Jim Hession plays Jelly Roll Morton's "Fingerwrecker"

[AlecTaylor666]

Awesome!

[richkroberts]

Terrific stuff Jim. Just wonderful! I'm speechless...really!

[coolmamac]

Great stuff-just slow it down a tad.

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

my god. that was so cool =)

[angularsofty]

Nice wave at the end. "And he's alright, folks!"

[ROCKINJAZZMETAL]

waaaaaaaaaaaaahoooooooo!!!!! awesome. LEGEND!

[lyuba90]

denny boodman td lemon's 900!

[skirt710]

You can convert this or any youtube video to an mp3 at audiogetnow..com

[keeperofthecheese]

1:10 that bits damn impressive :D

[keeperofthecheese]

Mind = Assploded

[youjean1988]

in the description it says you were directly taught the tune by ron weatherburn. what do you mean exactly by this? do you mean that he sat you down and taught you note for note, or did he play it for you over and over until you memorized it aurally. im very interested in knowing what exactly you meant by this.

[jazznbear]

@youjean1988 As a high school student in 1964 I attended a concert of Kenny Ball and His Jazz Men, who were on a U.S. A. Tour. At the time I was a "junior" member of the New Orleans Jazz Club of Calif. which sponsored the concert. Ron Weatherburn had given permission to the Pres. of the club, Bill Bacin, to tape his live performance of this Morton Classic, so that I could learn it. Following the concert there was a "cast" party and jam session. At the party I played some of Ron's solos for him.

[jazznbear]

@jazznbear

I had learned his piano solos from Kenny Ball LP's. We struck up a friendship and he showed me some of his improvisational ideas and encouraged me to learn the Fingerwrecker from the tape. To this date I believe that Weatherburn and I are the only pianists to play this arrangement. Many other skilled pianists have learned the note by note transcription by Morton from his Library of Congress recordings.If you compare the two, note the similarities and differences.

[roren2466]

I really enjoyed meeting you and Martha at Charlie's house the other day. I posted this video on my Facebook page to show my friends how great you are on the piano. I wish you continued success.

[jazznbear]

@roren2466

Great fun meeting you and talking music for hours. Thanks for sharing your guitar and vocal talents.............

[Squarerig]

The best comment on this tour de force on the keys would be simply silent awe!An incredible performance-I wonder if I will ever be able to learn and play it in fifteen minutes?-sorry,I meant aeons!

[petrie1230]

those keys are charred black for sure haha about to combust

[mmdillons]

Ballbusting & mindblowing.... I'm surprised the piano didn't burst into flames at the end, cuz it certainly was SMOKIN'....

[Gather3]

perfect! in my country there are so few jazz pianists, maybe i should move to New Orleans :)

[awesomewelles90]

what is your country?

[jazznbear]

This particular version I learned in 1964 directly from Ron Weatherburn, who called it FingerBuster, as listed in the discography in Alan Lomax's "Mr. Jelly Roll". Shortly afterward I had the opportunity to play this for the surviving members of Morton's Red Hot Peppers. Kid Ory and Johnny St.Cyr said that Jelly had called it, "Finger Wrecker". The title "Finger Breaker" has since appeared in books and articles. You are right-once we start playing, we make it our own!

[DirectorYou]

This is why the piano was invented! Pure Joy!

[sizled]

Its time for me to quit piano

[Pianoninja924]

I want to learn this song so bad, but I can't find the sheet music for free!!! AHHHH!!!!

[losamfr17]

Can't get enough of it, it's so amazing

[emtube]

Just pure blissful joy, sliding down a greased bannister!

[arroy624]

i can easily lose 40 pounds in 2 weeks if i play this piece of music (if i can play it, that is)

[Lucas21314]

I am completely blown apart =D love it so much I could listen to this all day! *runs away to find a sheet*

fantastic job Jim simply great ^^

[Dravenswraith]

somebody give the drunk lady in the audience some pretzles or something lol

[Pianoninja924]

hahahahaha!!!!

[jlh106]

Brilliant.

[soymas79]

INCREIBLE

[CriSandroni]

When you think you have seen everything cames this man and....jesus....what the...no comments...

[soymas79]

impresionante

[SJEFRH]

damn i like how u play it :3 i have the sheet music for the original version in my account, if u want to check it out

[langosta95]

1:13

wooooooooooow!!!!you killed it!!!!

[keeperofthecheese]

hahaha agreed, my fingers hurt just watching this.

[stienwayz]

hahahha!

fucking siiiiiick playing!!!

[HEADBANGING69]

Holy SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! I am totally blown out of my seat !!!!!!!!!!!WTF. How long did it take you to learn how to play this Jim? You are killing it. !!!!!I mean Killing it!

WOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[dddprates]

This is just great! But isn't the name of the song actually 'finger "buster"'?

[benkees]

It's Finger Breaker

[HEADBANGING69]

Not only is he one of the best piano players ever, he is a great guy. Always answers these questions with an itelligant and polite response. Jim is the man!

[ollie1400]

That's just what I was thinking. I'm pretty sure that the transcript I've got isn't the same as what he's playing. All the same, still very good!

[TheColoradoan]

My fingers hurt just watching it. What a great performance!

[losamfr17]

Unbelievable! How much practice and many years of piano is that?

[Dontbustthecrust]

A life time!

[lukisspure]

I think this is the most challenging piece ever! But im gonna learnt it by the way =)! Nice Jim you are the best!

[HEADBANGING69]

i am officially a JIM HESSION FAN!

[shubus]

This is simply a great performance by a man at the top of his form showing us all how it really should be done. Bravo, Jim!

[lazaryjczyk]

Amazing!

[Obacoomb]

that is so easy to play. it took me like 15 mins to learn it

[jazznbear]

Congratulations and welcome to the Brother and Sisterhood of "Quick Studies". I didn't have to spend much time learning it myself when I was 16; having knowledge of music theory and the technique to play it at this tempo is certainly helpful...

I'm delighted that you found this rendition intriguing enough to work on it. Post your performance: we will watch!

We post these classic piano solos to encourage younger players to continue the tradition. Carry on!

[ryanski77]

He was being a smart-ass.

[Obacoomb]

i didn't think i was being very subtle. great piece though, jelly roll morton is among the best

[weixin281]

*jaw drops*

[rossmaclachlan]

Really solid playing! I'm impressed, keep it up! Hope you don't get tendinitis from this one.

Ross

[losamfr17]

You're a freakin' master!

[aaron12345432]

actually the name is fingerbreaker not fingerwrecker iirc

[jazznbear]

No, not actually. If you read the notes and comments in this long debate you will see that even in the Morton archives in New Orleans this piano piece is listed under "Fingerbreaker" then crossed out with "Fingerbuster" written above it. Morton's sidemen called it the "Fingerwrecker" when I played this for them in 1965. Thus I will honor their memory as having  first hand information from Morton himself. Irregardless, it is a dynamite piece of work that stands on its own without debate.

[keeperofthecheese]

saw this played in the film "Legend of 1900", awesome song, awesome film.

[Milestonzz]

Thanks for the post! Is this, then, the same piece as "The Finger Breaker", sometimes listed as "The Fingerbreaker"? The one that Morton originally titled "Fingerbuster" when he wrote it in 1938, but had to change it in 1942, because Willie 'The Lion' Smith had already recorded an identically titled, though slower paced, solo of his own? I suppose that it literally takes an act of Congress for the Library of Congress to change it! BTW, I'm a jazz DJ and recently played "I Thought I Heard..."

[jazznbear]

Greetings: This version of Morton's piece I learned from the 1964 performance of Ron Weatherburn,pianist,with Kenny Ball's Jazzmen(of "Midnight In Moscow" fame). At the age of 16 I had only been playing jazz/ragtime for 2 yrs. and Ron was very kind,encouraging me to develop my Morton repetoire.

Shortly afterward, as a featured pianist at Disneyland, I performed this solo for Morton sidemen Kid Ory and JohnnySt.Cyr who were also appearing at Disney. They recognized the piece right off the bat.

[jazznbear]

Ory and St.Cyr told me that Morton called this The Fingerwrecker.

Morton recorded the original version of this piece for the 1938LOC interviews,using the title, "Fingerbuster". Other pianists perform this note for note from that recording as "The Fingerbreaker".

Willie "the Lion"'s "Finger Buster"(2 words) was pub. in 1934. Morton died in 1941.I have recorded the "Fingerwrecker" version three times(1993, 2004and 2008).

I have been playing "The Lion's" Finger Buster since the 1970's>

[jazznbear]

I have recorded "Finger Buster" also in 1993,2004 & 2007. Check my YouTube video for the Lion's Finger Buster.

On a recent archival search in a New Orleans Morton collection we found the transcription of the Morton piece by Don Ewell{a close friend of the Lion who recorded with Smith). His transcription had the title "Fingerbreaker" with the word "Fingerbuster" written over the original title.

A lot of trivia, but as James P. Johnson said to Clarence Williams,"C'mon,let's just play piano".

[CBasie2856]

(1)Is this stride?

(2)Is this the original or is this improvised?

[jazznbear]

1. No

2. This is my version of Morton's Fingerwrecker as learned from the British Jelly Roll pianist, Ron Weatherburn. The version most people play duplicates Morton's 1938 Library of Congress recording.

Neither this performance nor the other version is improvised.

[ObeeLektro]

Hello Jim I just found you and seen couple other videos of yours. They were good, there were some timing issues and balance volume problems (could have been do to the recording setup) I though you are ok. But after hearing this video you have blown my sucks off. I am a pianist my self 20 years started at age 18. I got some videos here maybe you like to see it, I also do electronic music. At this point after hearing these,this is the best stride piano playing I heard by non famous pianist. Amzing

[CBasie2856]

Are sride pianists(jazz pianists in general) limited in what keys they can play in? I have been looking for jazz pieces that start in keys other than C Major, F Major, G Major, Bb Major, Eb Major, Ab Major, and Db Major, and I can't find any.

I know the classical repetoire has pieces that are played in ALL twelve major keys. Why don't jazz pianists record in all twelve major keys?

[jazznbear]

1. No

2. For stride era pieces in sharp keys, check out Willie the Lion, James P. Johnson and some Fats Waller. For pieces in gflat and bmajor check out Eubie Blake and Luckey Roberts. For all of the above, it's Art Tatum.

Teddy Wilson once told us that he knew only two true "12 key players", Eubie Blake and Art Tatum-any piece in any key.

FYI: most jazz players prefer the keys you mentioned ("flat" keys) as they are better for horn players. Sharp keys are better for string players.

[jazznbear]

Johnny Guarnieri taught me to appreciate exploring pieces in different keys. Check out my stride piano vids of pop tunes for different improv ideas in different keys.

[jazznbear]

Morton refers to this piece in his 1938 interviews with the Library of Congress as Fingerbreaker. He was also known to have called it Fingerbuster. In 1966 I played this for Red Hot Peppers Alumni,Johnny St. Cyr and Kid Ory who called it Fingerwrecker. So you could take your pick.

[jazznbear]

At a recent visit to one of the Jazz Archives of Morton memorabilia in New Orleans we came across documents that made use of the different titles. On a transcription by our old friend Don Ewell the title Fingerbreaker was crossed out and Fingerbuster was written in in pencil.

[jazznbear]

You may have noticed that several other players perform a version of this solo that parallels Morton's 1938 recording note for note. My version differs as I learned this directly from the late British pianist/Morton scholar Ron Weatherburn. At that time Ron was pianist with Kenny Ball and I was in high school.Ron was the only one playing this piece at the time that I was aware of.

[Morahman7vnNo2]

I Thought It Was Called "Fingerbreaker"

[dozer4]

does jim hession ever play any of james booker's material.

[jazznbear]

Not currently.

[afertyus1000]

what a talent,you'd be welcome everywhere

[alesbroglio]

you are wonderful, you are my god..

[ledzepdennis]

Where in New Orleans do you frequent? I'm looking at attending college in Hattiesburg next year for jazz piano, and I'm already looking ahead to find a few good places to see fantastic music and maybe learn a few things while I'm at it! Thanks so much for these videos.

[jazznbear]

We perform six jobs a week at Fritzel's on Bourbon. If you check our website(in video info) we provide an updated calendar of clubs and concerts and special appearances along the Gulf Coast even though 99% of our bookings are in New Orleans. Any chance of going to school in New Orleans? If not the Hattiesburg campus has a good reputation for jazz studies. We work with many of the young musicians that come out of Tulane and Loyola.

[STANLIZ4]

You NEED to come to the UK URGENTLY! Do not deprive us of a visit any longer please!!

[jazznbear]

I'd love to..............are you a press agent, booking agent and concert promoter? Let's talk! Seriously though, we would be delighted to play in the UK if the opportunity arises. You can find us on Bourbon Street, still recovering from Katrina with everyone else on the Gulf Coast.

[STANLIZ4]

You NEED to come the UK urgently!!

[bmxgenie]

this is 10 plus stars not 5.fantastic.

[bugsycline]

who needs a band anyway? good god man. it sure is nice to hear some one alive today that realy can play with out the help from sequencers, pitch correction, other musicians etc.... let's see what todays biggest pop rock jazz country stars do something like this. you may be the best Living pianist.

[jazznbear]

That reminds me of something that a music writer in LA said about Martha and I working together: "two musicians performing together entirely without a net". Gadgets are great and so are bands, but there is always something more to learn in an unaccompanied acoustic setting.

[morriskevinm]

This is, without a doubt, one of the most AMAZING performances I have seen. I have watched this clip more times in succession than should be allowed. :) Truly outstanding!

[renholderoff]

Hi Jim and Martha. This is the other Jim Hession from Maryland. We continue to play your CDs and "drop in" on you via You Tube. You sound great as always.

[jazznbear]

Hi back atcha,

It was a real pleasure getting to meet and know you.

We'll be looking forward to your next trip to N.O.!

[thenoseymethod]

i know why i don't hear this music played live these days : because it takes an extremely talented person to play it! well done!

[IanGillanN1]

Amazing !You are the best of this style of music

You really feel it

Great piano player

Please tell me were i can find notes for this peace

[southerngentleman75]

WOW! :P

[mistajellyroll]

Nice job!

[Squarerig]

I have an old 78 recording of this by Morton,made in 1938 or 1939 I believe,which carries the title,"Fingerbuster".What's in word,as someone once said?The music is out of this world.

[jazznbear]

You have a treasure in that original Morton 78-please don't drop it! Hoping to meet you some day-you have that rare quality of cutting through the B.S. to get to the essence: it is all about the music. Thanks again for your comments.

[KawhackitaRag]

Willie "the Lion" Smith wrote a different showpiece, "Finger Buster" in 1934, while the title "Finger Wrecker" actually belongs to a novelty piano solo from 1922 by Bert Dixon. Bob Wright recorded a great rendition of "Finger Wrecker" in the style of the Benny Goodman quartet, complete with piano, drums, clarinet, vibes, etc., all done with synthesizers!

[jazznbear]

When you have been performing these solos for 45 years as I have you tend to put the quality of the musical performance first, closely followed by historical details,footnotes,etc. As an historian myself, I take into account the many interviews I have had with the original performers and additional info supplied by others. I recorded the Lion's FingerBuster in 1993 for Pianomania Records'-Rock Me In the Cradle Of Love-Jim and Martha Hession. It is still available and selling well.

[KawhackitaRag]

I also want to mention that the actual name of this tune is "Finger Breaker" (or Fingerbreaker), which I believe "Jelly Roll" first recorded in about 1938.

[jazznbear]

Morton did refer to this as "Fingerbreaker"in his 1938 Library of Congress Recordings. In 1966 I played this for Kid Ory and Johnny St Cyr of Jelly's Red Hot Peppers when we all played at Disneylands Dixieland Festival. They both referred to this as "Fingerwrecker".

[KawhackitaRag]

Very interesting, personal version of this. This is obviously not the note-for-note transcription of Jelly's recording that practically everyone else plays. Very refreshing. And so appropriate in a bar, too... It's so great to see a barroom crowd that cares about the music.

[jazznbear]

I learned this from Ron Weatherburn's performance in 1964. Ron called it the " Finger Buster ".I kept that title until playing for Ory and StCyr. By whatever name Morton wrote a classic! Fritzels is the longest running jazz club on Bourbon. The audience was here for French Quarter Festival. This followed the Battle of the Bands. Jazz audiences here are not shy.

[rell2311]

I don't know much about jazz music, but this was awesome. It has made me want to broaden my musical knowledge.

[jazznbear]

to danpaullong; Don't shoot yourself, it is detrimental to your piano playing. Just come down and support our struggling city of New orleans. We are at Fritzel's European Jazz Pub on Bourbon in the Quarter-Weds-Sat. Also we are presenting jazz history concerts every Weds in July at noon at the Jazz Historical National Park. Come on down!

[danpaullong]

Man, I wanna go back to New Orleans just to here this guy's music wash over me. Whew!

[danpaullong]

As a piano player myself, excuse me while I go out and shoot myself...

[Squarerig]

Somewhere,hidden from the camera,is another pair of hands!It is impossible that one man can play this;the sheer volume of cascading notes is incredible.Superb!

[jazznbear]

Well that made me laugh! I'm sure that I've been accused of worse! Thank you!

[JO911B]

Bravo!

[nicoitalian]

You make me smile;)

[jazznbear]

Thanks for your comment and for your mention of Neville Dickie-a wonderful player! We actually corresponded in the early 1970's when Martha and I were working with Eubie Blake. Haven't heard from Neville in years; please give him our regards. We are now performing regularly in New Orleans and recording material for several new CD's.We went to your YouTube site and thoroughly enjoyed your videos-You are a terrific string player! Keep in touch!J

[KingRat355]

Wow that's just perfection. Hession is a new name to me. You have so many legends over there. I'm so jealous, was that a request session. I'm requesting any Fats Waller, Charlston, The Baltimore Todolo or Bill Bailey I heard Dick Wellstood once played.

[jazznbear]

Thank you for your comment. Dick Wellstood was a good friend of ours and one of the best stride players ever. Also on YouTube are piano solos I recorded by Fats Waller,Eubie Blake, Lucky Roberts,Jelly Roll, James P. and other jazz piano innovators. If you go to our website there is a lot of music to listen to and more than enough info to keep you busy.You can just google our name. I will keep your requests in mind when I next get a chance to record again.

Jim Hession

[pattyomarly]

dude that is some excellent playing, ive tried that peice and its bloody hard

[dznygrl]

Made me dizzy to watch this! Fabulous!