Jelani Eddington plays "Over The Rainbow" on Wurlitzer organ

[bobnrainy]

First rate!



[goingjolly]

Holy s__t! Such an amazing choice of voices, registrations, and dynamics and musicianship rolled into one performance! I think this is absolute musical genius at work. The last minute or so of this piece takes my breath away.

[jthornejnr]

I just love it ALL!! Thanks for sharing and please do some more - I like the way you get dresed up for the event!! :) Would love to hear you pulling out all the stops ans letting it rip!!

[reygood1]

Wow! Everything is beautiful... the sound... the melody... the arrangement... the playing... just everything. As if the song is really meant to be played for this organ.

[TeakScoop]

I saw Jelani Eddington playing in Toronto on the Casa Loma Wurlitzer. Man could he make that instrument sit up and sing, just like he is doing in this video. He is one great master of the Theatre Organs.

[jegatsch]

first class! I am very happy, then it is my dream to can play of a wurlitzer-organ. I am jürgen reimann, piano berlin-erkner

[KuyaBillRomjue]

Very beautiful, BRAVO!

[Kronikwookie]

DAMN piano! you scary!

[MaxTooney]

:::bows in your general direction:::

Mr. Eddington, that was incredible! Respect to you, sir.

[jh010962]

Outstanding mr. Eddington.

[drepalla]

Top class, amazing.

[TVBarlinek]

soothingly floats

[ChrisTheBroadcaster]

Tastey. In fact rich, filling, thoroughly nutritious for the heart & mind, in the best of ways. Wonderful musicianship. Wonderful. Bravo. And thank you.

[sutro77]

Lovely rendition, tastefully played

[X3000RLA]

Jelani is the "real deal" - Absolutely amazing in his skill and execution! Perfect tonal shadings...spot on tempos, and, lightning quick stop changes. He epitomizes everything a theater organist should be!

[w4pgb]

Folks, for those that don't know, this organ had it's beginnings at the Florida Theatre, in Jacksonville

[StuartLou]

Rainbow and Of Thee I Sing- seem to be the only two solos i find JE playing. COME ON- LET'S HEAR MORE.

[kiggsia]

Excellent performance! How great it is to hear music with this dignity, this grandeur! I heard quite a bit of music like this as a child also, from records my folks had. So your songs also bring back dear memories of a simpler, more virtuous and less hectic era, when music was more commendable.

[ThePilot314]

yes ........... somewhere over the rainbow ................

is there anybody who can show me the way?

THANKS SO MUCH for this wonderful music

[iandavidhenderson]

Thank you for a superb rendition of "Over the Rainbow" on an awe-inspiring instrument. You achieved some amazing colors with your registrations.

[theorganloft]

Beautiful!!!

[VinnieSutra]

Absolutely beautiful.

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Superb.

[betinnavarro1]

!!!! D E F I N I T E L Y !!! This is the !! HEAVEN VERSION OF THIS WONDERFULL SONG !!!!!! Realy orgelterrific my friend orgelmonster!!!!!! and thank"s for this Beatifull video!!! Frendly Beto Navarro. from MEXICO!!!!

[Marshall7302]

was this organ built or rebuilt because i dont hear the pneumatic combination action... anyone got stats on this organ? thanks .. And this song always makes me cry ... even in the movie... and done on the theater organ growing up around the organs of Detroit, ive heard this many many times ... jelani is one of the best. Brilliant organist.

[Wnoronz]

@Marshall7302 It probably has computerised control eliminating the old relay system? Regrettable? Maybe, many purists regard the 'clunking and thudding' of the old pneumatic combination system as an essential part of the theatre organ sound!

[middelrug]

great organ player

[bd5035]

What a BEAUTIFUL organ!!!!!

[wa1ufo]

Absolutely Gorgeous Jelani!!! Thanks!

[hornplayermark]

Thanks for posting this...I can never hear this song w/o thinking of my Mom...she loved the theatre organ from her youth going to the local Paramount and was my greatest champion. Beautifully done by JE.

[tenor175]

JUdy Garlund would be proud of you!!!! BRAVO!! Well done sir!

[BloggerToo]

I've been into theater organ for 25 years now, and shame on me for not hearing Jelani's music sooner than this. Jelani, they don't call you one of the all-time greats for nothing!

[rbrhrbr]

P.S. I especially like that you included the verse. So often omitted. And carefully applied tonal changes. You rock!

[rbrhrbr]

Tour de force!

[demonicairman]

I apologize mate, must have been my younger sibling. Not really my sort of music however wonderful job!

[ChristainPatriot01]

I'm sure Judy Garland would certanly enjoy this wonderful performance.

[playswithorgans]

I can't hear this that I don't think of my grandmother singing it while I played it on the piano or organ. She's been dead for a while now but I hear this and I can still hear her soprano voice singing clearly in my mind. Amazing what music can give you, as well as leave you with in you life. This is a song from the soundtrack of my memories. My happy times as a boy. Much thanks for the tears and laughs.

[jws01ushou2]

I honestly can't get enough of this piece today! I just found you on youtube and am simply amazed by your musicianship! What you play with your left hand at 3:58 is such an addition to the piece - can't imagine it without that scale.

[ChristainPatriot01]

How crude sir.

[ChristainPatriot01]

I was referring to demonicariman's comment.

[allendale1962]

You did a fantastic job! I too have an instrumental of Over the Rainbow on youtube. check it out. I also sing the song on youtube with piano.

[manrayyy333]

You really have to be there when this instrument is played to get the effect. I have a thing for this song, this instrument, lemon drops...and hands.

[dpwmhs]

I was classically trained on a church organ therefore I sight read, but play by ear better...everyone is envious! It's a gift.

[gabdeusex]

how do you do it !!! give me the drug !

[aihoschema]

Totally awesome! This organ is beautifully in tune and the pipe ranks sound fantastic - but this means nothing if not played by an ace theatre organist like Jelani. I am so happy knowing hat this art has not been lost. Jelany essentially plays authentic theatre organ style, but he throws in some modern jazz voicings (like upper structure major triads) just at the right places, same like virtuoso gospel Hammond players. What would life be without such awesome music? It's a slice of Heaven.

[malvivente1986]

OMFG! Whenever I heard such music I thought it was played by a group of people, not just one man on one instrument! Hail the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, and everyone who has ever played on such an instrument.

[Larrysorgan]

Can I get Jelani's arrangement of Somewhere Over The Rainbow? In sheet-music form, or better yet, a collection of his arrangements? I would LOVE to play some of them. Thanks.

Larry Martin

2800 Doss Rd.

Burleson, TX 76028

Fax: (817) 295-2009 (Call first)

[Dojora4]

check out theatreorganarrangements(dot)c­om

Jelani just released a book with several of his arrangements.

[Larrysorgan]

Thank you for your reply. I may order this book, but the one I really want will be the one with Somewhere Over The Rainbow included. Or, if the sheet music is available, I would like to purchase it. Thanks. Keep up the good work. I am an organist, and I really love the Theatre Pipe Organ, although I don't ever get to play one.

[KE5RHD]

I really enjoyed the Vegas MGM prior to its remodelling as it had a Wizard of Oz theme with art deco green. The church in which I grew up built a new fellowship hall around the late 1930's. It incorporated some elements of the emerald city. It had a stage and proscenium, backstage, dressing rooms, and lighting. For a Baptist church in 1930 this was really innovative. To this day I cannot enter that hall without thinking of Wizard of Oz.

[ragdollwilly]

This is an absolutely magnificent performance! I remember watching 'The Wizard of Oz' as a lad, and how beautiful the song was, and Jelani captures the memory of those times in this emotion-filled performance...gave me goosebumps! Thank-you so much!

[KeybOrgel]

Great! Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

[dpwmhs]

Outstanding! Keep it up : )

[62748152]

Excellent. You played the song beautifully. The sounds in which you choose brought tears to my eyes. Bravo!!! Kind Regards, Paul.

[larrypjr]

After almost 50 years of organ playing here is my oppinion of Jelani's playing:

"in a word" 'WONDERFUL'

[NEWbobofhollywood]

Show tunes are the perfect thing to play on a theater pipe organ.

I find this rendition to be exceptionally heavenly. It sends me~, for sure.

[coffee115]

holy --- is that a choir stop?

[Dojora4]

I'm not sure where you speak of... but... I guess yes... after all this organ has two Vox Humana ranks... latin for Human Voice

[Dojora4]

whoops... that's to coffee115 down there

[jgraif]

everyone is entitled to his/her opinion but, why is this composition not a good choice? it projects the very essence of this wonderful instrument; which was developed to mimic an orchestra in order to accompany silent films and later became the perfect venue for the interpretation of popular song. you recognize the difference between classical and theatrical instruments. why, then, the issue?

[Yu1Yam]

I am not sure if Over the Rainbow is the right choice to be played on the theatre pipe organ but this Jelani Eddington certainly knows the difference between his instrument and the church pipe organ. I've noticed most theatre organ players on YouTube play it tutti and fortissimo from the beginning to the end.

[blackzenode]

Great!

[virginiaorganbuilder]

I believe he is also a bar-certified lawyer who gave up a career in law to devote his full time to the theatre organ. Thanks, Jelani!

[Gillyyorkie]

Screw Law Jelani Rocks on theatre Organ he is waseome . He is so unique in his playing and I love the guys style . He is just so brilliant and he doesn'rt even try it's just him . one of the most gifted Theatre Organists I ever heard .

[tdiscbetween]

you are gorgeous and play fine

[Plum65]

MARY!

[greenfox4075]

Sensational! Thanks for posting this wonderful material.

[sync5controller]

I would love to hear his rendition of "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory.

[tammyjc15]

Oh yes that would be amazing! Has he ever performed 'Pure Imagination'?

[Gillyyorkie]

Hi I am Gilly UK If you see any other of Jelani's performances on Youtube I'd be very happy to recieve them please I am atheatre Organ fanatic abnd I play organ myself too

[TheProudAmerican777]

@sync5controller now THAT would be a heck of a sight :)

[italocorrirossi]

@sync5controller AMAZING

[Msstridjuh]

@sync5controller and what about "Processional" from the Sound of Music? I think we would love to hear that too?

[AulisPar]

Words can,t describe Jelanis music, It is from heaven.

[aihoschema]

Absolutely!

[aihoschema]

Fabulous!!! I would love to know how exactly some of the sounds are generated. Some combinations sound very similar to strings and choir. The vibrato and throaty wind sound definitely has to do with it. There seem to be also almost all important traditional pipe organ sounds covered. Definitely early 20th century magic. Fantastic playing!

[kinura26]

Jelani is one of the best modern Organists his performance and music come right from his soul. and not off the page.

[kinura26]

Theater organs are one of the most versatile musical instruments. they are built on a different tonal platform than the traditional classical organ. focusing on more orchestral sounds that you would find in a typical orchestra. including real drums and cymbals. this type of organ can be credited to an English organ builder by the name of Robert hope Jones at the turn of the last century. truly a versatile man. look him up hes fascinating to read about

[browndogoffroad]

Stunning. The man knows how to capture the distict Wurlitzer sound.

[tammyjc15]

I've watched this video so many times and it still brings a tear to my eye

[MassageMan1]

Amazing fluidity of movement and a nice arrangement.

[chibap07]

We dont have theater organs in the Philippines! huhuhu. We are in the third world country. But i can imagine so many beautiful things while listening to the music. it's so inspiring. thank u for sharing such music to such people like me in the third world countries.

[Christian1975Germany]

realy beautiful !

[mooghammondb3]

Is this a transistor or pipe-based theatre organ

[acchos]

all pipes, no speakers on this.

[121omePiet]

No speakers! :-)

[deafbaron]

I too ask the same question. Thank you for voicing for me...

[mattratt512]

i am SCARED of him. LOL

[ncguy27713]

I LOVE this video. Took me back many years to my childhood. I remember when my brother and myself would lay on the floor in front of the TV watching the Wizard of Oz. Unfortunately my brother isn't with me any longer but the memories can't be taken away no matter what. Keep up the good work Jelani. Pardon my ignorance but isn't it unusual for a church to have a thearer organ?

[fredbird67]

Yes, it is unusual. Oddly enough though, a lot of sacred recordings from the middle of the last century use a theater organ. For instance, the Haven of Rest Quartet used a theatre organ for accompaniment in most of their recordings.

Also, at my church (Ballwin Baptist Church in Ballwin, MO), we have a Baldwin electronic church organ, and every so often, our organist uses a registration that sounds a lot like a theater organ.

[allendale62]

It was so beautiful, I wept! Thanks!

[bentleymurray]

I've watched this clip more than anyother on youtube.... must be one of the greatest organists around. Thanks to who ever posted it on the net!

[Salmagundiii]

I was lucky to have heard him play the Wanamaker Organ a couple years ago. Thanks for posting.

[fredbird67]

Man, this cat's good!  At about 5:00 or so, I swear I got GOOSEBUMPS!

[matchupaul93]

This is probably my all-time favorite. I wish I could have been there to experience it in person. The ending must have shook the place. Awesome instrument and musician!

[Tiberius1919]

)I play this song too enogh good,but my organ is smaller.

[sheffkev1]

So beautiful it brought a tear...thanks!!!

[Tiberius1919]

This is the true organ-music.

[Tiberius1919]

This is the true organ-music

[vwestlife]

Such a versatile and richly soulful instrument... a brilliant performance!

[jamez123123]

he's brilliant

lovley stops down aswell

[wrighty205]

Hardly surprising why this chap is so highly acclaimed the world over; what a fantastic arrangement of a beautiful song. Keep it up Jelani. Superb! 5 Stars and favourited!

[allexi07]

Jelani, a true master of registrations. Lovely rendition. Thanks for Sharing.

[sheepfokker1]

He really nailed it!

[ChristopherCraze]

Awsome Job!!!

[gorbidog]

BRAVO!!! Very well done ... great emotion!

[da133]

i usually dont like this kind of music but this is great

[hopeyjo]

we need more quality footage like this in youtube

[acoustics101]

A beautiful rendition!

[Hymncollector]

Beautiful organ playing and my favorite song,I loved it.