Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue GENIUS SOLO PIANO ARRANGEMENT by Jack Gibbons

[devilspjh]

one of the greatest performances of one of the greatest songs and it has 18k views? I'm preaching to the choir of course, but it's so frustrating to see what is and isn't popular in the music world today...

[Jessiegurl77]

I love his face at the end. It's like nbd..

[GoPriusGo]

never had the pleasure of seeing this pianist, but this has to be the most flawlessly executed play of this piece that i've ever heard.

[mbg2406]

Absolutely incredible performance! There's no law stating that only one person can be a musical genius so I see no reason that Gershwin and Gibbons can't both be considered geniuses. Both are certainly incredible musicians :)

[opertinicy]

nailed it.

[stevepaul1960]

I've seen Jack play many, many times...and the guy is awesome!

[videofreakmanic123]

Bravo

[TheChineseLionTamer]

I always think about the Fantasia cartoon as the song plays. :)

[Heavyscoutmedic]

Piano hero! *breaks fingers* Damn...

[AndyRedford]

Amazing....The guys brilliant!!

I love this piece of music but have only ever enjoyed the full orchestral version of it prior to finding this solo version.

[andnowforsomething89]

Egad, that man will have arthritis within the year.

[Campanyeri]

much too fast

[Kerry1960]

@Campanyeri When Gershwin himself played it, it was at least this fast. If not slightly faster.

[LeAndraDMcPhatter]

Lol i like how his hair moves when he gets into it. :-)

[Kerry1960]

The first time I listened to this, I watched the video. After listening to it without watching, I can sincerely recognize the talent. Technically better than most I have ever heard. Great recording quality! One of my favorite performances of RIB. Thanks!

[Kerry1960]

I thought about what I wrote and would like to amend it. Although this is still one of my favorite performances, it is because, imho, it is the closest rendition of the notes on the page, which only goes to further prove that Gershwin's music stands on its own. No matter the level of passion of any performer if played well. This is played very well, whether or not perceived as passionate. Passion in performance is too subjective to objectively quantify, so I will say "imho".

[rgjerde53]

I think there is room in this world for more than one genius. Gershwin certainly makes it for this, and the rest of the wonderful songs he wrote (and played). But, as a frustrated piano player (in other words, a really bad piano player) -- I know just enough to know that anyone who can play this good should also qualify as a genius. Whether he is or isn't, I still love listening to it.

[galaxion2]

Yawning at 0:16?



[Kerry1960]

@galaxion2

Perhaps listen again when you aren't so tired and cranky? ;-)

[galaxion2]

@Kerry1960 Sorry, I meant Gibbons was yawning.

[Kerry1960]

@galaxion2 Ah! OK. I'll have to look at the video again. LOL! I usually just listen. ;-)

[blackjacklondinium]

I believe this rendition to be the best I have heard. Too often I have been disappointed with other pianists' interpretations, deviating from what is written, and from what I believe was intended by the composer.

[Kerry1960]

I think this is more or less closer to what the composer intended. Fantastic! Skillful! Although I have heard renditions that have more passion, I have never heard more skillful narration of the notes. Not to diminish this great performance. And it is GREAT!

George would be proud!

[codemanradiohead]

He beats the shit out of that piano, I love it!

[nezkeys79]

check out jeffrey biegels version. that has some improvs in it

[nezkeys79]

I take it back. None of this is his own arrangement. I just listened to the original and realised what I thought was jack improvising is played by gershwin. Dont get me wrong he plays the piece one of the best I have seen on here....but its not his own arrangement!!!

[nezkeys79]

It's not his own arrangement. Its 95% the one bernstein plays, he just improvises a few sections here and there. Also it's way too fast in places and pure self indulgence

[ProyectMooneJazzers]

Gershwin would be disgusted by this assassination of his music. I wish only that he rests now easy.

[OrangeSodaKing]

@ProyectMooneJazzers Uhhh, how did Gibbons "assassinate" this piece, exactly?

[retrogamerdave]

it's hardly an original arrangement--it's more like a hybrid of the two piano parts for the two piano version of the piece

[TheMoritati]

I'm glad to see this is back up! I was corresponding with Gibbons a bit when I started writing my own solo transcription of this piece. I just uploaded it to soundcloud(dot)com(slash)mindw­a. Would love to see how everyone thinks it compares!

[dreambition27]

Just got goosebumps about a thousand times..

[likemyviolin]

Beautiful playing, enjoyed very much listening to it. Long live talents!

[leroilezard1981]

This is, not surprisingly, the best piano solo version of Rhapsody in Blue on the internet. I'd give Gibbons a 10/10 for technical abilities here and a 9.5/10 for capturing the mood of the piece.

[awesome1smym1ddlname]

11:35 Best part...

[G8tr1522]

@awesome1smym1ddlname so much...

[ignasie]

look at his face in 14:10 "IM STILL ALIVE" ;)

[baghend]

Brilliant performance.

Am I wrong in thinking that the Rhapsody is the most incredible, innovative, inspiring, and quintessentially American musical composition to come out of the Western hemisphere in the last century?

And i'm not American -t as has been said before Gershwin was a genius. What a tragedy he died so young when i think of the talent that came out of New York- esp. the lower east side and especially the sons and daughters of poor Jewish immigrants- inspiring!. and I'm not Jewish

[UncleChuckTH]

That head bob.

[wungabunga]

Incredible.

[bcbit01]

I keep hearing this genius word flying around. Genius is when your interpretation (different from the accepted form of the original) is soooooo good that the composer, had they heard it, would say, "Now THAT is how I should have written it!" I just don't see that here. Gibbons plays this VERY straight. I don't see anything innovative or especially creative in his rendition. Its just bloody fantastic and an absolute delight to listen to over and over again.

[scrivs01]

@bcbit01 i agree, it's very similar to gershwin's solo piano arrangement. but there are some differences. Minor, but they're there. The inflection he uses throughout the piece represents his interpretation of it. Again, very similar to the original. Still, I love this version better than the fully orchestrated one. Genius, who knows. Very entertaining and masterful nonetheless.

[bcbit01]

I've listened to and compared the orchestral and piano solo versions probably 200+ times. I'm good and have tried to tackle this piece myself. I can get most of it played but that's about it. Gibbons doesn't do the best job I've ever heard extracting the sounds of other instruments out of his playing but he does do a superb job here. His technically "almost too clean" proficiency and expressiveness more than make up for that. If you want to hear clarinets, watch an orchestra play it.

[cahillbenj]

@marvinracer88

Where can I obtain the version of which you speak? The one I have, and the ones on IMSLP are significantly different than this one. For example, none of the solo piano versions I've looked at contain 4:36-5:32, which sounds very cool. I could just make it up by ear, or from the orchestra score, but it would be awesome to have the music he's playing from.

Thanks.

[RyanKFisher]

Boss.

[TheShadrachs]

This is the greatest version of Rhapsody in Blue I have ever heard. Jack Gibbons is incredible

[fredericko9]

Your rendition is my favorite Jack. There are some embellishments which are taken from the original composition written for the jazz band and you are able to comprise them all into the solo piece. Does the music exist,,,i.e. is it written down someplace which spells out the notes? The Alfred Publishing Co version is wonderful but is missing some of the elalaborate runs, Let me know if you have prepared such a version - I would gladly buy a copy from you. You are a delight to listen to.

[scrivs01]

I love his expression at the end.. He knows he's got swag.

[TengoUnOboe]

where is the genius? the genius are Gershwin

[juzzyfuzz]

Masterful playing yes, but does that make him a genius??? Gershwin was the genius here... let's not forget that.

[madlovba3]

@juzzyfuzz He surely was, but that Gibbons was able to give all the orchestral sonorities back on solo piano, plus his idiosyncratic and yet highly artistic and amusing (not to mention virtuosic) playing makes him a genius, too. I think.

[juzzyfuzz]

@madlovba3

Yes, you know... you're right! I've just listened to it again, and it really is genius playing and an amazing arrangement. It's amazing that some people can play that incredibly well LIVE in front of an audience.

[marvinracer88]

@madlovba3 uh... what about reading the music sheet for piano solo? its not his arrangement, there are like 2 different notes in this "version" from the original one.

[lhrmeonom]

@madlovba3 Wasn't the orchestra arrangement was done after Gershwin had originally wrote his solo piano version of Rhapsody in Blue?

[donmoffittsmith]

Why the negative note? Gibbons has shared by far the best piano solo of the rhapsody that anyone has ever shared. ... "Let's not forget that" how patronizing.

[DaniGeorgiaGirl]

@juzzyfuzz Gershwin provided the inspiration (1%) and Gibbons provided the perspiration (99%) for this arrangement, as Edison might say, were he alive.

[shubus]

glad this is back===I'm downloading, too---insurance...

[bogusjabberwock]

I also prefer his version over all others. I saw him perform this in New York a few years ago. Absolutely excellent!

[OrangeSodaKing]

@bogusjabberwock A very lucky person you are!!

[scrivs01]

thanks for reuploading!!

[OrangeSodaKing]

AWESOME!! Too bad that the other video had all those comments and 150 likes with ZERO dislikes, but I guess all that really matters is that this video is back on YouTube. Downloading NOW in case something happens again. Lol :)

[madlovba3]

@OrangeSodaKing Hopefully likes and comments will accumulate sooner or later :) Gibbons is fascinating, isn't he?! He does not simply just tame this beast of a piece but wins with a knock-out against it, and he does that with such an ease that simply makes my hair standing. I much prefer this version over Bernstein, Hamelin and Zimerman (although they play the version for piano and orchestra). Oh and btw, I posted two of Gibbons' own works, too, from the very same concert.

[electrocompany]

@madlovba3 ZImerman plays the Rhapsody?? :D

[madlovba3]

@electrocompany Yes, he does ;) I have a great non-commercial recording of it, but I mustn't share it, sorry.