TWizzle

I released this more than six months ago but only thought today about posting it here. Modern acoustic jazz trio, for lack of a better description. All the compositions were written by myself or my bass player, a roughly 2/3 to 1/3 split. https://tomwhiteri.bandcamp.com/album/tom-white-trio

My jazz trio recorded an album last summer and it is now out - all original tunes. Also have some of my solo synth/electronic/experimental stuff up here too (anything labeled "Pilot Program"). https://tomwhiteri.bandcamp.com/

For me (and everyone is different!), the key to stage presence is sounding as good as I possibly can sound. Let the music speak for itself, and the right crowd will hopefully gravitate towards it. I'd rather my stuff be liked for the right reasons, instead of the most amount of people, so I practice as much as I can. However, I know that because I have a day job I can literally afford this "get off my lawn" attitude... That being said, there are some little things I like to do if I have the choice, like being seated at the left side of the stage facing the rest of the stage. This puts my right hand towards the audience, which is where most of the "action" happens with the type of music that I'm usually playing. I also do agree with the dress aspect, at least to a point. Don't ever show up in sweatpants.

Jazz pianists have been using popular music as vehicles for inspiration for quite a long time. Tunes of the American Songbook are simply the pop music of earlier generations. Herbie Hancock strays pretty far from the American Songbook classics on "The New Standard" and I love that album. I love Mehldau's covers... "Black Hole Sun" and "Wonderwall" are standouts for me. I agree that Brad's style, not necessarily his tunes, are what pianists of later generations (myself included) have found to be influential. I hear a lot of Brad in Aaron Parks and Shai Maestro, for example. I've really enjoyed his collaborations too. "Mehliana: Taming The Dragon" with drummer Mark Guiliana was a really cool foray into modern fusion.

My favorite part of Nords (besides the sound) has been how they hold their value. Started out with a NP2 HP. Sold it, used the money to buy a NE6 HP without having to put too much more money down for the new one. Sold the NE6, used the money plus literally $100 to buy A NP5 73. Snuck that in early this year right before prices started skyrocketing. It's my holy grail - always wanted Nord to make a 73-key weighted board with a better action than the HP. Also had a NE3 61. Sold it plus a little more cash to buy a used Electro 4D. Sold that plus a little more cash to buy a used NE6D 61.

I owned two Nords with the TP-100 action (NP2 HP and NE6 HP). The size, weight, usability and sounds were amazing but it was tough to get along with that action. When Nord announced that the NP5 would have a 73 note option with the same action as the 88, it piqued my interest. I love 73-key weighted keyboards. Got to play one at a GC - they actually had it at the correct height and it was level, not tilted! Fell in love with the action immediately. Sold my NE6 for $100 less than I paid for it, and was only another $200 or so in the hole when I used the money to pick up the NP5. Nords sure do hold their value on the used market.

"First, let me say that from day one the PMG never gave a shit about fundamentalist jazz critics or the whole 'one true music' crowd. Fundamentalism in religion or politics is dangerous and evil. In the arts, the stakes may be lower, but the misguided thinking is the same. The entire history of art points to innovation (coupled with expert execution) winning always. It is always attacked too, usually by those who understand it the least and have the most to lose." Damn. I really love this. Very much wish that Lyle was still here making music.

Really depends on the song, or the gig I suppose. My Electro 61 gets me through most gigs with a funk band at a bar. 73 weighted keys is the "goldilocks" number for me. I can do almost any gig on 73 keys, fits well on cramped stages and across the backseat of my small car, and easy to carry. My P-121 and Nord Piano 5 73 are my favorite boards.

Discovering Tigran's stuff made me re-conceptualize what music could be. Completely. Threw me for a loop. Made me want to redouble my practicing. He made me realize (in the most wonderful way) how much I still don't know.

Bruce is my musical hero in a lot of ways. He single-handedly reinvigorated my waning interest in the piano when I was entering my teens in the early 2000s. He has got to be one of the most creatively restless musicians on the planet. He's more than dipped his feet into bluegrass, jazz, modern and atonal avant-garde classical music... All sorts of crazy stuff. I'm jealous! Have a wonderful time.

+1 on the PX-5S and VR-09 combo. I gigged that exact rig for a few years. The VR replaced a Kross 61, and I found it much more enjoyable to play. I sold the VR years ago, but still have my PX-5S. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it, even though it doesn't get out as much as it used to.

Most Enjoyable: My Sohmer upright. First acoustic piano I've owned. Great everyday workhorse for practice. Most Useful: Nord Electro 6D. Throw it in a backpack case, get all the bread and butter sounds I need. Best: My new Nord Piano 5 73. I record with it a lot at home and it sounds and plays so great. Only had the opportunity to bring it to one gig so far, and it was killer.

I love the OnStage Z-Stand. You could fire artillery at the thing and hardly dent it. Super stable, no wobble. A little bit heavy I suppose but not too bad especially considering you don't need a second tier. If I'm rocking one keyboard on the gig it's my go-to stand. I'm about 5'6" and I have no issues at all with leg room. A super lanky person might have problems maybe? Not sure.

The NP5 73 was what I was hoping Nord would do for a long, long time. Bought one two months ago, and I'm in love with it. Sold my NE6 HP to fund it and don't miss it a bit (and the new one fits perfectly in the hardshell and soft cases I already had). I had been on the hunt for a 73-76 with a better action than TP100, and if I had found a used NS2 76 at a reasonable price I probably would have pulled the trigger on that.

A little late to throw my hat (opinion) in the ring but here goes, in case it helps. I'm a pretty small guy, about 5'6", have a bothersome left shoulder, and I drive a small car. Anywhere I can cut down on size and weight is a plus. I absolutely love 73 keys for this reason, and I can handle 99% of gigs with this number of keys. My first pro board was the PX-5S. Loved the action and the incredible light weight. I still love to play it in certain situations (loud rock bands), and I'll never get rid of it, but I've found the main piano sample lacking especially in the crucial area just above middle C. After I fell in love with some of the pianos in the Nord library, I went through both a NP2 HP and a NE6 HP, didn't love the TP100 action but lived with it. I bought a Yamaha P-121 just for home practice, and the sly little devil somehow became my main board for solo piano and jazz trio. Surprisingly decent action, a great core piano sample, and easy to throw around at 22lbs. Never thought I'd gig with it at all, and yet it's seen a lot of battlefield action. Recently sold off the other Nords and got the NP5 73. I love this thing. The action might be a little lighter than what I'd consider perfect (got a Sohmer upright at home for that), but this makes it great to hop on without any warmup and be able to play pretty well right off the bat. In its hard case, fits perfectly across the back seat of that tiny car. It was the board I had been waiting for for a very long time.