Jazz for aficionados
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???????***** Since this song has been played by everyone in Jazz at one time or another, it's difficult to do a version that will really stand out. It was a nice enough Jazz performance, but nothing that will knock Coltrane's version off it's perch. After Julie Andrews and John Coltrane, what can anyone add? That's all. Cheers |
****After Julie Andrews and John Coltrane, what can anyone add?**** "Nice enough"? Well, I guess I need to throw out about half my jazz records. After all, what can anyone add to Gershwin's operatic version of "Summertime" , or "Scrapple From The Apple" after Bird did it? Oh yeah, and all my versions of "St. James Infirmary" and keep only Pops'. And don't you forget to throw out all except one version of Beethoven's 9th. C'mon man, that is brilliant and highly original piano playing. First of all, Julie Andrews' version is not jazz, not to mention its a vocal version; apples and oranges. Coltrane's version, as good as it is, became a "hit" in great part due to the novelty factor. What Mehldau does with that tune is absolutely astounding and original. Brilliant player. |
I like Meldau’s version. I like it a lot. His interpretation typifies what jazz is all about; which is finding a new way of playing a tune. I love, love Coltrane’s version. I especially like McCoy Tyner’s piano solo. Once when driving 268 miles to visit my mother, it was the only song I listened to for the entire drive. It is beyond a shadow of a doubt one of my favorite pieces of music. And then I heard this Brad guy do his thing. I was knocked out. He reached down deep and found other places to go with my beloved tune. I like them both. Jazz is about finding new ways to express the music. Once, when I was playing a lot, I was hired by our local symphony to put on a jazz concert. I had a big, (at least for me) budget and hired some great players. We rehearsed the afternoon of the gig, had a good performance and went our merry ways. A couple of days later a friend told me he attended the concert and said it was too bad it was only one night. "I bet you’d like to play that concert again," he said. I was honest and told him no, not really. We already played it and if we did it again we would want to do it differently. My friend didn’t get it. It’s great fun and sometimes scary beyond words to find new ways to play music. A dear friend and monster jazz guitarist invited me to play with him one night. I was playing hand percussion and invited up to play one tune. He said, "How about we do a Latin thing? How about Ipanema?" "No problem," I said. "Great! Let’s do it in 7." I thought, "Holy sh*t! Here we go!" It was very deluxe. Once, years ago when "Willow Weep for Me" was on my top ten list of favorites, I made a tape of all the versions I had. Maybe 10-12. It was a great tape. ***New Topic Alert*** It’s New Year’s Eve and a lot of people go to the movies. Here’s a short clip depicting a drummer living the life. The real life of a real musician. It’s not very long and for me, really captures one facet of a working musician’s life. I also like it because I’m a drummer and we always have to sit in the back. Bob https://vimeo.com/15273009 |
