Stanley Jordan playing Mozart's Piano Concerto #21

[augsteyr]

If I walked into a Barnes and Noble and Stanley Jordan was standing there playing I'd probably have kittens.

[MistaRat]

Finally a black man ripping off a white mans music...........

[jth876]

@MistaRat i cant tell what your intentions were with this comment but this makes you seems quite prejudice, though it seems like it may have beeen unintentional. I don't want to get ahead of my self though, so what exactly do you mean?

[mrelectric100]

@The1bassfreak nobody asked for your opinion why are you coming to a video of his saying you dont like his style but he plays good nobody cares who you would take over this guy....

[The1bassfreak]

the guy can play- but not one of my fav's truly don't like his style- rhythm is everywhere. no I would take yngwie anyday over this guy steve vai- satriani- santana- clapton. but I will say this guy can play.

[WiteLightnin74]

Dude...

[lexo30]

In the first place, Mozart's piano concerto was written for a piano and an orchestra, so you can't arrange it for just one player; you take something essential out of the music if you try to. In the second place, this is bad and sloppy playing even by Stanley Jordan's usually tight standards. His rhythm is all over the place and he turns this already rather slushy piece of music into something that sounds exactly like muzak. Just awful.

[eightequalsequalsdee]

@lexo30 wow, bein kinda hard on the guy

[lexo30]

@eightequalsequalsdee No, not really.

[eightequalsequalsdee]

@lexo30 oh

[Dvareckas]

S.JORDAN GENIUS!!!

[Dvareckas]

super

[cuhy]

his brain is separated.

[TomasMikaX]

@cuhy So is yours.

[MrJro2]

It pains me to see I can't even come here without people fighting and calling eachother names. STOP TYPING and watch. Take in the beauty!

[VEGaBitable]

 Гитара красиво звучит.)

[skepticnyc]

Always sounds jazzy

[marblesuperhero29]

i bet he saves a lot of money by not buying picks

[77tim77c77]

Brilliant!

[toonew23]

This is a great performance and interpretation. Unfortunately, Stanley seems to be losing his audience with his current repertoire. He should pick that up simply by noticing the rise in audience noise level at times when he plays his set. There are millions of great tunes. However, Mozart needs to come off of the playlist.

[StupidHatMatt]

@toonew23 Just curious, why should Stanley change what he likes to play just because the younger audience doesn't appreciate it? It seems to me that he's never played mainstream music and never cared to cater to a wider audience. Every person who has ever played a guitar admires him. No exceptions.

[toonew23]

@StupidHatMatt I'm a long time fan. However, interestingly, at least in the most recent San Diego venue in which I've seen Stanley perform, the audience was much older than usual in comparison with SJ audiences I've witnessed over the years across the country. Mine is just an observation (albeit as a trained musician). Nonetheless, as far as I'm concerned, any performer can be oblivious to the preferences of his audience well past the point at which he hears the sound of one hand clapping.

[rhenquist]

@toonew23 Clearly Mozart is not an accomplished artist and his works should not be played by skilled musicians.

[DBSpenser]

@toonew23 Dude, it's not about pleasing the fans, it's about making good music. When you start making music based on what people want to hear, you get shit like Kesha and Justin Bieber. And for the record, I'm 17 and I love this.

[ZachsGayCat]

@DBSpenser Somebody give this tween a cookie!

[dunmer2007]

@ZachsGayCat

For the record he's NOT a tween, but a TEEN. a tween is 11-13 yrs old, while a teen's 14-19 yrs old.

And to DBSpenser You make me glad for the future!

[ZachsGayCat]

@dunmer2007 Your future is a joke. And so is your generation.

[milothefultz]

@ZachsGayCat Says Zach's gay cat. Really?

[ZachsGayCat]

@milothefultz Yup. Throw one rock and you'll hit 50 narcissistic dipshit retard who thinks nothing is good enough for him.

[dunmer2007]

@ZachsGayCat

Heh, another angst-filled troll. I'll be sure to take your word to heart. (>_>)

[ZachsGayCat]

@dunmer2007 What the fuck is angst? Stop playing Runescape faggot.

[dunmer2007]

@ZachsGayCat

LOL! Google it! (^_^)

What is this runescape you speak of? (X^D)..

Normal people suck! Are you normal?

I sure hope not..(9_9)

Yes, I am quite mad you see!

However, I do not lay with men, nor am I a British slang for a cigarette, nor a stack of logs for that matter.

[ZachsGayCat]

@dunmer2007 What a moron. I must have talked to 50 losers like you today. Why do you dumbshit kids think that's a really smart attitude you put on? You sure showed me off, Wanda Sykes.

[dunmer2007]

@ZachsGayCat

How are YOU not a loser? Seeing that you elected to waste your time in talking to fifty people(Not unlike yourself) clearly defines you as such.

You are gifted in simple playground debate, but you fail to notice that I really do not care about any impact that (you think) your words might have on me. You serve no purpose other than throwing hisssy-fits for your own benefit online in the secure comfort of your home, you brave cyber warrior you! ;^)

Who the hell is this Wanda Sykes?

[ZachsGayCat]

Who said they're from the internet? I elected to waste my time because.. there's so much flaws in that sentence.

And really, you can save your cookie-cutter bullshit about how I'm an "internet tough guy" cuz first, I didn't make any death threats. Second, you're a wimp, I can kill you just by looking at you. And third, if you truly think that I went out of my way just to "impact you for my own benefit" you're really fucking stupid above all of that.

[dunmer2007]

@ZachsGayCat

"Who said they're from the internet?" I never said that.. It came from your own mind.

"And third, if you truly think that I went out of my way just to "impact you for my own benefit" you're really fucking stupid above all of that."

No, I said:

"You serve no purpose other than throwing hisssy-fits for your own benefit online"

Which you still do..You are clearly an anti-social malcontent, you spew nothing but aggression and overreact, which makes you an angst-filled troll.

[ZachsGayCat]

@dunmer2007 You said I'm a loser for talking to people, I just didn't understand your logic. You are basically telling me what you see in me, an "internet tough guy", then a "troll." Thanks for clarifying that you're not a douche by expressing your idiotic worthless low opinion of me.

[asxefv]

not really impressed

his interpretation is medium,

[arkee71]

stanley..my old friend..who like jim beam has gotten me through some tough times...thank you

[mizzareed]

I didn't know intrictally was in the dictionary!!! LOL!!! :) That is all....

[MrRacoon68]

Comments designed to show how musically literate one is smack not only of snobbery but show how little time you took to appreciate what the artist was doing. What I want to know is why Stanley Jordan is playing at Barnes & Noble instead of packed houses at large venues. It is a sad commentary on the state of corporate music today... or maybe he just likes bookstores! lol

[DjembeSauce]

Stanely Jordan must be one of the LEAST covered musicians of all time. Who among us can cover him?

[mrineedadrink]

@DjembeSauce id try but compared to him id come out looking like I was the guitar player from weezer (shit) lol

[AlienmikeET]

one guitarist can do this, hundreds of piano players can do this... it is what it is... simply amazing...

[reaperofgenocide]

@AlienmikeET Its way more than one. With michael romeo, chris broderick, and chris vamos being three that i know definitely can do it. And we havent even counted the hundreds of unknown talented guitarist who can do this.

[luchoq77]

@reaperofgenocide if they can do it but I bet it wouldn´t sound as great or even close to Stanley´s level, and seriously I doubt they really can..Perhaps Broderick, never heard of vamos, though.

[reaperofgenocide]

@luchoq77 Well thats what separates the average musicians from the virtuosos. But on a planet with over 6 billion people you best be sure there are definitely people who come close to stanley jordan and who knows maybe there are those who are better. Its like that with any art... theres masters of the art who will never get publicity but that doesnt take away from the fact that they are great.

[luchoq77]

@reaperofgenocide for sure, there´s always the sleeping giant somewhere, is not a matter who´s better and who´s not. Romeo and Broderick, these two dudes I know them personally, I can guarrantee they great amazing players, but not even close to Stanley´s technique. It is that they have to work hard to accomplish and master it . "It is not how fast you can play, it is what your guitar says". To me Stanley is my favorite, along with Greg Howe. (I´m more into jazz , fusion, bossa nova)

[reaperofgenocide]

@luchoq77 I agree that stanley jordan is more of a master of the 8 finger tapping technique than romeo and broderick and its because thats his trade mark. He simply practices that more. But im sure guys like broderick and romeo can play note for note on some stanley jordan compositions. Because all three of them are elite guitarist. BTW i like that "sleeping giant" phrase. And yeah greg howe is amazing.

Im into a bunch of genres but it depends on the phase im going through.

[BattyCuss]

What Jordan demonstrates (wittingly or otherwise) is that the guitar, with amplification, is capable of a greater range of tonal expression than the piano. Both can produce music written for the other, but a piano sounds like a piano. This guitar sounds like no other!

I think he would be hard put to play an acoustic guitar like this, although I suppose it could be done. It's just that no one would be able to hear it unless they were close by him. Either way this is genius at work.

[Venturestarx]

Man, some real "inside baseball" comments....

[MarquisEstelle]

It's not the whole concerto, it is only (faintly) the second movement, which is Andante in F Major. An absolute bastardization of the piece. A great player tlike this is better served to stick with jazz.

[FrancescoGuardi]

@MarquisEstelle I agree absolutely. Other way to say it: why those experiments in public when we have so much exquisite versions from great pianists. If someone loves Clara Haskil or Murray Perahia or, or,or he will never appreciate St.Jordan.Or the other heroes we can see playing Chopin on guitar...

[Theanimal1990]

@FrancescoGuardi Because you can always try to play it on a guitar? Try Vriginia Luque waltz op. 64 no.2 . Not the best quality vid, but it shows that it can be done on a decent way.

[FrancescoGuardi]

@Theanimal1990 You're right: it can be done on a decent way as she did. As a guitar performance it's really great - but to be honest, if I compare this version to piano-versions, I don't need to think about what's better. There's music written for piano and guitar etc. and a great composer has a vision of the special abilities of an instrument.

Surely we're allowed to make experiments beyond the original-but in my eyes Jordan's experiment failed.

[thepliosar1]

@MarquisEstelle If you are a fan of Stanley's work, you can find enjoyment in this. I wouldn't expect someone who is a fan of the Concerto itself to enjoy it as much as the Stanley fans would. Same thing goes with Beatles fans and Eleanor Rigby... I'm sure they are quite turned off by the song since it is so different, but it isn't supposed to sound the same. It is, just as this piece is, a loose version of the song played in the Stanley Jordan style (which us fans absolutely love).

[MarquisEstelle]

@thepliosar1 I readily accept the substance of your argument. I saw him live years ago and I was astounded at his virtuousity. You can't say enough about how musically innovative he is. Being a classically trained offense, perhaps I'm too protective of that repertoire. As primarily a synth composer now, I make it a point to never try and do anything classical (a la Wendy/Walter Carlos), so that's my musical metaphor. Jordan is a musical genius.

[mooch666]

This is great, I'm definately gonna have to work on this technique, I've always wanted to play some Berlioz on guitar.

[quarktron]

Wow, he has really become refined since I first saw him in the late 80s. Nicely done.

[JohnMalcolm]

Hard to believe his fans really listened to this particular performance before lavishing praise. Stanley probably cringes at a few places.

He is one my all-time favourites but lets not imagine this is up to his best.

I guess some people forgive minor errors in their amazement of the technique.

I think we owe it to him to really listen to the music, and if some notes are half-hit or pop out of the dynamics, why pretend they don't?

[KwameNewton]

The only thing you have going for you is. . . nothing.

[Explicitnice]

It's called playing by ear, and you're fucking ignorant.

[voodoo2crue]

My words could never do justice to what Stanley just did here....

[DrummerDB03]

What A Badasss..... omg this had to have take blood sweat and tears.. congrats man... P.S. i have to go mop up the remains of my blown mind

[virsion]

HE HELPED DESIGN THE STICK

[CJC1964]

No he didn't. "The Stick" was the brainchild of Emmet Chapman. No input from Jordan who would have been a child at the time.

[highphlyer]

Mozart would have been enchanted to hear this!

[KevoBlues88]

And I bet he can't even read music!

[zeroskate9089]

why cuz hes black?

[dannyboy15]

nah, i'd bet substantial cash that he can. he's an accomplished musician and must have practised literally fuck loads for years, why not bother learning to read?

[5inthehole]

You don't play Mozart this intrictally with being able to read music....uless he's a idiot-savant. Unbelievable though, a breakthrough in guitar playing since Chet Atkins/ Jimi Hendrix.

[DisposableHero187]

Your kinda not making any sense dude... "You don't play Mozart this intrictally with being able to read music" wtf?

[mooch666]

really...? Jimi Hendrix...? I wish there was a place I could go where noone would compare people to Hendrix, it's quite annoying. Musicians like this are light years ahead of Hendrix, and it doesn't matter if they wouldn't be the same without him. I just hate that everyone thinks Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitar player to grace the earth. One listen to his playing would say otherwise. I like his compositions, but I think he was probably just too doped up to play correctly.

[xhugdashredderx]

@mooch666 well said

[5inthehole]

@mooch666 Yes, Jimi Hendrix was an inovator with a guitar. He did thing with a guitar that was not seen up to that-That's undenyable. Funny thing is i'm not even a Hendrix fan! Even more so, Chet Atkins influence so many future guitar player with his fingerpickin style that I would say he's the #1 guitar player of all time. He could play in everyone elses style, but they couldn't play in his style.

[nubiannectar]

@dannyboy15 Yes Stanley has a Phd. from Harvard...He got his Phd while in his 20's.

[Sheckywoo]

@nubiannectar I'm pretty darn sure he was at Princeton, not Harvard... because he studied with Paul Lansky -- and that guy has been at Princeton since dinosaurs roamed the earth --um, PhD? I don't know about that -- ah well, he's great...

[Grade8DVD]

@Sheckywoo Stanley is Princeton Class of 1981 undergraduate. There's another video posted of him playing at his 30th Reunion this past weekend.

[xalifornia]

He received a BA in music composition from Princeton.

[pantel031]

whatever...I can read music, but I don't have to read music to play...I am a classic guitar player, and I do play Mozart or whoever without read the music....

[andreagiacalone]

inspirazione per ogni musicista.

[DailyLemons]

haha his dance moves are adorable XD

he's such an inspirational guitar player. i wish i was half as amazing as him...

[wahlespaul]

Si, es bello.

[ispearedbritney]

incredibly talented human being

[bakinek]

he must love music so much because his skill is brutal, patient exercises with his talent making this stuff

[sbarinauz]

bello

[lordlisle]

truly exceptional and extraordinary conception by a true genius

[portoriba]

He touch the heaven when he plays!

[manitate]

eSTO ES UN PERRO HIJUEPUTA.......BESTIA DE BESTIAS!!!!!!!!!!

[steve91803]

Anyone know why he didn't use "The Stick"? which was designed to be played in this style....like Tony Levin used.

[Jeffersondatass]

Personal preference.

[alanlaing]

his version of Eleanor Rigby from the Jools Holland show blew my mind all those years ago and still makes me get goose bumps....

[kirkyjremy29]

I can't pick up my jaw from the floor!

[discoguitar]

FYI

He tunes in fourths

[TheShredawan]

Is true.

Makes some pieces easier and some harder to tap.

EADGCF also means all chord shapes are movable without alteration, which is nice.

[BigNinjaKamui]

è il meglio...

[ejavierc31]

para mi la musica es mi vida entera este tipo es increible es un alago para la musica

[ATeam192]

one of a kind...

[yumyumkarl]

play piano on guitar awesome

[Bawdyknocker]

I believe he's actually tuned his guitar to be more like a piano, since he was originally trained on Classical Piano. The only reason he does it on guitar is for more tonal variety, I'd guess (pull-offs and such)...

[Dvareckas]

S.JORDAN improvisation W.A.Mocart#21

[simpleeyelid]

both aspiring and inspiring

[corbo88]

That doesn't make any sense at all.

[simpleeyelid]

THANKS!

[Skwirut]

Just as much as his playing style impresses me, so to does his dynamics as far as note volume and duration of the notes.

Truly a greater performer and interpreter of music.