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.

Does being your own Santa count? I've been looking for my "Holy Grail" board for a few years now... a 73-key board with quality weighted action and awesome AP and EP sounds. Loved the Nord sounds, developed a love/hate relationship with the TP100 on the HP models though. Then saw the Piano 5 73 had the same action as the 88-key model. Was able to do an A/B comparison of the Piano 5 vs the Yamaha YC - liked the Nord sound and action better than the Yamaha. Sold my Electro 6 HP two days before Christmas, used the money (plus only a couple hundred bucks more) to buy the NP 5 73. It arrived on Tuesday and it's everything I've ever wanted.

I've owned a Novation Circuit (the original) for a few years. It's a great little sketchpad for ideas. It's also really fun for experimenting with polyrhythms. Once I have something going in it that I like, I improvise along with it on my Nord... It sits pretty perfectly on the right side of its aluminum front panel.

My initial feelings on the board remain true a month and a half later. For me, this board is perfection for small, quiet gigs. I've used it several times already in drummer-less acoustic jazz duos and trios and was not wanting in any way.

Took delivery of a white P-121 today. After about an half hour on it, I can say I really, really like it so far. The GHS action doesn't feel like a big compromise to me, even when factoring in the low price and weight. Ran through the changes of Beatrice and Solar repeatedly, and my right hand had no issues (besides the usual ones!) with triplets and sixteenths at a decent tempo. Speakers are reasonably powerful, will do just fine for small trio or solo gigs where I'm wallpaper to the patrons. APs sound decent, and the Rhodes and Wurlitzer on the thing surprised the hell out of me - in a good way. Haven't ran it through my SSv3 yet but I plan to test that out soon.

Gotta admit it really, really incensed me in the moment, but it certainly does make a great story. He said a couple of other dumb things to me after this gem, but nothing quite like his first little zinger.

"Don't Alpha-Male me." Said to me by the sound guy at my Saturday night gig as I was attempting to explain (politely and calmly, I thought) the night's lineup of musicians. Keeping in mind I'm 5'7" and 145 pounds, was sitting down on a stool while he stood on the stage. Pretty stunning.

I offer my humble current rig to add to the august collection of gear in this thread. Nord Piano 2 HP is my main and favorite axe, perfect size, sound, feel, and form factor for what I need. Nord Electro 3 61 (in the backpack bag below the stand) is great for jam sessions and for the top tier on rock gigs, mainly used for organ. Novation Mininova and Bass Station 2 for jazz fusion fun and games, and Novation Circuit to jam along with as my opportunities to play with real musicians (my preference) are hard to come by lately. My live amplification is a SSv3. http://i63.tinypic.com/2j11zqe.jpg Not pictured: my PX-5S, Trigger Finger Pro and FA-06 which always stay at home as composition tools.

Hey DanL, what type of stand do you have the Novation and the Moog sitting on?

Hello! Lurked for years, coming out of the shadows now. I've played piano since I was four, got more serious about it in high school. Graduated as a double major in biology and jazz. Now I teach science by day and play/write/gig with my nights, weekends, and summers. I played piano and composed for a "modern" (for lack of a better term) jazz quartet for a few years, which is now on a hiatus. Now I'm playing in a more fusion-esque group and my attention has swung more towards what new technology and synthesis can do for my creative sonic palette. Looking forward to conversing and contributing!