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Blues, as digested by a classical musician


Bobby Simons

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Yeah yeah yeah, as a former east coast guy, I would like to point out that saying I am from east coast can also be a disguise for just being a prick.

 

There is also an element of how self aware someone is. There is great variability of self awareness, both in a person, and in humanity.

In my case, I seldom intentionally bust gonads. My problem is lack of awareness of when I do. It's been dubbed EQ, or social skills, or awareness of the other.

But I grew up around some serious ball busters... have done my share, and have regretted it as well.

Just saying I am from east coast is not a get out of jail card in my book.

 

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

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Bobby's post was sarcastic and teasing and funny. My response in kind was humorless, angry, and rude. Bobby's post was East Coast artful and my response in kind was California artless. I'll leave this here as the official KC summary of this exchange and move on ...
These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise.
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Bobby's post was sarcastic and teasing and funny. My response in kind was humorless, angry, and rude. Bobby's post was East Coast artful and my response in kind was California artless. I'll leave this here as the official KC summary of this exchange and move on ...

 

....And this is why it is very hard for one coast to adjust to the other. It's a language issue, not an intention issue or a value judgment. One is not better than the other. You two were (and are) simply talking two different languages. (As maybe you and I are as well.)

 

The "art" part didn't mean it's divine or lofty; it meant, it's a vernacular. It's a local cultural understanding, in the same way that in the West, "teasing" is demeaning, and so people tend to protect each other by refraining from it (and to hear it as nasty).

 

I have lived equal amounts in both places, and I hope you'll take my word (and that of other transplants) that this is a real thing. I'm not a chauvinist for one over the other, I can only tell you that it is the single hardest element to get used to if you've been brought up in the East Coast tradition of teasing-as-affection (and/or vice-versa).

 

 

www.joshweinstein.com

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So are you saying that Bobby was being a prick?

 

Bobby Simons, the guy who opened this topic?, HELL NO.

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

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I was taught by a wise musician that one should not criticize other musicians, especially in public ... and especially a musician that can play much faster than oneself. That can be something that says more about me... It s a good guideline outside of music too.

 

Your friend was indeed wise.

On a forum like this though, it is a little tricky .

As a matter of fact the aspect of being a musician , BEING CRITICAL of others.. has bugged me my whole life.

I am self trained ( maybe I am all wrong ) to be hyper aware of performance of self and others.

it is a drag.

So taking this point to the case here.. do I express my opinion about a performer who put herself "out there" or not?

it is sticky subject for me.

Maybe we should be very very thoughtful , forgiving , careful HOW WE express our opinions about others?

I am likely putting my neck in a noose, for saying this... I am so critical of others.

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

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It seems to me that this video, like a lot of YouTube videos, is presented as "watch me learn a bit about something, and maybe learn something yourself too." It's a pretty common genre, and relies on the video maker's prior tangential knowledge to make the video interesting and informative.

 

This video fits quite nicely in that niche. The object of the video isn't to illustrate Nahre Sol's objective mastery or skill at the blues, but to just show her personal process of discovery, while adding a little bit of general information and fun at the same time.

 

It's a great success! If I wanted to be critical, I would say that the video is too long, and her pocket piece should have been shorter, and/or she should have done a cut or fade half way through. Two minutes for the first version, and then two and a half for the second, was too much time to spend on that neat but repetitive piece.

 

Apologies for making so many separate comments ( I am rereading the whole thread, so I may make a few more comments)

This is another, spot on commentary ... I 100% agree with BluMunk.

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

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She has also done similar episodes on funk and bossa nova.

I enjoyed her funk video. In fact, I almost posted about it here at the time it came out.

Heh, talk about dodging a bullet. ;)

Of course, it wasn't exactly funk; but it was enjoyable as a funk influenced composition. It actually reminded me a little of Gentle Giant.

Indeed.

I wish I could sit crosslegged on the floor and bang something out that sounded like Giant, on 37 keys no less. Which brings me back to my original comments. I've used many assorted mini key controllers in my Mainstage rigs. Usually relegated to third board, I'd use them for horn parts (easily reach those wide voicings), mellotron, solo synth stuff, even hammond patches. Rarely both-hands-busy playing like she seemed to naturally gravitate to. I should work on that, force myself to rethink some of my habits and inclinations.

 

Bobby Simons Talk about an accident, leading to creativity - You likely did not mean to turn me on to a cool idea, but you said something that never occurred to me

 

A tiny 37 note keyboard would make W-I-D-E voicings possible!

How cool is that? I think a century ago, a pianist with small hands ( esp compared to Rachmaninoff ) attempted to have a piano with smaller keys made.

Tiny keys would limit you regarding the lack of touch of non weighted keys, and difficulty getting in between the black and white keys, BUT for wide stretches, wow, very cool.

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

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I think the point is, she never claims that now she is a blues pianist. This is her incorporating elements of the blues into her practice as a classical composer. She doesn't pretend to be a modern master at it, or to come for Otis Spann's crown. She's just using things she notices about it, to see if she can incorporate it into her practice. It's right there in the title of the video...

 

Vid is fun and she plays like a beast.

 

Well I learned a lesson today.

I need to read the WHOLE thread to get the flow of the conversations before I think I understand what is going on.

 

I owe MOI an apology, I mistook what you said MOI, and I was completely off, in my annoyance with you. My apology for that.

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

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The blessing and curse of youtube and the internetz in general. Anyone can be a star and everyone has an opinion. :laugh::cool:

PD

 

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy"

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I like what she is doing as a young composer. When I was in university, the composition students (undergrad and graduate) were seemingly competing to see who can create the least tonal, the most out-there compositions. I actually like quite a bit of the out-there stuff inspired by Schoenberg, Webern, Cage, etc. but I was already feeling at the time that one could only go so far by pursuing twelve-tone rows, and related atonal stuff.

 

This lady is going against that current by investigating various popular styles and writing cute little pieces inspired by them.

 

Taking advantage of her good looks and building her brand via Youtube is a smart route to go. Even negative attention from daring to compose a mini-piece inspired by the blues - even though she's not trying to actually play the blues and says so - is still attention which translates to higher view counts on Youtube (unless the monetizing model has changed).

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She has also done similar episodes on funk and bossa nova.

I enjoyed her funk video. In fact, I almost posted about it here at the time it came out.

 

Of course, it wasn't exactly funk; but it was enjoyable as a funk influenced composition. It actually reminded me a little of Gentle Giant.

 

[video:youtube]

 

My viewpoint is that a flawed attempt at being derivative can often yield a more original result.

 

Best,

 

Geoff

 

Turnabout is fair play.

 

[video:youtube]

Soul, R&B, Pop from Los Angeles

http://philipclark.com

 

Cannonball Gerald Albright Signature Alto, Yamaha YC73, Fender Rhodes, Roland Juno-106, Yamaha MX61, Roland VR-09, MicroKorg XL, Maschine Mikro, Yamaha Reface CP, Roland MKS-50

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IMRT asked is Nahre Sol has a good left hand technique. I would say so:

 

[video:youtube]

 Find 500 of Harry's jazz piano arrangements of standards, for educational purposes and tutorials, at https://www.patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry Likas was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and also helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book."

 

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It also doesn't help that she wears her out-sized opinion of herself on her sleeve.

interesting how people perceive things differently.

ive seen quite a few of her vids, and if anything would have the complete opposite point of view.

i even find it relaxing to watch her vids.

 

 

 

.... Jeff /// Yamaha P515 /// Roll Tide
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It also doesn't help that she wears her out-sized opinion of herself on her sleeve.

interesting how people perceive things differently.

ive seen quite a few of her vids, and if anything would have the complete opposite point of view.

i even find it relaxing to watch her vids.

 

 

 

Agree with you Sir ( jefsco )

There is a saying, that can haunt me, having deep implications.

Something along the lines of:

'We see the world, as WE are'.

 

For me, that lovely pianist, emits, a lack of egoity.

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

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For me, that lovely pianist, emits, a lack of egoity.

I was all set to make a smartass joke about "egoity" being something inherent in a Tesla automobile, when a little voice told me to look it up first. Sure enough, it is an actual word.

Thank you for expanding my vocabulary IMRT.

I'm here to learn.

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.

-Mark Twain

 

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