Harlem Nocturne - Jazz Piano

[junfsinatra]

楽しい。

[hate13breeder]

If Bela Bartok performed this piece, this is what it would sound like. Love your interpretation!

[mugglebornbratt]

make sheet music!!!!!!

[MrAtlantajazz]

Love your mellow sound. All on the same page musically. Love it when it all comes together like this.

[Elya122]

Remarkable music, and you would not prompt where it is possible to find notes

you can throw down them on mail

Elyarahmanova@mail.ru

[flip1877]

fantastic

[joolsscott]

@flip1877 Thanks Flip! Glad you're diggin it ;)

[schniggitty1]

I enjoyed your rendition very much. Scott Joplin would have smiled. Rag Time certainly is a big part of Harlem....forgotten by generations of pop-culture androids.

[f3989]

Nocturnes are supposed to be about night and sleeping.

You play this as if you're moving uptown.

[eddycocotechno]

LMAO! this makes my sides laugh. the sound is liike some one hiding and abouts to strike hahahha(:

[mishoven]

I love this! Very pleasant! Do you have a better recording with less background noise? I'd love to put this on my iPod! :D I think the saxophone versions of this song are a bit heavy; this is fun and light.

[CotymoG]

i wish i could play the piano like you.

[gstarrrr]

Superb!

[sridg9]

hey i like this song can you send me the music for it

[Qwerty521458]

AWESOME! Mad about this album, every song is perfect.. Just downloaded this album for free at DownloadMusic/./im , remove the slashes..

[nuguns]

Good job very cool

[Thill1116]

Such a fantastic point of view on this classic jazz number

jazz is unchained

[123jelms]

This is original and light hearted, I think it to be enjoyable simply because it is different from the original. And it is jazz unlike what SOME people had previously stated, by the way I have a Master's in Jazz studies.

[operabird9]

very original interpretation! i really enjoyed it!

[arminnetwork]

GREAT!!!

[catface1965]

Hey JimmieBluffdweller, where can i hear an example of you playing?

[PinkTorpedo11]

great interpretation! I like the bouncy feel of this one.

[Thill1116]

inspiring

[Kelidachi]

very nice!!!

[doelman]

Great piece!

[Litening17]

I've never heard the original before, but when my friend sent this to me, I loved it almost instantly. Great job <3

For those who are whining about an interpretation losing the feel of the original--music is an art, and just like how Shakespeare can be brought to a 20th century setting, music can be turned from gloomy to gleeful without losing its ingenuity. Losing sight of that is losing sight of what an interpretation is.

[MrLJensen]

An excellent point my friend. And besides, even though you may not enjoy this interpretation, you can still appreciate the effort and originally that this guy has shown.

[JimmieBluffdweller]

Let me tell you a thing or two about Jazz. It's all about interpretation and improvisation. But you have to learn and know the tune and the chord changes as they are written. Otherwise you need to write your own songs. Indeed the reference to Shakespere is apt, but even so the text is never changed, otherwise it's not Shakespere. So it is with Jazz standards and any professional player will tell you that. This is not whining, it's about the music and staying true to the composer's aim.

[bbrannddX]

I agree with your assessment, and that you were not rude, just honest. The lush 'B' section deserves four-note chords in the rh, with the right thumb hitting the dominant 7th, and some lush harmony for the descending 5ths. Plus, the lh habanera rhythm is totally out of character for this piece. This is a long way from jazz.

[JimmieBluffdweller]

Finally, someone who understands structure and, probably just as importantly, 'intention'...composers build into pieces an 'emotional intent' that should convey a mood. Here the piece conveys a sense of the late night streets of Harlem in the golden years, of the sensuality associated with night, etc. And, indeed, the piece is a Jazz masterwork from the pre-bop era. We don't mess around with Shakespere or Beethoven, so why do people think we should veer way off course with something like this?

[HiggaLovesHarvs]

I enjoyed the piece, i think you displayed control and fluency throughout and had an interesting spin on the original. Jimmie, this is an interpretation which whether you like it or not, was clever. Express your opinion sure, but don't abuse someone if you don't like it. Clearly a talented pianist here, keep up the good work!

[HiggaLovesHarvs]

oh and by the way jools do you have the music for this? or do you know where i could find a good arrangement of this piece

[JimmieBluffdweller]

Tell me how I've been abusive. If you're going to put yourself out for hire it's part of the deal. Music is a tough business for tough people and you have to be able to hang. All I am saying is that you have to know the tune and the changes, which is not happening here. Also Swing means this in a nutshell- one, TWO, three, FOUR, behind the beat a bit. It's not rocket science, but you have to play in the pocket.

[eugeneherman]

Sorry jools, your version is way corny/smaltzy . Jimmie's comments were right on.

[joolsscott]

Eugene, thanks for your comment. I have no problem with Jimmie giving his opinion about my interpretation, I am up for listening and I agree that my version is fast and maybe inappropriate. However, I am not used to the amount of hateful rude comments that YouTube is filled with and if he wanted to add constructive criticism then why note at least be civil about it rather than bashful, blunt and offensive.

[joolsscott]

I will do some listening and have another go.

[JimmieBluffdweller]

It's not a matter of "manners", I was not being rude, just truthful. You do not play the melody. Your chord voicings are not good. Rhythmically, nothing about your playing really swings. Harlem Nocturne is not about being on a carousel...it's about late night...sex...longing. There's nothing wrong with your ability to play, but it's always a matter of taste, the sublime. Listen to the masters who made this tune what it is and learn from them.

[JimmieBluffdweller]

Learn the tune. Then learn to swing.  Then actually listen to others playing it the way it was intended....

[WhipItIntoShape]

LOVE IT!

[wdkelper]

Great job!!!

[CHOKETRENDKILL]

My jazz band just played this,

I love playing the bass line in this.

:]

yaaay.

[NightmareNumber100]

great, im using this to help set the setting in my story im writing, i wanted something excatly like this, thank you!!!

[jazzkingrt]

Hi there! This is great! I really enjoyed listening to this, and I smiled every time it started to swing. Bravo! By the way is this difficult to play, I mean I'm still a student but I have quite a bit of experience, though mainly in classical piano. (I just finished a few of Chopin's preludes to give you an idea of my level). Anyway I'd love to play this is it hard?

[babybanannie]

not really its actually pretty easy once you get past the syncopation problems.

[Lavthao]

Where you can download notes, tell me please!?!=)

[uigen]

good man....great to listen,

all the best from austria

eugen

[rchance643]

Very good indeed. yrs ago a young man played this on a sax at our teen club and I've loved the tune since in any variation. Agin well done

[Turtlegoyim]

I listen to this like every night! It made my 'Greatest Hits' playlist. Really stands up exceptionally well!

[eyeballnick]

this is a really nice version, very clear, alot of versions of this alot of people fail to keep the LH clear, hiding it with pedal which sounds terrible but youve done a great job :)

[iChrisDiversified]

Is there standardized sheet music for this?

[Laban54]

yes... The sheets for "harlem nocturne" are actually quite simple.. The music is smooth!

[Zorrothar]

Brilliant. Makes me wish I played like that. More!

[LightningtheValliant]

This stuff is awesome! Great stuff man! Keep playing Jazz Pianno!

[antihax91]

really great stuff. i really enjoy to play along on guitar.

[rolandvanleeuwen88]

whoever invented the nocturnes

(possibly Chopin) should be praised

[ragtimesamtime]

@rolandvanleeuwen88 John Field invented the nocturne

[JamKar1]

Jools, you good!

[artimis101]

sweetness XD

[Eccentric0Enigma]

pure beauty... Hope your career is taking off well in England

[Formetheus]

I'm jealous, your technique is so smooth. Excellent video man, five stars.

[Chicanobrownpride25]

yo, dis wuz AwEsOmE! i play dis song 2 but on an alto sax. U should give me the notes 2 dis version on piano so i can learn dis song 2. PLZZZZ!!