JOHN STEWART'S MUSIC BLOG

Three Amazing Pianists Talk Music........

2010-04-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

A rare conversation with Billy Taylor, George Shearing and Marian McPartland. They discuss composing, the influence of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonoius Monk and Bebop in general, and Sarah Vaughan. Thanks to BillyTaylorJazz.net.......

The Haitian Tragedy

2010-01-22T22:47:00.000-08:00

It's really hard to not feel helpless in reaching out to those
in Haiti. They've endured more than we can imagine. I've decided
to donate 50% of sales from four of my websites (tonight through
midnight on Monday (72 hours)). I'd challenge any of you to do the same.
These people need our help....quickly. Thanks!

Site 1

Site 2

Site 3

Site 4

The Man Who Brought Me Back: Mr. Erroll Garner

2009-11-02T18:07:00.000-08:00

I started playing the piano at 7 years old and actually learned to read and play some classical pieces. I left the piano and then came back to it in my teens. My mother had an eclectic taste in music, from opera to jazz and she had an LP by this guy named Erroll Garner: "Concert By The Sea", recorded live in Carmel, California. By this time I was playing by ear and after hearing this album I tried to assimilate each arrangement on this wonderful LP. So he is the MAN who brought me back to my instrument.

This is Earl's best rendition of "Misty", courtesy of You Tube:

~ MY FOOLISH HEART ~

2009-03-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

Here's a haunting one by Bill Evans - can't get enough of him. I actually caught him live at the Hollywood Bowl years ago, along with Dave Brubeck and George Shearing on the same bill.

'Brazilian Like' (Michel Petrucciani)

2009-02-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

Here is one that blows me away. Michel is an amazing jazz player and had to overcome more physical problems than we can imagine, and did so beautifully.

~ The Lady with the Very Special Voice -

2008-10-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

I always think of Sarah as having a built-in musical instrument, rather than just a voice. This video says it all, and I wish that it was longer. You can see lots more on You Tube.......

~ A MEMORABLE EVENING with JON NAKAMATSU ~

2008-09-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

My wife and I went to a North State Symphony concert Saturday night and were both blown away by Mr. Nakamatsu's inspired performance. He played the Third Concerto of Rachmaninoff. It was dazzling, and we had a chance to meet him at a party afterwards. Kyle Pickett's conducting skills were tremendous and I had the feeling that he was aware of every microscopic musical nuance generated by this amazing North State Symphony Orchestra.

Jon is a natural, without majoring in music (his major was German and he was teaching this in high school when he entered the Van Clyburn and won the Gold Medal in 1997). This You Tube clip is from another concert.

Hiromi and Chick Corea play "Summertime"

2008-08-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

I found this on You Tube and was blown away. It's like hearing one pianist with four arms, amazing technique and lots of soul mixed in. They seem to read each other's thoughts. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

AN INTERVIEW WITH MARIAN MCPARTLAND

2008-07-12T16:39:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of Marian McPartland for a number of years. In fact, I learned her arrangement of "Emily" from one of her early lps.
Billy Taylor is in charge of this interview. Enjoy.........

MY NEW CD

2008-07-04T15:02:00.001-07:00

I've been working on a CD, "Reflections - Classical Improv" that is improvised, and is classical and lyrical in style, and I just sent it off for distribution. If you'd like to take a look at it and hear some samples, you can click on the album cover below and it will take you to the CD webpage. It is available for purchase on that page and will be available for download from Itunes, Amazon, etc. in a few weeks.

~~ MY NEW CD

2008-07-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

- As Time Goes By -

2008-03-31T20:17:00.000-07:00

I hadn't realized how long it had been since I posted - I've been working on a couple of CD's since my last post. One is called "Songs for Valerie", (my wife) and the other is called "Quiet Elegance" which is synthesized harp music. Both are on CDBaby.com. CDBaby.com is a great resource for unknown artists, like myself, to reach a broader audience and they even have resonably priced hosting for music websites.

- The Keith Jarrett Trio -

2008-01-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

I first got turned on to Keith's music when I was working with a guy named Mel in 1976. I bought a couple of lp's: The Koln Concerts" and "Arbor Zena". These made me an instant fan and since then I've bought several others. Here is one of his videos and he's playing "My Funny Valentine".

Glen Gould - Goldberg Variations 1 - 7

2008-01-16T18:34:00.000-08:00

I've never heard anyone play Bach with more feeling than Glen Gould.

[the following is a quotation from his biography at www.sonyclassical.com:]

In 1981 Gould departed from his custom of not rerecording a work and, twenty-six years after his first recording of the Goldberg Variations, went into the same New York studio for his second recording of the work with which he had become so closely identified. Gould viewed the two interpretations as substantially different because he came to see the variations not as separate and distinct exercises but as belonging to a larger whole, with one rhythmic pulse, harmony and ideology underlying the entire work and forming a definite unity of composition. Always acutely aware of the possibilities technology offers, Gould was also motivated in his decision to rerecord the Goldberg Variations by the vast changes in recording technology during the previous twenty-five years.

Click here to see his full biography

- Cancun, Mexico -

2007-11-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

Just got back from an all-inclusive holiday at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun. It was indeed paradise and the service was definitely 5 star. They had a nice little grand piano on a platform in the middle of the huge lobby/bar, and I talked to the manager to see if I could use it for practice. I played from 4 to 6pm (hora feliz) and was invited back for the next four days. It was especially nice, because I could play whatever I felt like and the response was anywhere from non-existent to unexpectedly great. The piano was in the dividing of the smoking/non smoking zones, so I was getting flash backs to the early 60's.

- Bill Evans: The Days of Wine and Roses -

2007-10-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

I could listen to Bill Evans all day long. His smooth improvisations, harmonics, and technical excellence really appeal to me. (click on arrow to see the video)

- SATIN DOLL -

2007-10-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

"Satin Doll" was written by Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974) for and with pianist William Thomas "Billy" Strayhorn (1915-1967) in 1967; the lyrics were written by Johnny Mercer (1909-1976).

I played it on a M-Audio 88 midied into a Mac running GarageBand. Then I dubbed in the bass track. I'm shooting with an old Panasonic palmcorder that has terrible sound, so I have to sync the sound track from GarageBand into Imovie.

- Here's That Rainy Day -

2007-10-20T00:11:00.000-07:00

Here's an arrangement that I did using GarageBand of this nice old jazz standard. It's title is a perfect description of today's weather here in Cottonwood.

- MISTY -

2007-10-17T22:49:00.000-07:00

Erroll Garner was instrumental (no pun intended) in getting me to play the piano. I had piano lessons at an early age, but left music to do art and then came back to it with Erroll in my teens. Like Erroll, I don't read music, and play completely by ear. I saw him perform once at the 'Mogambo' night club on the old Sunset Strip. Here is a video of my version of 'Misty'