Jim Hession plays "Take Five"/Paul Desmond/Dave Brubeck

[secondplacevictory1]

Haha, throwing mission impossible in there....

[Jozhou123]

I wish I could play as good as u

[Jozhou123]

U r amazing, I wish I could play that good.

[kukis50]

wow it's hard to play in 5/4, I can play in 7/8 and 9/8 but i never try to play 5/4.

You play fantastic :)

[DnlZ1]

realy GOOD MAN !!!

[andrewmusic95]

I didn't like how it was mostly the same dynamic the entire time. It needs more feeling and emotion in it. Well done though

[VOLNOREZH]

НИШТЯК!!!! МОЛОДЧИК!!!!

[vinceFFF]

Hmm i can't take it even "average" good trained ears won't like that, too much mixed notes... take five is at it says take the time to make every sound clear for everyone xD errr i'll never like this "i'm too good to make it sound simple" ....

[SuperPianotime]

hahaha..I thought about playing mission impossible with this one too! Great. I don't play as well as you but I'll keep working on it. My favorite part is between :40 and 1:05. Cool =)keep it fast- sounds awesome.

[MrBrazilFan]

Anyone else notice how much he sped up?

[poekjewoekje1]

wow you are so * good!!! but really you should slow down a bit... I wish I could play piano like you!

[sydmc2525]

The improv was fantastic!

Bravo overall, man! (:

[milanista305]

great interpretation, i like especially the mid part.

i'm trying to learn this piece myself, its not that difficult, just have to get used to the rhythm.

[blessyousir1]

@milanista305 agreed. took me a while

[milanista305]

great interpretation, i like especially the mid part.

i'm trying to learn this piece myself, its not that difficult, just have to get used to the rhythm.

[plsdnl]

I really like your improvisation, especially from 1:47 Nice! :)

[plommmmmm]

its fucking amazing....the improvisation and MI-theme.

i wish i could play like him

[MadameGaga999]

mate slow it down! Enjoy it...

[jazznbear]

@MadameGaga999

I do enjoy playing it............this is the original tempo for the Brubeck Quartet. Others should feel free to interpret it faster or slower-this is jazz.............after 50 years Take 5 has survived thousands of interpretations-the mark of a good piece of music!

[Ainigma]

can you please tell me what you do @ 1:32 - 1:44 ??

i'd really like to know because whenever i improvise i don't evolve and that sounds like evolving...

[jazznbear]

@Ainigma That is a musical quote in Fm from Jethro Tull's "Living In THe Past". Their tune from the early 1970's is a very early example of the 5/4 meter in rock music literature.........

[bobbit1042]

What key are you improvising the solo in?

[jazznbear]

@bobbit1042

Ebm, Em, and Fm,and back again.

[bobbit1042]

Nice touch with the mission impossible theme

[boyredtube]

it's impossible

[girlfromnd]

a tutorial would be great, since your FANTASTIC. standing ovation! love the tempo bettter than the slower ones, it just shows how well you know the piece and you put it into excellence!

[victorgor111]

i enjoy see your videos !!

[victorgor111]

i enjoy see your videos !!

[victorgor111]

i enjoy see you videos !!

[victorgor111]

I enjoy see your videos !!

[victorgor111]

I enjoy see your videos !!

[victorgor111]

I enjoy see your videos !!

[victorgor111]

I enjoy see your videos !!

[victorgor111]

I enjoy see your videos !!

[tacosamurai1]

man I don't know if I'm just deaf but I could've sworn he sped up in the beginning....

[akuijpers10]

I'm jealous

[apathetikk]

really cool ! , but i prefer the tempo at the begining of the video

[uEsOaDf]

OMGGG! i want this..... Maybe you could give a lesson!!! post a video! this is awesome. I've been trying to learn it by ear... but the rhythm is a bit tough for me. Left hand w/ right hand.... eek. any tips?

[creematthew]

Think of each bar as two parts (3/4 and 2/4). I think it makes it easier to think about. I'm not a pianist though, so don't take my word for it.

[kolplam]

@uEsOaDf

get the sheet music.

[Rishon1981]

Jim, you are great. Do you know Keith Emerson? You should frinds I think, cause you are both the most genous pianists in the world!

[vicboss86]

Excelso..... WOnderful

[kriceandsharpie]

awesome

[Microrator]

Beautifully done!

[moyo1999]

Please, It would be great, if you would do a lesson out of this fine peace of music. Cause you are to fast for me and I really want this to know!

[jazznbear]

Okay, let me think about it. I'l let you know if I can determine how to structure a lesson on this jazz classic.

[moyo1999]

Great. Thanks!

I´ll try to be patient... : )

[MrGSpot3]

Got the message: Playing Take Five is not an impossible mission... ;)

[aleEERMOZA]

thanx for the explanation and bravo

[cvarnez]

thankyou 4 posting this amazing performance of take five this has helped with my improvisation 4 this piece in an exam i'm completing this year. This is an awesome version, hope i can play like yourself one day

[aleEERMOZA]

i think it is going too fast im doing that song for music memory

[jazznbear]

This tempo is identical to Brubeck's Quartet version from 1961. There is a 1966 video of Brubeck's group on YouTube where you can check out his preferred tempo.

Best of luck in mastering this great piece of music.

[clapady]

Jim - I am in awe of your relentless left hand discipline amidst seemingly-effortless key changes, and very creative and entertaining riffs on this classic theme.

Can you humor us, and play "Take Five" in its original tempo as recorded in the studio? The speeded-up tempo in the 1961 and 1966 videos can be attributed to a) the adrenaline rush that accompanies a live performance, and/or b) boredom from playing a piece for the umpteenth time--not because it sounds better in the faster tempo.

[oudephoenix]

the best....

[yosephtamrat]

You are an the best pianist I have ever seen in my life, what a talent, amazing. God bless you.

[AfroPianist]

The thing I most like about this performance is the way you change your ebm-chord into a em-chord an backwards. Congratulations mister Hession, phenomenal!

[jazznbear]

Thank you! You are definitely paying attention.

Jim

[ncglock]

@AfroPianist That's what sounded different, good observation :-)

[ncglock]

@AfroPianist That's what sounded different, good observation :-)

[LoveMermaids]

amazing

[LoveMermaids]

Bravo!

[audigold]

oh, it's supurb...lovely Jim.Just simply amazing.

[gunneralquist]

In my 56 years, I never thought I would hear "Living in the Past" incorporated into a rendition of "Take Five".

Way cool.

[jazznbear]

I thank you and Jethro thanks you.....

[jcsizmazia]

anytime soon would do . . . .

[jcsizmazia]

I love the mixture of mission impossible, Batman, and of course, Take Five Jim,

thank you for your wonderful lesson, Jim Hession,

ladies and gentleman,

can anyone convince Jim to appear with Dr. Love and Harry-O LIVE TV SHOW . . . in Longwood, FL

[meggy773]

wow .. that's GREAT !!!! ..and nice solo !

[IndigoZ0]

mostly nobody can improvise this song in piano, you are so good and talented =)

one of the best versions here in youtube

fucking amazing

[thespoonisbent]

it's easy - the melody is built on the minor pentatonic scale, and the harmony is simple ebm7 -hbm7

[TazManiac008]

Wow that was breath taking. How you can control your left hand is way beyond my metal capabilities!

[gigihitman]

loool, that is the one of the sickest thing i have ever seen on youtube, jealous *looking* woa man, great! that deserves more than 10000 stars !

[cantomelon]

simply amazing.

[qewtra]

all i can say is woa

[Lui191]

NICE§

[Lunaticaelum]

Nice solo :)

[ahusto0000]

Nice cover. I remember the day I suddenly realized the Mission Impossible theme was in 5/4 lol

[GreggaryPeccary]

Do you play both chords with the left hand when the melody sets in?

[jazznbear]

The standard left hand accompaniment calls for the I chord to be outlined on beats 1-3 and the Vm7 to be outlined on beats 4 and 5.

Both chords are then represented when the rt. hand improvises. Quite often I will break the left hand pattern to play rhythmic figures with two hands or perhaps take a lead melody in the left hand.This version, except for the opening chorus, is improvised.

Best of luck on your performance. If possible put it on YouTube. I'd love to hear your ideas.

[Nevanix]

man that was genious! it was too fast for me but that is a version of the song. the solo was cool. mission impossible lol

[jazznbear]

I'm glad you enjoyed this; the tempo is identical to the Brubeck Quartet's version from 1961 (check YouTube for that vid).

For pianists learning this piece I recommend mastering the notes and the 5/4 groove at a much slower tempo, then build up to the original Brubeck speed.

[GreggaryPeccary]

shit, my notes are just completely different. My version is in a minor, and its unnecessarily difficult for the right hand. Its ridiculous, I need the proper version, coz I have to play it in a few days! Any idea where i can get the original notes (your version, except for the partials in the beginning)?

[jazznbear]

I play this in the original key of Ebminor, except for improvisational passages that modulate chromatically, then return to Ebm. The music to Take 5 is available in many jazz fakebooks. Good luck.

[GreggaryPeccary]

thanks!

[genzerdm]

very nice

[ebutuoyyo1234]

Wow really cool I toght you need min. 3 hands to play this.

[HiggaLovesHarvs]

what an awesome arrangement. i just play from the original arrangement but now it seems boring after that! if anyone knows where this arrangement is online plz let me know cas that was great

[jazznbear]

Beyond the original chorus this performance is improvised.

Thank you for listening.

[Lisztlovers]

Very nice performance! I immediatly go back to practice!:)

[Speer86]

Brilliant pianist!!!! I play it in Cm, but Esm is better...

[Speer86]

Brilliant pianist!!! I play this song in Cm, but Esm is better....

[andrewcomplainer]

my take five video is better :)

[LBM10030]

Brilliant playing!

[bennoodles1993]

scary how that zack kim guy did this on guitar, with both hands on 2 guitars.

[shaneisinthehouse]

slow down lol no it was great

[Mu5hu]

I just.. Stare at the monitor.. Wonderful.

[evipivikiwi]

thats simply.. amazing

[bobke6109]

HOI BEER EVRY THING OKE AND WHIT JASS

[didoupix]

Great, wonderfull !!!

Your mixt is really cool

Very amazing....

[cwli123]

Great, but I don't think that you used sheets, do you? If you do, plz send them to me.

[jazznbear]

I learned the main theme years ago from the sheet music. Everything that you hear after the first chorus is improvised.

[Blackleman]

I love the mission impossible cameo around 2:05-ish.

Great!

Now I just need to learn it for the talent show...

[bradavaja]

Fantastic mix! Great great great! :)))))

[hanseriz]

that was a great interpretation

[frosty956]

now that is real music... this is a brilliantly played rendition of a great forever classic

[flairric390]

my uncle's name is jim hession!

[tyako80z]

great!!

[DrummerALB]

wow..amazing...check out my take five.

[jazznbear]

Thank you. We enjoyed your interpretation of Take Five. Keep on keeping on.

[corvettegirl88]

It doesn't get much swinging than this....

[EanesForPresident]

Living in the Past - Jethro Tull. I approve!

[EanesForPresident]

Was that roundabout?

[saxophonic25]

Very nice, the change Ebm to Em & Fm is.... COOL !!!

But mission imposible here? Sorry but I'm drunk

[dariotroise]

LOVE IT!

[supergallas]

Please mind the tempo,mr.Henson.You are obviously great but i expect the most from ya.Thanks,Joao.

[redfred02]

absolut geil! I haven't got enough English words to describe how cool it is. Best track and best record.

[redfred02]

absolut geil! I haven't got enough english words to describe this track. Best song and best video.

[zorgvador]

very nice

[stosja]

nice

solo btw

[dktlatlago]

this is coolest ever!

[swennsyever9]

ivories tickled nicely...very VERY nicely. bravo&thank you

[DrummerALB]

wow!!!!

[jazzcaz]

Well - out of all the people on youtube that think they can play this tricky piece YOU really can! Terrific - especially the syncopation.

[XxMariekexX]

Jooo hoe coowl :D

[paddeyOmalley]

wow INCREDIBLE!! this is one of the most complicated jazz piece but you made it seemd effortless! bow to the master

[alt1962]

i like the key change...

[solong36]

I remember you playing this -- great to see it.

could you add Slaughter on 10th avenue and...

there was (i think an old Robin Frost tune ) another favorite of mine that you belted out at the GC Hotel.

Stan

[jazznbear]

Hey Stan, The Robin Frost tune may have been "Throwing out Fred", a Frost original song that Robin taught me when I was a student at UCSB. I'll give some thought to the "Slaughter" which I have not played since you asked for it since the Grand Californian. In the meantime, keep watching-we always add new vids. Hope all is well with you and your wife.

[idasynco]

That was a cool Jethro Tull quote there at the 1:31 minute mark, after the key change :)! Why you make it sound almost an impossible mission indeed!

[jazznbear]

If the mission is impossible, it makes it more of a challenge.....................­..Thanks for listening