Lennie Tristano - Tangerine (Copenhagen '65)

[ccorrao]

You'd be hard pressed to find better piano playing on youtube...

Brilliant. Thanks!

[heroiniskindacool]

This man was as important to jazz as Duke Ellington was.

[smtwl90]

I swear I've played that ascending scale of flat nines thinking how awesome it sounds and I had not seen this video before. 4:14 great video

[Dfrankjazz]

LT friends, you are invited to a marvelous *new* master class on the life and music of our hero. The class focuses on Lennie's solo and group innovations. You will Dig this, promise:) Type in his name "Dave Frank" on YT

[vinyltapelover]

@317East32. Thanks for a great upload. Got wind of it on tip while checking out Ahmad Jamal's works at another channel. Hadn't heard of Mr Tristano or his works before, but I am now a new fan. It seems that here and at other yt links.folks that like to display thier supposed level of insigtht of an artist by "dissing" other artists are faux intellectuals/sad people. If Tristono in fact "dissed" Monk, for whatever the reason, that was something Tristano had to live and die with. Ce la vie!

[candyfunk]

Truly blessed .....Thanks for posting this ;O)

[lennie]

My Name Is Lennie

[davebrennanmusic]

Great video. :-)

[cfwpiano]

How can one be so good as this? I'm blown away at this man's grasp of hamonies and rhythms and carrying on that amazing bass line the whole time. Mindblowing stuff

[heru1966]

@cfwpiano I'm hearing you...he has it all together. And very lyrical too.

[ChasinTranes]

Anyone know if Con Con from Maelstrom is a contrafact? if so on what tune?

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

Sorry for my double-post. This new "concept" (is there one at all?) of the YouTube comments-order is quite confusing. Maybe I should go to the of-no-help forum? ;)

[MokshaIS]

is he blind?

[317East32nd]

Pretty much totally blind from about age nine.

[eldude555]

@317East32nd Wikipedia says he was blind from infancy

[blueturtleblues]

I LOVE THIS MAN I ADORE THIS LIVE

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

Freestano, huh? Wow! He can play with one hand where others have difficulties with all ten fingers. Splendid vid, my friend! -- Wanna hear him at his fastest? -- Feel free to click on my blog-link (in profile), and listen to the boppers on "Tiger Rag", 1947.

[317East32nd]

Yes, that's quite a tempo. From a radio broadcast pitting the boppers against the "figs." The entire Tristano/Parker CD compilation is phenomenal.

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

@317East32nd -- All wonders of jazz united when they played together: Imaginative harmonies, freedom, and beauty. I dig especially their home recordings with Kenny Clarke, beating a phonebook: Beautiful numbers ;)

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

@317East32nd -- That's true. Got 'em all on LP's. Especially the tracks with Bird, Lennie, and kenny Clarke on a phonebook are really outstanding, and very advanced modern chamber jazz.

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

@317East32nd -- P.S. -- Please make that Kenny!

[fredrikhamra]

Beautiful!

[bledpicker]

Pure genius

[rorygg1]

lennie is so awesome. amazing sense of timing. i have a sealed copy of the real tristano as well as one i play. thanks so much for his videos

[heru1966]

This is just fantastic. The melodies are expressed in a very pure way and it's great to see his hands as he plays.

[alexjrmarino]

this guy is too innovative to be neglected like this,you just never now where he is going to take you , absolute freedom

[marktguitar]

Speechless.  Wow.

[hajimetinoco]

I loveee Jazz

[raulbarrientos007]

sickkkk bassline

[KapnKoolio]

This is great! And his unconventional "flat-fingered" technique (all wrong -- harharhar) as well as his sound remind me of Monk. Great video.

[317East32nd]

I've been watching the entire concert... I never noticed before how often he "feels" for his place on the keyboard (being blind). You can watch him count black keys... I have to assume this slows him ever so slightly, as he has to figure out where the keys are before he can play what he's already conceived...

[MiskoKatua]

@KapnKoolio Even the Great Liszt had his technique changed to 'flat-fingered'!

[HikusMikus]

First time I've searched for Lennie online tho his CDs have been in my collection for 25 years. and I'm reminded he's one of the few pianists who seriously worked walking bass lines. Dave McKenna has carried on that tradition but alas, few others

[loujug1]

What bloody amazes me is that a human being can do this at all" Same for Oscar.

[ELPsteel]

this sounds almost like reharmed changes for "i love you"

[317East32nd]

I'm so happy that everyone is enjoying this so much! The owner of rights to this footage could have had this removed by now, but they've left it here for over three years, so if you see this and dig it, look into maybe purchasing the DVD of Lennie's entire "Copenhagen Concert." It's fairly easy to come by. I originally posted this vid as an informational/educational thing to turn new people onto Lennie, and I see that it's working pretty well...

[psy0nyd3]

@317East32nd Correct me if I'm wrong, but copyright laws only have a 60 year window, after which they become public domain.

[kurt52073]

Outstanding and incredibly underrated player. I hear what handdancin was saying, great comment, and I hear the influence of stride piano and boogie woogie, but also a lot of modern ideas and western classical such as Debussy, like right after 2:19, and, yes, I hear Monk. The influence, judging by chronology, was probably mutual. Like his disciples Konitz and Marsh and like a lot of great bop and post bop players, he is both cerebral and very very soulful. Thanks for posting this, blown away!

[blackiekakkie]

or: monk wasn't sloppy! tristano wasn't cold!

[alexjrmarino]

This guy is in the clowds..so different...The first time I heard him I was frustrated, but now I am a big fan..It's like classical music - in most of the occasions the first time you hear something is strange and annoying.. but when you get used to it, you see the beauty inside :)

[mrstrings65]

Lennie was way ahead of his time... a one of a kind Jazz great !!!

[JLorz84]

It's conceptual jazz, pure and dry music concepts on his piano. Tristano leads Jazz to the future.

[Modes9]

The critics totally missed the point (as usual). His playing is actually very passionate. The problem was that Cool rhythm sections had to play with straightjackets on so Lennie could be heard. That made it all sound very dry. I never liked Monk. If you want to hear great economical jazz piano, Horace Silver is the man!

[handdancin]

no one seems to notice that he was playing over the bar and phrasing in odd groupings before just about anyone it seems like. note it people!

[Flextones]

Leave Lennie alone. Stop picking on him. Lennie never got the money or recognition he deserved. He left a lot of fine pianist disciples here. Lennie played well and made a great contribution to the music.

[rubberbandsax]

Yea, with Lennie you have to remember there were times that he was bitter about the way his music was being misinterpreted in the eyes of critics. Later in the 60's and towards his death when he focused much more on teaching than playing live* but he did make an effort to play live * ... It would be easy for him to see somebody like Monk with such an odd approach to the piano, compared to the pianists he so loved...Art, Bud.. I guess he took that a bit hard, I understand. He got work but not me?

[rubberbandsax]

Personally I love Monk and Lennie, but I can see how being soaked in bitterness and being ran over by the critics would skew your judgement in response to other pianists. Remember, Lennie was human and his environment undoubtedly shaped his outlook in that misplaced comment.

But as far as this video goes... Innovator of the locked hands, innovator of the walking bassline in the left hand. Harmonic sophistication, a personal sense of swing and drive. He gave so much musically and got little.

[kevinherbert]

Got so little????...he was idolised in his own life time & has become a friggin' legend...and I reckon he sort of knew that......I think he GOT THE LOT !!!!!!!!!!!!

[bassist1627]

I wouldn't say he was the innovator of walking bass in the left hand by any means...

[lactatingbillhonkey]

nice stuff, very inspiring!

thanks for the upload

[s1914]

Hm... Maybe. Check out Austin Peralta playing Tyner's Passion Dance.

[Modes9]

Monk was a sham...so was Miles. Their fame was an insult to guys like Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Lennie, Clifford Brown and Fats Navarro who put in the time to hone their craft. Monk was a great jazz pianist the way Madonna is a great rock singer!

[317East32nd]

Really? I think Monk is a great jazz pianist, but unorthodix for sure. Just "out there," disjointedly, maybe even "sloppily," but in a way I can still appreciate. I agree that Madonna is not a great rock singer. Now... Jimmy Dewar was a great rock singer.

Hey I think it's great that everyone digs this clip. (I hadn't checked the comments for almost a year.) Maybe this will inspire someone to dig deeper...

[Justino111]

MODES9: SHUT UP. Do not comment on what YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND. You simply don't get it. Human kind would be living in caves if it were for people like you. Monk and Miles had their OWN styles, they were ORIGINAL musicians. THAT alone SPEAKS VOLUMES about one's creativity and genius. But you don't get it and never will. Keep your ignorance to YOURSELF. Your comment is a pathetic INSULT to musicians like LENNIE TRISTANO as well.

[Justino111]

first of all, find the quote where Lennie attacks Monk. Second, you don't seem to have listened Monk more than a couple of times, but you are already judging him as if you were a sort of authority in jazz. And even if Lennie did say that, Monk is an iconic jazz figure whose style is highly creative; he is one of the greatest jazz musicians ever, whether some people like it or not. As far as your comment about Modal music. Dude, you clearly do not know what you're talking about.

[Justino111]

As far as I know, Lennie Tristano is considered a jazz legend. That IS pretty far. Too bad some people like to waste other people's time by creating competitions between legends.

Now, there is little to discuss if you are bringing the name of Elton John to compare with Thelonious Monk. If you are trying to be sarcastic, have fun dude. Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis are two of the most influential jazz musicians ever. I am sorry, but you-and your pitiful sarcasm- will have to live with that.

[claptonfan1000000]

This is my last word on this, but in Sweden (where I live) pretty much everyone knows and are influenced by Thelonious and just the opposite with Lennie. When I look back on my previous comments I do see that I was wrong. I have and will check out more Thelonious. He's not excactly in my style but I have learned to appriciate him more! I'm sorry for everything you didn't agree with. But you have to admitt that Lennie deserves more credit than he's got. They called him Icey cold and a cheater.

[Justino111]

unfortunately, many highly creative minds have been considered "cheaters" from day one. Only a few lucky ones get  the recognition they deserve during their lifetime.

Whoever called Lennie Tristano a cheater is/was a complete loser. And I happen to agree with you: too many people say they are influenced by Monk. It's becoming boring and repetitive. It does not mean I will hate Monk for that, specially knowing that today too many jazz musicians are very prejudiced and predictable.

[jazztom86]

@Modes9

oh, the jazz expert is in the house. Now he comes and wants to throw shit on two of the most important jazz musicians ever, seen by most people as great geniuses and innovators. But YOU've come and tell us the truth. Thanks a lot. Very funny. hahahahahahahahaa

[petezilla]

@Modes9 Wrong. Bud Powell and Monk were soulmates. I don't understand how people can make such ridiculous comments like this about dead people who's genius was untouchable, permanent, and very real.

[Amazongrassmonster]

@Modes9 monk was part of the bebop movement, which focused more on technicality and experimentation rather than sounding nice. in other words, i think monk didn't much emotion in but he was still talented.

[coopdaloop07]

i dont belive what i  just heard ha

[y34r]

Bud Powell + Lennie Tristano + western music infleunce = Bill Evans

[Quimsacharani]

Any One have a video of Lennies "C minor Complex" to post up? Please do!!

[paolomannelli]

I've no video, but I've the written music.

[paolomannelli]

Error in my precedent answer. I've "Scene and variations" with Carol, Bud, Tania. Please will excuse me, they are in the seem album "The new Tristano"

[Quimsacharani]

Please Post the video, Thank you!!

[mrandrew89]

woah awesome fingering style

love it

[mymusicdiscovery]

Thankyou Danish TV/film as usual!!

[TheGumbo13]

this guy is unbelievable! some people are just born with talent flowing from their fingertips

[hahahahaha02]

Faut pas croire mec, le jazz c'est avant tout une discipline, avec la dose d'écoute, de recherche et d'entrainement.

Les gens pensent souvent que c'est "Ah le jazz faut l'avoir dans le sang, le mec il souffle dans sa trompette et c'est génial, ca lsort tout seul" mais en fait c'est tout une science

[revdolaf]

Truer word was never said in jest than this....beautifully put!! It is an on-going school of personal commitment, discipline, humility attentiveness....all the crucial human virtues. As Tristano used to say to his students regarding musical creativity: "There is something we don't understand, but I know it comes together by just putting in the time" (as quoted by one of his students, the guitarist Woody Mann in the Introduction to the book Lisboa)

Peace n Love

[hermn2]

I tried to post this before - forgive if redundant. The Half Note was our favorite place - family-owned - we'd take our little girl, and sit at the bar right under the musicians. Tristano was a God to me - Konitz playing almost hallucinatory. I've never had another jazz experience to equal it. The intimacy caught you up completely. So many other great players there as well. Zoot and Al Cohn, Mose Allison as a new-to-town sideman. Thank you profoundly for posting this.

[suezenne]

Studied with Lenny many yrs ago in Manhatten, and at his hse on LI. He was partially blind, but cld tell if you were chting w lead sheet.Cussed a storm, md u prctse scls.WO reg.2 fingering, hd 2 "sing along W Billie[H.]"2 gt jz chps up.Lved him.Grt Dude.Chngd my ideas nd plying 4ever.Suezenne Fordham Chamber Jazz LA

[vitesenzafine]

***Chngd my ideas nd plying 4ever***

Wsh hd lso chngd yr way of wrtng

[mknouse3]

THIS IS FROM 1965?! It seems that on top of bieng a god of sound, Lenny also invented the time machine and created modern improvisation. learn up chil'en.

[quinto34]

Darn, this dude rules!!!

Why on earth is a great genius like this not worldfamous, at least not in my world?

Have some records to buy now., that's 4 sure.

Cool stuff!!!

[solothyrn]

One of Joe Satriani's teachers?

[CaptainVision]

I heard Wally Bower passed away this month . . . . a great teacher . . . i loved hearing him occasionally play standards in [a classical] theory class, Lush Life . . .

[ragtimemarkbirnbaum]

FRESH AS CAN BE - LONG LIVE LENNIE!

THX

M

[dudemantwo]

I always liked this song...

[vivazapata74]

just discovered mr Lennie Tristano; God, am I slow or what? :-) thanks for posting

[kelliewannabenumbas]

i just discovered him a minute ago, so i'm slower than you. :)

[phenylphenol]

I think I figured it out -- Try a C major scale in one hand and the locrian mode of a Db scale in the other. So they line up on C and F only.

[phenylphenol]

Maybe just two major scales a minor 9 away from one another.  Either way, cool.

[phenylphenol]

Definitely the best part is right after the break. At 3:23, we get this very satisfying (and chromatic!) walking bassline with some great exploration of the mode without feeling the need to hit the root notes at all times. Then he does that ascending scale that sounds like... the combination of a major and a minor or some kind? What is he doing there? Anybody? Bueller?

[phenylphenol]

Bahaha. Three cheers for Tristano. What a distinctive touch. He was never afraid to hammer away. Swinging as hard as he could in a strict metric framework. I love watching how his hands have eyes of their own as they find their way across the keyboard. A tremendous teacher, but always with a very very pointed attack -- his freely improvised section has no real melodic motion; just harmonic and PAINED insistence. It's fantastic. His piano method is so informed by blindness it's unreal.

[Modes9]

After you cover the logic of the lines and the bass-lines, and after you cover how hard it swings, deal with the dynamics. He never played two notes in a row at the same volume level. That's an important lesson in itself.

[Soulnik]

♫♫♫♫♫

[Chrjzzale]

Hey men, you're absolutely right, bye. thanks for the video.

[kevinherbert]

Thanx Lenny

[Chrjzzale]

Hey men, thanks, but the real name of song is G minor Complex or "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" a like this mean. Saludos de México a todos. Paz.

[markkieswetter]

No, that is Tangerine. He plays the melody right at the beginning. Then he plays the beginning of the last 8 measures of the song starting at 2:19.

[nickvdschoot]

he is so hip

[zockerflo]

his walking bass is cool

[nettoyeur1]

i cant beleave satriani  studied with him.thats cool

[tbcass]

Check out the Satriani video where he talks about that. Tristano told a young Satriani he might be good in 20 years or so!

[boppinariff]

His playing was so cool it was cold. brrrr...

[SuperBowser]

THE cliche! (but yeah, very intellectual)

[loosegums]

Lennie's playing is hot! the warmth of his feeling and the fire of his line!

And I have to contest the description of his music as "intellectual". Yes, it is brilliant-- and mind-blowingly complex, but it is not coming from intellectual thought, per se--- it's coming out of his spontaneous feeling for the music. And this concept requires a quiet thinking mind to be realized.

to me, this music is deeply HUMAN

[SuperBowser]

Oh yes, I wouldn't take issue with you about that. And it's fair to say that his music/playing has a spiritual dimension too.

But compared with with other jazz artists of his time (and earlier), his playing was much more rational. Though I dislike the widely spread oppinion, that he was the embodiment of "Cool"...! :-)

[naitsirk20]

MONSTER!!!

[Morahman7vnNo2]

You Mean: MASTER!(Pianist That Is)

[kevinherbert]

He's all over it..fabtastic!!!!!!!

[jaropi17]

Le calme olympien, sa main gauche en basse d'accompagnement est caractéristique.

[ragtimemarkbirnbaum]

GENIUS

THX

[pianobopp]

A MASTER AT WORK!!!!

[kingusmcgee]

A former piano teacher of mine studied with Tristano in the 50's. Wish some of that technique and theory rubbed off on me. Lots of notes and exercizes on paper, but not on the piano. Thanks for the post.

[Virtuosic1]

Kingus, that's why it never rubbed off. It was exercises and notes on paper, instead of in your head and at the tip of your tongue. Many of Lennie's students thought they could jazz by duplicating his methods. Most have been wrong thinking that. Lennie could not only play, he could teach others to play also. He was rare in that resepect.

[jAmguitar84]

wow del palo de petrucciani

[richardre06]

Wow , this is perfect very wonderfull.

Dynamic perfect. And an execution plastic.

This is an example of what means power of plasticity when moving. It's more than a very good execution! It' fire on board!

[jrv1a2]

Aaronhillmusic:

Tristano Bassist Peter Ind just wrote a book titled "Jazz Visions" discussing Lennie, The Music and Lennie's Critics. I studied Bass with Peter in New York. We were there when the music happened. Lennie was a most underrated Genius but the music is for all time.

[jrv1a2]

Modes9

Lennie Tristano drew inspiration from Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Lester Young and Charlie Parker and felt you would have to listen to those giants and study them rigorously if you wanted to be a well schooled jazz player.

[rockintetster]

Like Dave McKenna- a pianist who never need a bass player. What an inspiration to listen to Lenny!

[claptonfan1000000]

Hi. I'm a kid and just wanted to tell you that this is great! I'm kinda the only kid in my school who is into jazz. hm. well, thank you very much for the video!

[jimicheesecake]

omg those chords at 2:30 ....chills

[paulostroff99]

A gem of a performance!

[Modes9]

I just love that percussive attack and the way he never plays two notes in a row at the same level of dynamics. Lennie never got enough credit...and Bill Evans robbed him blind (no pun intended). You can't compare him to Monk. He could play figure eights around Monk in the technical sense. You might compare him to Bud Powell.

[gauchoheavy]

Yes... for those who says Lennie was cold, cool, distant , etc: listen to "Requiem" or "Turksih mambo" (an early overdubbing experiment in jazz). It is probably dark, and nothing of distant but intense.

[bkgangstapianist]

im connected to him... he taught sal mosca, who taught my teacher guitar and piano who is teaching me piano.

[317East32nd]

I dunno how to react to the "gangsta" part. . . but I do have a recording of Sal Mosca playing piano with Warne Marsh at the Village Vanguard in '81, and it's great stuff.

[bkgangstapianist]

im not much of gangsta.. thas jus immature baby stuff. I guess. Well yea, Ill check it out because the only recordings I have a Mosca are on his site and from a CD live in Valhalla.

[jandlefob]

freaking awsome i just closed my eyes and he took me through a story 5 stars

[pianojazz66]

Each pianoplayer must love Tristano, one of the most underestimated jazzpianists. Thanks very much for posting this great solo of the master.

[baloniousdunc]

how many bass players does it take to screw in a light bulb - none Lennie does it with his left hand.

Thanks for this posting.

[Hgclaw]

Tristano was phenomenal. At times, his splayed-fingers right-hand style sounds like Monk -- at least to me.  Thank you for posting this. I wish I could walk my basslines in this manner.

[Aiden057]

Funny you mention Monk. I have a radio interview of Lennie and he says that Monk was one the "dumbest" pianists ever! It was a radio interview on WKCR-FM, I don't recall the year. It's an interview with Lennie and Connie.

[Hgclaw]

That is funny.

[revdolaf]

Wonderful comment - I totally agree, and that's why I love Monk.....ROFL

[bertdockx]

that hurts a bit, since they're my two favourite jazz-pianoplayers. i guess lennie was the dumb fuck when he said that. he was very smart in many other respects (is that correct english? i'm belgian) though. love'em both dearly.

[Aiden057]

Yeah, i don't know why he dissed Monk like that, I think it was because Monk didn't have the kind of disciplined chops that Lennie respected. Personally, I've always found Monk's playing interesting.

[titicaca321]

It's not necessarily an insult.

[blackiekakkie]

that's true. anyway, one quote out of context says nothing. i think it's weird though to find people fighting over monk and tristano, as if it's impossible to love them both. i do, they're both unique, brilliant, uncompromising, eccentric, lyrical, addictive. allthough it's true that monk got more recognition during his lifetime than lennie, they both got their share of unjustified criticism, and still do. a lot of musicians i know, can't really understand me loving either one of them so dearly.

[blackiekakkie]

(by the way, titicaca321, i'm the same guy as bertdockx, this is my girlfriend's account)

[mrpossibilities]

I have this CD. I think the best song in my opinion is "Imagination". Beautyfull bluesy down to earth solo Phenomenal.

[aaronhillmusic]

I just finished reading a great biography of Lennie by Eunmi Shim called, "Lennie Tristano: His Life and Music," which even includes some transcriptions. The book talks a lot about how much Lennie hated dealing with the music industry (in particular club owners), and makes you question how much who the industry promotes has to do with who we think of as "legends."

[jostber]

Tristano rules! Love that piano.

[PabloVestory]

OAUAh! Thanks Lenny and 317East32nd. I'm some pissed off because I'd readen frecuently that Tristano's style was some cold, cerebral, distant, and that kind of bla, bla.. I had not heard nor paid him too much attention, probably by that idea in my mind. WELL, there is nothing like hear, see and judge oneself. Cold this? ha! Darn critics..:)

[demandango]

wow.

[stephanefr]

Le professeur dans ses oeuvres. Respect !

[gothamgal]

Can't believe this is here. Thank you for Posting!!!

[rosolino38]

Beautiful.Thanks .

[cesarbraga77]

There's this book "Solo Jazz Piano" by Neil Olmstead, published by Berklee Press that shows those techniques and mr. Olmstead addresses them to this legend of Jazz Piano, Lennie Tristano. I'd never got the chance to hear him, given it's hard to find Jazz CD's where I am. Now, I can have my reference and I'm sure digging this master more than any other I've seen so far.

[KenSG85]

What is the cause to his blind? I am so glad he can play it so well although he is blind. Thats is what i call play by feeling. Just like Great beethoveN

[Zosh1]

He was also the teacher of Lee Konitz and Wayme Marshe.

[KenSG85]

Is he blind man ? God bless him with such a talent . .

[317East32nd]

Yes, Lennie was more or less completely blind by age nine or ten. I just didn't want to define him as a "blind pianist." It is quite remarkable, though. He also played drums, saxophone, clarinet and tenor guitar. Of all musicians I've been exposed to, he is probably my favorite.

[paullongball]

I have been waiting so long for Lennie to show up here, I have searched for him from the first day! What a joyous Thanksgiving, I am very grateful! Thank You 317East32nd, Thank youtube! RIP Lennie, love always

[dabiribd]

Thanks 317East32nd and many thanks to you paul for sharing this awesome legendary piece. Ben