Thank you so much for posting this. To think that I thought I knew jazz pianists... and never I suspected that not only Grapelli also played the piano, but so well, too! There is a lot of Art Tatum in his playing but I can also hear Erroll Garner, plus a nice impressionist touch. You have my deepest respect, Mr. Grapelli!
Mr. Grappell still lives in his recordings. We get old, but when we join with our treasured instriments; me I'm 24 years old again. Check out the Album, "S'wonderful: 4 Giants of Swing". LP, a 1977 "Flying Fish" label release. Maybe it was later transferred to CD; but that album; all string jazz, it's one of my favorites.
I saw him in concert in about 1984 and he played a gorgeous piano solo like this between two violin - guitar sets. I can't verify but I either heard or read that he began his musical career on piano but after hearing Art Tatum he decided, essentially, "what more can I say" and switched to violin.
Saw him in Australia with the Diz Dizley trio when he was about ,84. Came out by himself at one stage and played piano for about 10 minutes, Sensational.
Of the 19000 who viewed this clip, just 478 gave it the THUMS UP. Something terribly wrong somewhere. Rare footage. I am blessed. Wonderful exhibition by the maestro. Rounds off his medley with 2 of my favourites, Satin Doll and Tea for two. Age hasn't diminished the nimbleness of his fingers. Enjoyable progressions and key modulations reveal strong Jazz influences, much to my delight. Jazz Singers, Thank You for sharing this wonderful, piece of music
@Violin Accordion Thank You Sir. Ignorance is bliss. None so blind, as those who will not see. None so deaf as those who refuse to hear. Please yourself.
Saw Stephane Grapelli at Richmond in the 80s. At the interval he came on and played like this for 10 minutes, solo, then resumed part 2 of his concert on the violin. Fabulous memories evoked by this video. Thanks for posting.
There's an apocryphal story that, when he was getting into jazz, he wanted to be a piano player, but he heard some Art Tatum records, and decided to concentrate on violin. Clearly, he kept his chops on the keys. I was lucky enough to see him in the mid 70s, and he devoted a couple tunes to piano during the concert. Incidentally, in his band he had a young, but already brilliant Mart in Taylor on guitar.
I would imagine that you play very well -- everyone plays differently -- and no one plays like these guys -- Tatum, Oscar, a handful of others -- endless technique -- yet one does not need all of the embellishments to get one's point across!
"Effortless" is the first word that comes to my (non-native english thinking) mind. A true musical genius. The kind of musical genius that comes around about every second century. Absolutely outstanding. RIP, Maestro.
Saw him in Melbourne Dallas Brooks Hall mid 70s. Played fantastic violin as expected and surprised everyone with equally fantastic piano playing. Such joy and musicality in everything he did. Was an inspiring concert. Loved it.
I heard Grappelli play this on the piano as an interlude from his amazing violin, around 1980 in North Carolina. He had been my inspiration for playing jazz on the violin, and I was fortunate to meet him after his concert in Las Vegas in the early 90's, and share that his record back that was given to me in 1972, let me know that jazz could be played on the violin. I never heard a jazz violinist with such an elegant style combined with phenomenal technique and creativity. Not surprisingly his improv on piano is often similar to that on the violin. With me, it is sortof the same relationship with the jazz piano that I play.
Such an immense surprise!...But then again, when you think about it, he was a Tatum contemporary. I dearly love to find videos of Mr. Grappelli during the last decade of his life. It inspires me to hold onto my own work as an actor, because when you really listen, the man is more creative than ever. The video at his oldest, I found, was recorded in 1994 at age 86. And I sat, simply charmed and rueful that I never saw him in concert. My loss...But then we have things like this...Just miraculous stuff....
Well, every day is a school day! Had no idea Mr. Grappelli was a gifted pianist. It wasn't my kind of music but some people are truly blessed. Just the odd cursory glance, amazing!
I'm 53 been practicing my whole life and couldn't hold a candle to this guy didnt know he played piano just like jaco pastorius did a duo with graphelli it makes me so envious
Knew him always as a violin jazz virtuoso... what an amazing surprise it was to find out he was such a genius on piano as well... shall always remember him
Nigel. Brown. I took my dad to see him in Southend on Sea many years ago and after he came back on stage after a short break, he sat down at the piano and played like that, well we were just gobsmacked. What a fantastic man. My dad used to put one of his records on and try to keep up with him on the violin. Great memories.
I sw him twice, in London, and in France, many years ago. Grappelli played with Django, who was a true genius, a tremendous musician, but never forget he was himself among the top musicians...
Доброго времени суток! Друзья! Слушала и смотрела в интернете последнее время джазового скрипача бесподобного Стефана Граппелли!!! Оказывается он ещё и прекрасный пианист- виртуоз джазовый!!! Случайно сегодня это обнаружила!!! Какое счастье!!! Хочется подробней узнать о его творчестве, биографию. Спасибо!!!
I had the great fortune to witness a concert of Stephan's with the 'Dis Dizzley Trio' in the mid 1970's, thank you Jan for that wonderful gift hope you are doing well my love, it was amazing, this man was a treasure of musical expression.
Had the privilege of hearing Grappelli on his only visit to Auckland. One note, one shining lustrous note he played to start the performance. Like a shining star it was, had the audience spellbound. We were hooked.
He was an amazing pianist. I had no idea he was that brilliant and virtuosic. I know a great trumpet player who is also a brilliant jazz pianist. If you are very gifted, it is often the case that an artist is gifted in another field. Opera singer Tito Gobbi, one of the greatest singing actors ever, was a gifted artist. Felix Mendelssohn was also a wonderful painter.
To hear Mr. Grappelli play the piano is a great gift. Thank you Mrs. Thejazzsingers Jazz in Holland. Merci bien, moito obrigado. Molto grazie. Muchas gracias. De todo corazon.
It was known, from the 1930's , that Steph was a trained and classy concert standard pianist, as well as a violinist who chose to use that skill mostly with Django. Steph accompanied Coleman hawkins on many records, and others, in a plain manner.
I have been totally blown away fascinated. This is to demonstrate the power of music, Her practice, the love for Her. This is one of the most incredible pianist on Earth.
Who knew! Beautiful piano!...would have been interesting to hear him playing piano and violin on a double tracked album. Thanks for posting!! Have subscribed.
Many children of his age were provided with music lessons by their parents. Parental support is almost never acknowledged in biographies. It's as if the authors never considered who paid for the instruments, the lessons, the music, the travel and attire for recitals and concerts - as well as masterclasses and music camps. Piano was Grappelli's first instrument. Pianists were often encouraged to play an orchestral instrument to off-set the confining social restrictions of keyboard study. An aside - Charles Mingus was an accomplished pianist - perhaps the first to ever make a totally spontaneous composition recording, many years before Keith Jarrett's famous endeavours.
A lot of parents were task masters. I know scores of pianist who hated piano because they were forced to take lessons and not learn to love music. The parents paid for the lessons because it was their dream not the dream of the child. Some of them just wanted to live off the talents of their children. That's documented though classical history too. If a parent is left out it's for a good reason.
@@adrianfundescu5407 If that is true according to Grappelli's biography, it still doesn't change the results. Many orchestral instrumentalists were encouraged to learn piano. Many conservatories require a fairly advanced level of piano as a 2nd instrument in the curriculum. The point being that Grappelli was a well trained pianist and a lot of professional experience as well.
@@newyorkfilharmonik110 Besides hiding behind a "nom de pixel", your complaint sounds autobiographical. I know a lot of bad music teachers - acting like dictators and taking over a child's life. This is not a good parent's fault. However, I know scores of people who learned music as a child, but their parents told them they had to get a "real career" - to go to business school, or become a doctor or lawyer - and they regretted not going into music, or another art world, for the rest of their lives.
@@homzymusic Not autobiographical. I just know a lot of my friends who just didn't play piano after they didn't have to take lessons. But back then, there was only piano. No digital pianos with different kinds of pianos and weighted keyboards. Either you had a piano or you didn't. So maybe that's it too. Between tuning and lessons on the appropriate instrument, it isn't cheap. Students can barely afford college much less a grand piano. And as for my name, this is my second account and it has a different purpose than my first account, which bears a contrived name. This name is so I'm not confusing anyone into thinking I'm a musician. Dictionaries define musicians as those who earn a living playing music. I'm a music lover, thus the spelling of philharmonic that can be allowed without confusing me with an orchestra. I'm not promoting myself so I don't need to put my real name out to the real world. Google has it if someone needs it.
People throw the word genius around pretty lightly these days. this man was a true genius of the highest musical order every bit the equal of and partner for Django..
What an incredible musician on violin or piano is Stephane Grappelli - listen to that I think HE is one of the greatest on BOTH instruments - I met HIM at a gig HE was doing at Reno Sweeney's night club on 13th street in Greenwich Village - New York City - my home town - Back in September 1976 - And actually got to jam with HIM for 30 seconds on the very same tune that HE and DJANGO REINHARDT 1st ever jammed on - - back stage in December of 1934 in Paris , France - the tune DINAH - with DIZ DISLEY'S 1932 Maccaferri guitar - right before HE went on for the band's 2nd set - then met up with HIM again in 1978 at Royce Hall at UCLA in Los Angeles + HE remembered me wow what an honor ,Joe Nania a.k.a. Hollywood Joe oe
I ran a record store from '79 ot '87 - and this man quickly became my favorite musician of all time, even with all the incredible choices I had at the store. The grace with which he plays his violin is not lost on the piano - the music spills out of him in the same manner. He was, and still is a great gift to all of us.
Ohhhh what a rotter!.....been playing piano for years and about 20% as good as this, never mind violin! He reminds me of Oscar Peterson on the keys. Cheers for posting this x.
Incredible. Should have recorded more on piano. Would have been great to have an album where he does duets with himself -- piano and violin. Like what Bill Evans did.
Actually, it was, he was a pianist before he played violin. He often worked as a theatre pianist before he met Django. There are a few 'hotclub' recordings with stephane on piano and even a couple of records with django on violin! :)
@@essexchillis2980 I don't think this is right. Intuitively it seems wrong. You don't get the violin chops he had by it being a second instrument, and wikipedia says otherwise too. Do you have any sources?
Throw in a little "Every Little Breeze Seems to Whispers Louise", and toss in some stride piano on "Satin Doll" and "Tea for Two".. why not? Wow, that was great!
There are many Jazz musicians who play several instruments. Such a genius may not choose the instrument to express his music. As for me, to my regret I cannot play even one instrument well.
Who will ever know, where Stephane's musical heart REALLY lay, but, I JUST WONDER, was it with the piano. Maybe someone already knows. His playing is very advanced on both violin and piano. But on piano, he has the entire orchestra, so to speak, at his fingertips
If anyone is interested, there's a wonderful segment of NPR's Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland that features the great Grapelli. In it, he plays beautifully with the wondrous Marian on not only violin but also the piano. It is amazing! It's worth the listen, plus you get to hear the nice rapport between two jazz giants.
Unfortunately, no video, but awesome audio I hope you can enjoy if you have some time: www.npr.org/2012/09/07/91706269/violinist-stephane-grappelli-on-piano-jazz
I knew he was a great pianist. But never saw this video. However, his total command of the instrument begins to explain his incredible invention on the violin and his endless outpouring of ideas of genius - most classical violinists (like me) don’t have a fraction of his masterful gift for music-making.
Mamma mia, quant'era bravo! You can listen to Stéphane Grappelli at the piano in one take on the Lp 'Young Django' on MPS label (1980). Simply beautiful
