Both of these two are stunning musicians but both together they are pure magic. When they do one of these routines I am really reminded of the great Victor Borge as well. All of the old greats had their own contribution, but these two are also great entertainers. I hope that they come over here and do a UK tour, preferably including places like London etc. so that we can get to see them live.
Jeremy Preece Oddly, I'm not too thrilled by a piece like this. Stephanie was (still is) a phenomenal solo pianist, and her boogie woogie and stride playing is excellent. Strong left hand, quick right. She could kill this and many other pieces by herself. Adding in another set of hands, in my opinion, actually takes away from the swing and grit that is at the core of stride piano, where one pianist is effectively playing the parts of four jazz instruments across four registers. Also, the silly bit about him bouncing back and forth making it tough for her to get back to the keyboard is so trite and predictable, just like most of the solos played, they have little originality and just rely on the same hooks commonly used. For a song like Bill Bailey that lends itself to improvisation (key changes and a meandering motive that's easily broken apart and then put back together), it just doesn't move me. Your mileage may vary.
***** Listen to some of the greats... Earl Hines, Meade Lewis, Jelly Roll, Dick Hyman, Seth Barkan, Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Willie Smith, James Johnson. Then listen to this again. It isn't just the swing or the harmonization.. but it is. Sometimes, pianists are "too good" to play hot jazz, which gets better when it is a little sloppy, a little rough around the edges. Like blues music, when it is played too perfectly it becomes sterile and unimaginative. It's the grit that puts this music in context, and that is how it was meant to be enjoyed. Remember that during the depression, folks would have "cutting contest" parties, battling pianists, bootleg beer and a nickel to get in the door, to help pay their rent. Hard times man, that's where this music was born, and while they might be playing all the right notes in the right time on a beautiful concert piano, it just doesn't have soul.
800lb Gorilla Yes, duetting like this treads an uneasy path between music and gimmickry and the end result is sometimes some way away from jazz but the point is that they are an entertaining act and for a purer jazz we can fall back on their solos,for they are both outstanding musicians and incidentally a charming couple-I was lucky enough to see them in the flesh and meet them at Botany Bay Jazz Cub, Nr. London U.K.
Couldn't agree more about being "too good" for stride if they can't put the technique aside and just let go. A computer could produce "perfection" but not the "stride" feeling. Not that these guys aren't both fantastic or that the music isn't extremely enjoyable for what it is. The same goes for opera singers singing pop or ballet dancers doing jazz dance or the cancan.
@@silvermediastudio An old conversation now I know, but Jazz by its very nature was never "pure" but always a fusion of so many influences. The so called greats like Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong (not a pianist I know, but a Jazz great) were also pretty big on showmanship. Another great (classical) pianist, the late Victor Borge made a career out of clowning around. Given that ST and Paolo perform separately and together, and sometimes together on separate pianos I can't see the problem with this bit of fun showmanship close to their programme.
Pure joy and spontaneity. Fabulous!
I wish I was as good at anything as these two are at playing the piano. Such a joy to hear and watch.
GENIUS!!!!
Wonderful, Greetings From Finland 😄🌹🎶
Well done! Thanks.
They go so well together, a joy to watch
Both of these two are stunning musicians but both together they are pure magic. When they do one of these routines I am really reminded of the great Victor Borge as well.
All of the old greats had their own contribution, but these two are also great entertainers. I hope that they come over here and do a UK tour, preferably including places like London etc. so that we can get to see them live.
Jeremy Preece Oddly, I'm not too thrilled by a piece like this. Stephanie was (still is) a phenomenal solo pianist, and her boogie woogie and stride playing is excellent. Strong left hand, quick right. She could kill this and many other pieces by herself. Adding in another set of hands, in my opinion, actually takes away from the swing and grit that is at the core of stride piano, where one pianist is effectively playing the parts of four jazz instruments across four registers.
Also, the silly bit about him bouncing back and forth making it tough for her to get back to the keyboard is so trite and predictable, just like most of the solos played, they have little originality and just rely on the same hooks commonly used. For a song like Bill Bailey that lends itself to improvisation (key changes and a meandering motive that's easily broken apart and then put back together), it just doesn't move me. Your mileage may vary.
***** Listen to some of the greats... Earl Hines, Meade Lewis, Jelly Roll, Dick Hyman, Seth Barkan, Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Willie Smith, James Johnson. Then listen to this again. It isn't just the swing or the harmonization.. but it is. Sometimes, pianists are "too good" to play hot jazz, which gets better when it is a little sloppy, a little rough around the edges. Like blues music, when it is played too perfectly it becomes sterile and unimaginative. It's the grit that puts this music in context, and that is how it was meant to be enjoyed. Remember that during the depression, folks would have "cutting contest" parties, battling pianists, bootleg beer and a nickel to get in the door, to help pay their rent. Hard times man, that's where this music was born, and while they might be playing all the right notes in the right time on a beautiful concert piano, it just doesn't have soul.
800lb Gorilla Yes, duetting like this treads an uneasy path between music and gimmickry and the end result is sometimes some way away from jazz but the point is that they are an entertaining act and for a purer jazz we can fall back on their solos,for they are both outstanding musicians and incidentally a charming couple-I was lucky enough to see them in the flesh and meet them at Botany Bay Jazz Cub, Nr. London U.K.
Couldn't agree more about being "too good" for stride if they can't put the technique aside and just let go. A computer could produce "perfection" but not the "stride" feeling. Not that these guys aren't both fantastic or that the music isn't extremely enjoyable for what it is. The same goes for opera singers singing pop or ballet dancers doing jazz dance or the cancan.
@@silvermediastudio An old conversation now I know, but Jazz by its very nature was never "pure" but always a fusion of so many influences. The so called greats like Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong (not a pianist I know, but a Jazz great) were also pretty big on showmanship. Another great (classical) pianist, the late Victor Borge made a career out of clowning around. Given that ST and Paolo perform separately and together, and sometimes together on separate pianos I can't see the problem with this bit of fun showmanship close to their programme.
594+Bell+full view+Like 24 декабря 2018. Поддержка каналов. Полный просмотр. Жду в гости...
I would swear that I heard Stephanie put in a few bars from Art Tatum!