Tag Archives: video

Video – Keith Jarrett – I Loves You Porgy Piano Solo Tokyo 1984

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Keith Jarrett playing a haunting performance of George Gershwin’s ballad “I Loves You Porgy”. This performance is from his album Keith Jarrett – Solo Tribute: The 100th Performance in Japan (1987). Keith Jarrett, well known for his gorgeous intricate harmonies, is considered by many to be the best jazz pianist in the world.

Keith Jarrett is an American jazz and classical pianist and composer. Before the age of three, he was already taking piano lessons. By five, he was already performing on TV. As a youngster Jarrett displayed a great deal of talent. His first piano recital included several of his own original pieces, as well as Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart.

In his long and fabulously successful career, Jarrett has performed and recorded with many famous musicians worldwide. Jarrett is well known for his extraordinary original jazz solo pieces, as well as trio work, and classical recordings. His piano and keyboard virtuosity is unparalleled in the world of jazz, and he has become a legend in the jazz world. His performances are a sight to behold, throwing himself into the music in his own world. His music is complex and deep, and generally appeals to the more trained ear. Jarrett’s recordings blend themes from jazz, blues, gospel, and folk music. His music has been described as stunning, remarkable, and breathtaking. Keith Jarrett remains one of the most powerful and original American jazz pianists and composers of all time.

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Video – All The Things You Are – Jazz Piano Solo Composed by Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein

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“All The Things You Are” is one of the most performed piano standards in the jazz repertoire. The music was composed by Jerome Kern and the lyrics were written by Oscar Hammerstein. The song was a hit, and ranked in the top five in the Record Buying Guide of Billboard. Here is a contemporary piano recording.

“All The Things You Are” was composed for the musical Very Warm for May (1939) In 1944, it was a feature in the film “Broadway Rhythm”. In 1945 it was used as a recurring theme in the romantic comedy “A Letter for Evie”. Then in 2005 it was used in the film “Mrs. Henderson Presents”

Recordings made by Tommy Dorsey and Artie Shaw, helped make the song popular.

Other notable artists who recorded it are:

Ella Fitzgerald

Glenn Miller

Frank Sinatra

Hampton Hawes

Stan Kenton

Bill Evans Trio

Barbra Streisand

Keith Jarrett

Michael Jackson

Mario Lanza

Video Damaso Perez Prado Piano Solo – The King Of Mambo With His Band 1950’s

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A rare video from the early 50’s. The King of Mambo, Dámaso Pérez Prado, playing with his band, and showing his flair in a piano solo.

Dámaso Pérez Prado was born december 11, 1916. He was a cuban bandleader, pianist, singer, organist and composer. He was born in Matanzas, Cuba and is known as the ‘King of the Mambo’. His mother was a school teacher and his father worked at a newspaper. He took classical piano lessons as a child, and later played organ in local clubs. He his career progressed, he played music all over Cuba, Mexico, and the U.S. He made a number of very popular recordings. His playing was known for its fire and expression and was backed up by his brass band. He is most known for his recording of “Mambo Jambo”, a very big hit in the U.S.

Video Oscar Peterson, Greatest Super Fast Piano Solo with Ray Brown, Mon­treux Jazz Fes­ti­val

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Here is a super example of incredibly fast jazz piano playing by Oscar Peterson. The other musicians in this piano solo include the two great bass players Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Ray Brown. Recorded at the Mon­treux Jazz Fes­ti­val 1977

 

Peterson took piano lessons at an early age, but his interests soon moved to jazz. At the age of nine, he had mastered the piano, impressing his contemporary adult music professionals. Peterson played a weekly radio show, and performed in hotels. His long career included thousands of performances worldwide and the making of over 200 records. Oscar Peterson is truly one of the finest jazz musicians ever, and his extraordinary piano style is still unmatched today.

video oscar peterson I can't get started amazing jazz piano solo

Video Oscar Peterson ‘I Can’t Get Started’ – Amazing Jazz Piano Solo

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Here is a great example of the extraordinary piano playing of Oscar Peterson. The song is ‘I Can’t Get Started’ (With You); music written in 1935 by Vernon Duke, lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Peterson was one of the most accomplished jazz pianists in history. His playing was stunning, technical superior, and totally absorbing. His astounding left hand was one of the best ever witnessed since Art Tatum. He played powerfully, with lightning speed. The articulation of every note was remarkable. His complex piano playing sounded like an entire band of musicians. Peterson was an enormously talented piano player and band leader.

 

He was born Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (August 15, 1925 – December 23, 2007) in Montreal, Canada. As a child, he was immersed in the black culture of jazz so popular in the early 20th century. Oscar Peterson began piano lessons at the age of 5. He also played trumpet, but tuberculosis prevented him from continuing. He placed all his attention on playing piano. His father was also a pianist and was one of his first piano teachers. His sister taught him classical piano. Peterson was totally dedicated to the piano and committed to an arduous practice schedule of up to six hours a day. It was this complete focus on piano that helped him attain his exemplary piano virtuosity.

While studying classical piano, he became enthralled with jazz, ragtime music, and boogie woogie. At the age of nine, his mastery of the piano had already impressed many adult professional musicians. At the age of fourteen, after winning a national music competition, Peterson dropped out of school and began playing professionally. He played on a weekly radio show, at hotels, and music halls. His style was completely his own, with strong piano blues influences. His career took on legendary proportions as he began his prolific recording career, releasing over 200 recordings. Peterson’s remarkable piano playing earned him seven Grammy awards. In his lengthy 65 year career, he played thousands of concerts around the world, was enthusiastically received, and awarded many honors. Oscar Peterson was one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time.