Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz is the longest-running cultural program on National Public Radio - having been hosted by Ms. McPartland from June 4, 1978 through November 10, 2011. Her guests included
Eubie Blake,
Carla Bley,
JoAnne Brackeen,
Ray Charles,
Alice Coltrane,
Chick Corea,
Bill Evans,
Herbie Hancock,
Andrew Hill,
Dick Hyman,
Ahmad Jamal,
Keith Jarrett,
Hank Jones,
Oscar Peterson,
Michel Petrucciani,
Marcus Roberts, and
McCoy Tyner.
posted by Trurl
on Feb 19, 2012 -
25 comments
"
Art Tatum was [one of the two] dominant piano players of the 1930s, astounding everyone with his technique, most especially other piano players, who were convinced he was playing the impossible" -- Chick Corea, hosting a segment on the largely overlooked
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. If that display of skill and improvisation has you interested, here are a few documentaries about the mostly blind piano man who made other pianists question their instrument choice, yet often left the public at large overwhelmed (or unimpressed):
Toledo Stories: The Tatum Legacy (YouTube, 28 minutes) ::
Art Tatum - The Art Of Jazz Piano (YT, 52 min.) ::
Art Tatum: A Talent Never to Be Duplicated (NPR, audio only, 11 min.) ::
Art Tatum, 'The Musician's Musician' (NPR audio, 54 min.)
[more inside]
posted by filthy light thief
on Oct 25, 2011 -
33 comments
One of America's most idiosyncratic musical geniuses was, of course, the great Thelonious Monk (
Wiki), and what better way to celebrate his birthday today than viewing (in its entirety!) an excellent documentary on the man and his music?
Straight, No Chaser
posted by flapjax at midnite
on Oct 10, 2011 -
25 comments
Performances [MLYT] from the
2010 Old-Time Piano Championship in Peoria. Featuring early March, Cakewalk, Ragtime, Boogie, Stride, Blues, Novelty, Jazz, Classical, and popular song styles from before 1930.
posted by gman
on Jun 20, 2010 -
13 comments
29 year old
Hiromi Uehara first mesmerized the jazz community with her 2003 Telarc debut, Another Mind. 4 albums later she continues to astonish and inspire. On February 3rd, she released the album
Duet, a collaboration with Chick Corea, having first played with Corea at age 17. A graduate of the
Berklee School of Music, Hiromi
tours relentlessly with her crack band. I defy your jaw not to drop at their performances
here,
here, and
here.
[more inside]
posted by Roach
on Feb 24, 2009 -
85 comments
A day in the life of
Abdullah Ibrahim, South-African composer and performer who creates hypnotic and softly singing grooves.
To me,
his recent piano trios are the highlights of his work, because they are both swinging and soulful. But his compositions do not sound bad in a
big band setting -(or in an arrangement
for guitar). His music is quiet and meditative but powerful, and has sometimes been used as a banner for freedom and equality. Now he likes to withdraw
once in a while to the smallest scenes (french commentary with some english underneath), putting strong emphasis on necessary simplicity.
Written portrait.
posted by nicolin
on Nov 1, 2007 -
5 comments
