Jim Hession / My Favorite Things /Rodgers and Hammerstein

[nimm2999]

I've been trying to play jazz for 4 yrs but there's no improvement. I'm studying in a jazz college and everyone's improving but i'm stagnant. Despite hearing alot, i have problems improvising, i just can't get it. It's been 4 years already. I have got no problems improvising pop but when it comes to jazz, i'm totally blank. I hope to get some enlightenment here

[Pianoninja924]

Dear Mr Hession, I must say that every time I hear one of your videos it inspires me to work harder in my jazz training. I also play piano and I've got very little jazz experience, but because of my music theory knowledge I'm able to improv semi-effectively. It sounds good, but I know it can be better and every time I listen to one of your videos it pushes me a little harder to learn a bit more and practice a bit longer. I one day hope to be as accomplished as you are! Keep inspiring!

-Steven

[jazznbear]

@Pianoninja924

Thank you Steven for your nice comments...I'm glad that you are learning by listening and incorporating music theory. It's nice to be a piano player, but more rewarding to be a complete musician who plays piano. Keep listening and improvising!

[puffyhamster]

this is amazing. please message me if you write out one of your improvisions. i'd purchase it in a heartbeat!

[JuLzX08]

simply amazingg

[jet07son]

the entire song is great my favorite part was from 194 to 205

[Skulltower]

Great sound!

[thecupdidit]

just try it by ear. it might take a year but totally worth it :p x

[jet07son]

sounds great where do you or did you study piano (any tips) been studing myself for about 2 years

[ceryamikz1]

I wanted to buy your interpretation on itunes but I cant find it

[jazznbear]

The only place you can find it is on the CD, "Piano Power Plays" available on our website.

Thanks for listening

[DrZepper]

Brilliant

[420fetus420]

amazing

[waynehigh75217]

Wow Wow Wow.  I wish you could teach me to improv like that. Very impressive

[jazznbear]

Hello,

This performance is entirely improvised over the basic structure of the original song; I would only be able to direct you to a piano/vocal copy of the song as published. As a jazz performer each time I play a tune it takes on a different musical shape. I am considering at some time to write out the "arrangements" to several of my improvs. But not in time for your audition I'm afraid.I do play with a Berklee student who comes to N.O. Very impressive musicians and school.

[c3dmf4s]

Are you any relation to Pat ?

Great stuff btw !!

A.

[jazznbear]

Not that I know of, but we have certainly seen the youtube vids of the talented Patrick Hession. The number of Hessions that descend from the northern Ireland clans are comparitively few and seem to share a common heritage.

[taihei666]

can you send me a sheet music?

[taihei666]

amazing

[jazznbear]

This is a jazz improvisation over the basic melody. You should be able to get the music easily. What I am playing is just what comes out of my head and hands at that moment.If you need the original music I can give you the information on the composer etc. What I am playing is just an instant composition or improvisation not written down.

[sbkynetik]

Fuck.

I don't think I need to say more.

[evanrkg]

This is awesome!

[herrwilhelm]

Lots of nice contrapuntal work and some unexpected walking bass. Being a waltz didn't make things any easier. And to top it off, an improvisation!

birch

[jazznbear]

Hey Birch, Thanks for the comment and as usual, it's nice to hear from musicians who have musically relevant observations. Sometimes these observations make you realize things about your own playing, especially when you're doing improvisational renditions.

[tomonthekeys]

Jim,

I saw you Saturday night at Fritzels. Thanks for posting. How long did it take you to come up with that arrangement? I'll stop in Fritzels and say hello sometime. I play piano for the Navy and just moved to NOLA. They used to have German beer there...what happened.

[jazznbear]

Next time come and introduce yourself to Martha or myself. Would love to talk music with you! As far as arrangements go: the "arrangement" fell into place as my hands hit the keys. I just play and see what happens.

As far as bar inventory goes...Katrina happened. We are all still in recovery mode.

[jazznbear]

Come in on Fridays or Saturdays from 7-9 when Martha and I do improvised "arrangements" for two hours before the band starts. Some reviewer termed our approach to jazz as "two musicians performing entirely without a net." We never know what direction it will take us.

[knotty75]

Jim,

looks like you have a great setup there, you should try encoding with 'Any Video Converter' using below settings:

Video Size 320x240

Video Bitrate(kb/s) 192

Video framerate 30

Audio Bitrate(kb/s) 128

Audio Sampletare 44100

The quality will sound better on youtube.

great post as usual,

Thanks!

[jazznbear]

Thank you for your help. We really know very little about encoding. Glad you are enjoying the music!