a "knack" now. But now that im a teen & do the same thing, it seems as if I'm learning it & dont have a knack.. Even tatum played with piano rolls when he was 3. He just did it young.
Pennies From Heaven is major. The last tune in minor has no connection to Pennies. It sounds like one of Lenny Tristano kinds of tunes. It reminds me of Softly As In A Morning Sunrise but it is simpler. There is no inside only an 8 bar outside two times. Read through the 24 Chopin Preludes. They are brief like a Jazz tune but each is a masterpiece. Dig?
his all the things you are" didnt make sense to me...it appeared to be an exercise in, "gee, what can I throw at this song because I am really good at different piano styles. It was not expressive, not touching, ...it sounded like an exercise. disappointing
