Jim Hession /Black Beauty by Duke Ellington (1928)

[jkfan2005]

I would have said Tommy Bond was the one who "gained fame" as Butch... did Spencer Quinn play the part later? There's not much about Quinn online... born 1930, died 1987, apparently. I've spoken to his widow at some music shows in L.A., but I know so little that I'm sure I would ask really dumb questions.

[jazznbear]

@jkfan2005

You are right Tommy Bond did play Butch. Spencer was in some movies but I stand corrected about his child role as Butch.

[DailyMouth]

@jkfan2005

Spencer Quinn co-starred in 'Dad Can I Borrow the Car?" around 1970. He wrote and played a car salesman named Speed Feldon. VERY funny.

[naizret]

I thought this was a first-class version of of the piece, which I've been listening to for decades and heard DE play in person in 1966. It's open to several interpretations, and this one has a distinct 1920s flavor. (The only discordant note for me was the rather tinny piano, but that's another matter.) Very impressive!

[DailyMouth]

FYI, Spencer Quinn, who was a dear friend, did not play Butch in the Our Gang series. Butch was played by the late (and very nice) Tommy Bond. Bond wrote a book about his experiences called 'Darn Right It's Butch!'

[larensmith5]

why did you name this black beauty black beauty is sad slow mournful music i guess this is not my vid thanx for posting

[jazznbear]

Check out the composer, Duke Ellington's, original recording- on YouTube, it is posted by "Mickey Clark69". Ellington named this piece "Black Beauty" in memory of the singer Florence Mills who died too young. Ellington plays this piece faster and brighter and his orchestra plays it even faster. He wrote it, named it and must have had some reason for the feel that he chose.

[summerspiral]

your playing's cool! wish you could play next year's grade 5 exam piece (grin)

[johnnycchops]

I know you were sincere in doing this, but your interpretation is pretty well off the mark. Is this a redo of the 1928 recording? Whether or not it is, what you've done here is not really in any way close to how Ellington ever played or arranged this piece - you must know that, don't you? From the beginning, you're just playing incorrect chords, and pretty much missing the musical essence of the song. Sorry to scold. I'm just being straight up.

[jazznbear]

I know that you were sincere in writing this, but my interpretation is just that- an interpretation. I suggest that you check out the recording that I learned this from as a teenager. It is posted on YouTube by MickeyClark69. Ellington's published score is considerably different from his recorded solo or my current rendition. Many people think that a note by note replication is the only way to play a classic piano solo-professional jazz players often feel differently.

[animaltaglits]

That was beautiful. Bravo, I love this song.

[DailyMouth]

Spencer Quinn was also a terrific comedy writer and performer. Check him out as a crazy used car salesman in the Disney movie "Dad, Can I Borrow the Car?" which was directed by Disney legend, and Quinn friend, Ward Kimball.

[natereuben]

Wow this is beautifull are you going to be in concert anywhere anytime soon. ?

[spurtler]

Loverly.lots of variety in that one.

[ShallbetterPiano]

all of your videos have amazed me to the point of tears. as the piano player of my high school's jazz band, i sit humbled and inspired. that's just incredible!!

(what kind of a piano are you playing on, by the way?)

[jazznbear]

Glad you enjoyed the videos. The studio piano is a YamahaC3,Fritzel's Jazz Club has a Kawai Studio upright, our piano at home is a Bechstein(1898) 6'grand.

I too started my career as a high school piano player for the GleeClub, and in college was the pianist for the UCSB jazz band. I haunted every talent show from the age of 15-17 in Pasadena and LA area. I won a few but usually lost out to slick male singers and grinning accordian players. Good luck with your piano work!

[nicoitalian]

this is just wonderful to listen to:) thanks Jim. I wish I could play like this... just need to practise some yeeeeeaaaaars:) You just rock!

[elkwolf]

Anywhere I can get the sheet music for this?

[jazznbear]

The sheet music that was printed is so simplified that it does not reflect the recorded version by Ellington himself. Ellington ran into the same problem that other pianist/composers faced: a publisher that simplified the music for the general public. I learned this version by ear from his 1928 recording.

[elkwolf]

You play it in a different key, right?

[jazznbear]

I have been waiting for someone to notice that I play this in B major rather than the original key of C major. When I was in high school a jazz fan gave me a reel to reel tape of Ellington playing this solo; there was enough difference in the pitch on the tape to pull it down 1/2 step. I didn't find out for years that it was actually written in C. The B major performance is also on my first album "Eubie Blake Introducing Jim Hession".

[elkwolf]

I thought that the original was in B-flat.

[jazznbear]

According to the music, it was written in C. Who knows, many of us play these pieces in several keys. B major is the least likely.

[elkwolf]

think I may have psoted that twice, sorry. I'm trying to learn it by ear and I think he plays it in B-flat. I hope so anyways because if it isn't that really does not say much about my ear

[jazznbear]

What are you listening to, a copy of Ellington's own original recording? If you can get a copy to me I can better see what you are dealing with.

[elkwolf]

sure, I can send you one, is it possible to do it over youtube?

[bmoore24]

On the original, solo piano Okeh recording, it is in C. It's also in C for a later, full-band recording. Gret song!