mmartinez Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 People like Beegie Adair, Simon Schott. Who are your favorite cocktail pianists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted July 2, 2013 Share Posted July 2, 2013 Red Garland !!! You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Red Garland Ahmad Jamal Hank Jones Bill Evans Hmmmm.. Red Garland I'll buy. But the other three? I don't think I would call any of them "cocktail." Even Bill Evan's solo piano stuff I wouldn't say was in a cocktail style, it's rather too dense for that. Jamal has a nice touch but still .... And Hank Jones tended to be either bluesy or latin-y with interesting harmonies if he wasn't doing straight jazz. But if you've got some links or album/track references that might change my mind, I'd be glad to listen to them ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floyd Tatum Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 People like Beegie Adair, Simon Schott. Who are your favorite cocktail pianists? Please define what you mean by the term "cocktail pianist" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I'm not sure what OP means by "cocktail pianist" either. The only name that comes to mind is Bobby Short, but I doubt this is what OP intended. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 People like Beegie Adair, Simon Schott. Who are your favorite cocktail pianists? Please define what you mean by the term "cocktail pianist" The little short ones you serve on toothpicks. Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/413244/220.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Classifying Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Hank Jones and Bill Evans as "cocktail pianists" is not correct. A "cocktail pianist" is a background musician, or "easy listening", one that is usually not taken very seriously. Example: [video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fCEDvN0wMY Find 675 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 The better the cocktails, the less I care about the pianist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 I think we all recognize a "cocktail" style of piano playing. We all know what it sounds like. It's not straight jazz. It's certainly not experimental. It is its own style. Think the Chinese piano player in the movie "The Apartment." Mostly standard harmonies, secondary dominants, diminished passing chords, octave voicings in the right hand. No need to be condescending timwat, this is what I mean by cocktail piano: Simon Schott http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=Simon+Schott Jim Haskins http://www.cocktailpiano.com/ Van Craven http://www.amazon.com/Interludes-Van-Craven/dp/B000000BGS/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1372873871&sr=1-1&keywords=interludes+van In a certain sense, it is simpler than straight jazz because it follows standard harmonizations of tunes and it doesn't make the attempt to get into jazz improvisation; but it is more complicated and satisfying to the ear than how a pop or classical pianist might attempt to play those tunes. I've always considered cocktail a bridge between the two camps, and cocktail piano is certainly its own genre. So please rethink the question in this light, and provide some of your favorite cocktail pianists, if you have any. Classifying Red Garland, Ahmad Jamal, Hank Jones and Bill Evans as "cocktail pianists" is not correct. A "cocktail pianist" is a background musician, or "easy listening", one that is usually not taken very seriously. This is true, although a competent cocktail pianist actually has a well developed sense of harmony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 The little short ones you serve on toothpicks. yummy, especially when taken with: http://pics.drugstore.com/prodimg/413244/220.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Threadslayer Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 So please rethink the question in this light, and provide some of your favorite cocktail pianists, if you have any. Doesn't the term "Cocktail Pianist" tend to imply that it's a guy playing in a cocktail lounge somewhere that no one has heard of outside of that venue? Like the guy that plays at Christmas next to the escalator in the mall? Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Doesn't the term "Cocktail Pianist" tend to imply that it's a guy playing in a cocktail lounge somewhere that no one has heard of outside of that venue? Like the guy that plays at Christmas next to the escalator in the mall? If you like the way they play and they have a CD, a website, mp3s available, by all means include them here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I think we all recognize a "cocktail" style of piano playing. We all know what it sounds like. It's not straight jazz. It's certainly not experimental. It is its own style. Think the Chinese piano player in the movie "The Apartment." Mostly standard harmonies, secondary dominants, diminished passing chords, octave voicings in the right hand. No need to be condescending timwat, this is what I mean by cocktail piano: Michael, I'm not sure what you interpreted in my comment as condescending, that was certainly not my intent. I'm genuinely NOT familiar with the term and was trying to understand what you meant. Short was the only guy I could think of, but he struck me as primarily a song stylist and entertainer. My apologies. Tim .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Michael, I'm not sure what you interpreted in my comment as condescending, that was certainly not my intent. No, I'm the one who apologizes. I misread your post. I thought it said "I don't think the OP knows what he means by cocktail pianist either." Lol. That's what happens when you skim through sh*t too quickly no need for you to apologize at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 Example: [video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fCEDvN0wMY This guy places nicely. A solid cocktail pianist. In fact I'm listening with my headphones while I push out software builds at Yahoo (computer stuff, day job) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 How About Bernie Leighton.. he used to play at Jimmy Weston's 54th and Lex.. Woody Allen used him in his movies. What is the context of this thread, why are you asking this... provide some more info please!! You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 The OP mentioned Beegie Adair, whom I had never heard of, and I agree she is very nice to listen to: [video:youtube] Find 675 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 This is an interesting topic to me since I often play cocktail piano. Let's explore some of the good ones with YouTube links. The songs are so strong that a lot of improvisation and re-harmonization is not needed. I have been getting into The Beatles songs for cocktail piano, going beyond the American Somgbook not quite cocktail, more youthful, but should work: [video:youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1m6l74nYjg Find 675 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 My cocktail piano repertoire also includes Lady Gaga, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Pink and Katy Perry and most of the Top 10 pop hits. Find 675 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montunoman Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I'm so glad to see Beegie Adair's name mentioned. I've been listening to her for years and whenever I bring her name up to my pianist friends, I get blank stares... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Singable is essential You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 I'm so glad to see Beegie Adair's name mentioned. I've been listening to her for years and whenever I bring her name up to my pianist friends, I get blank stares... Yeah it's strange how not many people know of her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmartinez Posted July 3, 2013 Author Share Posted July 3, 2013 I don't want to focus on just one pianist, but since Beegie Adair is so talented and since so few people seem to have heard her, here's another link: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I would define cocktail piano as a style intended for 'easy listening', primarily as background/wallpaper music. Lots of songs can be given the 'cocktail' piano treatment, from all the standards of the GASB to soft rock songs and even classical music. I have thought long and hard about the differences between great solo jazz piano and cocktail piano. I think that bad jazz piano can sound like bad cocktail piano. I would characterize the cocktail style as: -devoid of strong dynamic contrasts, usually humming along at a steady Forte or mezzo forte -Somewhat uniform in texture -heavy on harmonized octaves in the R.H. -heavy on flowing L.H. arpeggiation -devoid of bebop style lines -devoid of straight ahead style improvisation (bebop, pentatonic and blues vocabulary) -less harmonically complex than jazz in that: 1. notes are often doubled or tripled (helps w/ volume) 2. the use of quartal harmony is limited 3. the harmony is more akin to classical or romantic harmony and, at it's best, it's also: -virtuosic -varying in texture a bit more than average -clever in its treatment of melodies, and artistic with themes and medleys and key changes. I think Liberace exhibited many of these advanced traits with his amazing treatments of songs. He was much more than a cocktail pianist (obviously) in that his work was much more showcasey, but as far as harmonic treatment and virtuosity go, I think he's a decent example of what the best in the genre can sound like. Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midinut Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 For some reason, Diana Krall is coming to mind. I think I of her and Harry Connick, Jr. Hardware: Yamaha: MODX7 | Korg: Kronos 88, Wavestate | ASM: Hydrasynth Deluxe | Roland: Jupiter-Xm, Cloud Pro, TD-9K V-Drums | Alesis: StrikePad Pro| Behringer: Crave, Poly D, XR-18, RX1602 | CPS: SpaceStation SSv2 | Controllers: ROLI RISE 49 | Arturia KeyLab Essentials 88, KeyLab 61, MiniLab | M-Audio KeyStation 88 & 49 | Akai EWI USB | Novation LaunchPad Mini, | Guitars & Such: Line 6 Variax, Helix LT, POD X3 Live, Martin Acoustic, DG Strat Copy, LP Sunburst Copy, Natural Tele Copy| Squier Precision 5-String Bass | Mandolin | Banjo | Ukulele Software: Recording: MacBook Pro | Mac Mini | Logic Pro X | Mainstage | Cubase Pro 12 | Ableton Live 11 | Monitors: M-Audio BX8 | Presonus Eris 3.5BT Monitors | Slate Digital VSX Headphones & ML-1 Mic | Behringer XR-18 & RX1602 Mixers | Beyerdynamics DT-770 & DT-240 Arturia: V-Collection 9 | Native Instruments: Komplete 1 Standard | Spectrasonics: Omnisphere 2, Keyscape, Trilian | Korg: Legacy Collection 4 | Roland: Cloud Pro | GForce: Most all of their plugins | u-he: Diva, Hive 2, Repro, Zebra Legacy | AAS: Most of their VSTs | IK Multimedia: SampleTank 4 Max, Sonik Synth, MODO Drums & Bass | Cherry Audio: Most of their VSTs | Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz+ Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Beegie Adair is a jazz pianist. [video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4grIDI20OM Find 675 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miden Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 me There is no luck - luck is simply the confluence of circumstance and co-incidence... Time is the final arbiter for all things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montunoman Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 Beegie Adair is a jazz pianist. [video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4grIDI20OM I agree but I think she would fit in perfectly in any cocktail piano situation. Someone like Mcoy Tyner not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montunoman Posted July 3, 2013 Share Posted July 3, 2013 I would define cocktail piano as a style intended for 'easy listening', primarily as background/wallpaper music. Lots of songs can be given the 'cocktail' piano treatment, from all the standards of the GASB to soft rock songs and even classical music. I have thought long and hard about the differences between great solo jazz piano and cocktail piano. I think that bad jazz piano can sound like bad cocktail piano. I would characterize the cocktail style as: -devoid of strong dynamic contrasts, usually humming along at a steady Forte or mezzo forte -Somewhat uniform in texture -heavy on harmonized octaves in the R.H. -heavy on flowing L.H. arpeggiation -devoid of bebop style lines -devoid of straight ahead style improvisation (bebop, pentatonic and blues vocabulary) -less harmonically complex than jazz in that: 1. notes are often doubled or tripled (helps w/ volume) 2. the use of quartal harmony is limited 3. the harmony is more akin to classical or romantic harmony and, at it's best, it's also: -virtuosic -varying in texture a bit more than average -clever in its treatment of melodies, and artistic with themes and medleys and key changes. I think Liberace exhibited many of these advanced traits with his amazing treatments of songs. He was much more than a cocktail pianist (obviously) in that his work was much more showcasey, but as far as harmonic treatment and virtuosity go, I think he's a decent example of what the best in the genre can sound like. I agree with your characterization of cocktail piano. However Liberace seems too showy and "classical" for cocktail. I have to admit, I haven't listened too much to his music. Any recommendations of his work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.