Tag Archives: jazz

oscar peterson

Oscar Peterson Live Piano Blues Trio C Jam Fabulous Performance

post, , , , , , , , ,

Recorded Live in Denmark, 1964. Oscar Peterson on Piano; Ray Brown on Bass; Ed Thigpen on Drums.

Oscar Emmanuel Peterson, 1925 – 2007, was a jazz pianist and composer from Canada. Peterson started piano lessons at the age of five. He performed at thousands of live concerts worldwide. His extraordinary career lasted more than 60 years.

He is one of the most accomplished and greatest pianists of all time. His friend Duke Ellington called him the “Maharaja of the keyboard.” His astonishing virtuosity stands out at the top of the jazz world.

hiromi uehara

Wild Performance Piano Jazz Hiromi Uehara Japanese Timeout Video

post, , , , , , , , ,

Hiromi Uehara, commonly known as Hiromi, is a jazz composer and pianist from Hamamatsu, Japan. She is recognized by her incredibly virtuosic technique, high energetic performances and the blending in her compositions of musical genres such as new bop, progressive rock, classical and fusion.

Hiromi began classical piano at age six. Her piano teacher introduced to jazz when she was eight. At 14, she had already performed with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. At 17, she met Chick Corea by chance in Tokyo, and was invited to play a concert with him the very next day.

She worked as a jingle writer for several years, and then enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts to study music. At Berklee, she was mentored by Ahmad Jamal. By the time of her graduation, she had already signed with a jazz label Telarc. Since 2004 debut, Hiromi has toured the world and appeared in numerous jazz festivals. She has played live at the prestigious Newport Jazz Festival.

 

chick corea hiromi uehara

Chick Corea & Hiromi Uehara – Spain Recorded Live Tokyo Japan 2006

post, , , ,

A wonderful Chick Corea video. Recorded live in Tokyo, Japan on September 2-3 2006, at the Tokyo Jazz Festival. Chick Corea and Hiromi Uehara play “Spain” one of Chick Corea’s most well known pieces. Spain was composed in 1971, appearing on the album Light as a Feather, performances by Corea, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Stanley Clarke and Joe Farrell. Numerous versions have been recorded, by Corea himself as well as other artists. A particularly well known version a flamenco version by Paco de Lucia and John McLaughlin in the 1980s. Another well known recording was a progressive bluegrass version by Bela Fleck in 1979. More recently, Corea performed it as a duet with Japanese pianist Hiromi Uehara.

 

 

Video – Keith Jarrett Piano Jazz Improvisation Solo Concert

post, , , , , , , , ,

This video is a beautiful performance by Keith Jarrett playing a piano solo concert. Recorded live in Tokyo in 1984, the playing is an excellent example of the massive talent of Keith Jarrett. Jarrett is a master at improvisation, and gives rich, modern interpretations that are simply wonderful to listen to.

Keith Jarrett began playing the piano even before he was three years old, and started piano lessons soon afterward. Through decades of public performances, Keith Jarrett has become one of the most talented keyboard players of all time. His virtuoso abilities on the piano extend way beyond what most pianists ever achieve. Although well known for his classical recordings and his trio Jazz work, he is probably best known as a solo pianist from his extraordinary live solo piano recordings, where he propels the genre of solo piano playing to new heights. He is truly a master of piano playing.

Keith Jarrett

 

 

Video – Exceptional Jazz Blues Piano Solo With Oscar Peterson Styling

post, , , , , , , , ,

This is a wonderful piano solo of Sweet Georgia Brown being played by Gyuri Villas. The elements in this solo are very similar to the great blues style of Oscar Peterson. The performance here represents a very accomplished and skilled piano player and a great example of this very exciting form of music.

At my Portland piano studio, when my piano lessons students express an interest in improvisation, we begin by learning Blues Piano. Whether played on a piano or a keyboard, Blues Piano can be learning quickly and has a very easy to understand format. Playing blues does not require as much playing skill as jazz and can be learned soon after a student begins lessons. Many of my students find Blues Piano and excellent way to learn to play by ear, and gain a new level of self expression. It’s very straightforward to learn, and is incredible fun.