frogmonkey Posted September 29, 2009 Share Posted September 29, 2009 If her crying and grimaces are natural and unaffected, then God bless her. It really seemed like acting to me, though- especially the grimaces. I could be wrong. I've been accused of over-emoting on stage, but the truth is I do it despite my efforts to the contrary. Joe Muscara, that link doesn't make the point that you think it does. I thought it was easy to tell, not because I recognized the faces, but because the pornstars were making a fake sex face, while the guitarists were making genuine sex faces. Anyway, Hiromi is an awesome piano player even if I'm not attracted to her music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 I know Hiromi and she can't help making facial expressions. She gets carried away when she's playing. And I have seen many of her perforamces and that is the only one where she cried. It's because somebody close to her had died. I too make facial expressions and noises when I play. So does Keith Jarrett, Erroll Garner, and Monty Alexander. Talk about distracting facial expressions, watch classical pianist Michiko Uchida. Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Find 700 of Harry’s piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and jazz piano tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarrell Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I know Hiromi and she can't help making facial expressions. She gets carried away when she's playing. And I have seen many of her perforamces and that is the only one where she cried. It's because somebody close to her had died. I didn't say anything, but I felt it wasn't fair to conclude she was acting or faking it. Just from a logical standpoint, extrapolating from her happy and playful emoting, which she does all the time, to crying, which I've never heard of her do before, it would seem more likely that something deeply personal had affected her, than she was now trying to also work crying into her "act." I think you would actually have to know her, or hear from someone who directly knows her, to know whether either this crying or her happy emoting is an act or not. Anything else would be guessing, although again, my guess (based on my reasoning) would have been none of this is an act. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucasb Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I find it interesting that despite her popularity which demonstrates that a lot of people are similarly moved by her brand of music, that a number of us here have the same alternate opinion of her playing. I admit not to checking her out extensively like I have other artists but I fall in the group of people here who find what I have heard of her music to be cold and rather lifeless. A fascinating dichotomy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I've only seen Hiromi live once and in videos a few times. I never meant to imply that her crying was an act. However I think one of the big reasons for her following is the joy that radiates from her when she's playing. She's obviously really enjoying what she's doing and people connect with that. On top of that she's a truly fine pianist. I may not be moved by her music but I can appreciate the level of proficiency and musicianship it takes to to play it. That said, my take-away from seeing her live was that a large part of the audience appeal was watching an attractive young woman playing her ass off and bouncing around the stage, "emoting", and having a good time. I don't claim she's insincere but it *is* part of her schtick and I got the impression that she knows how to use it to work her audience. That's not a put-down. Dizzy, and many other greats, did too. As for your observation, lucasb, perhaps her joy is in the doing and not in the thing being done? Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjzingo Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Thanks for the link jazz+, absolutely gorgeous performance. Very sensitive theme, got to think of debussy, bill evans ... whilst listening. Sit back and enjoy her fantastic performance, It's the best performance I've seen from her. PS record yourselfes on a video performing to see you're own ugly face......it's not always fun DS /Fred /Fred Cantaloop Soulfetch Soulbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanL Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 That was my impression too. It's like she's overdoing it. She's got technique, but the playing doesn't have a lot of life to it IMO. Live: Korg Kronos 2 88, Nord Electro 5d Nord Lead A1 Toys: Roland FA08, Novation Ultranova, Moog LP, Roland SP-404SX, Roland JX10,Emu MK6 www.bksband.com www.echoesrocks.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I try not to make assumptions about the motivation of a person that I don't actually know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucasb Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 As for your observation, lucasb, perhaps her joy is in the doing and not in the thing being done? Good food for thought! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I know Hiromi and she can't help making facial expressions. She gets carried away when she's playing. And I have seen many of her perforamces and that is the only one where she cried. It's because somebody close to her had died. I wish that had been pointed out earlier, since she ordinarily emotes a lot when she plays anyway. I've been fairly accused of it too. I don't mind anyone emoting when it's real. In Jarrett's case, I figure that's the price to pay to hear someone dig deep into the instrument and the music. I don't think he has any preconceptions about what he's going to play before it comes out, and I've also seen him off his game. The main thing is Hiromi is a very gifted and rare pianist, regardless of whether she reaches each of us or not. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 [quote=SK The main thing is Hiromi is a very gifted and rare pianist, regardless of whether she reaches each of us or not. And that's the bottom line. Well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Horne Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Well, at least this discussion didn't focus on what she eats for breakfast. I have a friend in the US who loves to know that sort of ... information. No guitarists were harmed during the making of this message. In general, harmonic complexity is inversely proportional to the ratio between chording and non-chording instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 If anyone's interested, I had a banana for breakfast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Three doughnuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I wish that had been pointed out earlier....I was thinking the same thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I too make facial expressions and noises when I play. So does...Erroll Garner. In my Sven like effort to keep facts straight, it should be noted that Mr. Garner no longer makes faces, noises or even plays for that matter. Hiromi is a gifted pianist. I'm sure she means business when playing too. I would love to hear her play a chord or something that gives me goosebumps but that's another story. Beyond that, nobody can really speak to what another muso is feeling in the moment. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Beyond that, nobody can really speak to what another muso is feeling in the moment. Prof, that's what I was trying to say (making assumptions about people's motivations.) You said it much better, though, as you often do Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Beyond that, nobody can really speak to what another muso is feeling in the moment. Prof, that's what I was trying to say (making assumptions about people's motivations.) You said it much better, though, as you often do Thanks! Hey Mike, you said it first. I should have skimmed back through the thread prior to writing. Otherwise, I'll be in Florida next month. As ITGITC? would say, maybe we can hook up for a beer. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Where in FL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Where in FL? Check your PM. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Where in FL? Check your PM. Done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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