I still like the sound of piano in a jazz combo -- it gives it an orchestral fullness that sits well with me. The same is true of the rock I listen to preferring bands that feature keyboards in some capacity.
I think I know what he means. On guitar or vibes, you might play the the third and seventh of the chord and one or two additional altered tones. On a piano you're more likely to play the entire chord scale in your voicing. I can see how a soloist would feel like there's nothing left for them to do harmonically.
Sonny did some of his greatest work w/bass & drums, freeing him even more to move the upper harmonic content of his lines virtually anywhere. A pianist can so easily play such harmonically complete substitutions that everyone must fit into his direction. The 'right' pianist can leave all that alone, & play as sparsely as any guitarist, but you might have to ask him to. I don't think Sonny likes to have to ask. Piano didn't seem to limit Coltrane!
I personally dont like the hard piano sound in jazz bands. dont get me wrong, the muscian can be awesome, like monk, but the piano sound is for me to "sterile" you cant slide into notes or swirl in notes like on the sax, trumpet or guitar. the piano is the king of classical music i dont see it in a "dirty" jazz situation. like i said: dont get me wrong, i am a piano player myself and monk is obe of my favorite musicians, but in jazz the guitar and the horn instruments are king. for myself :)
The beauty of subjectivity is that one can respectfully hold another view from a brilliant musician like Sonny and not be wrong. There's truth in what he says, but a coin has two sides, a swinging gate goes both ways. Some piano players comp marvelously and sparsely and don't dominate in any way. (Of course, Sonny graciously acknowledges that).
He's right about guitar, but when the guitar solos, at times there can seem to be a lack of harmonic richness that a piano can provide in the same role.
Hahaha, that's interesting... Joe Pass said something similar in his video - something to the effect of "when considering melodic approach to turnarounds you had better defer to what the piano player is doing coz he's got 88 keys......"
I know what Sonny means about the dominance of the piano....and the lesser dominace of a guitar player....both are providing a harmonic background, but the guitar takes up less soundspace. He likes to do his owm harmonic thinking and have the freedom to interpret it and/or the freedom to leave it too in places. Believe me...Sonny knows the changes of the tunes he plays....doesnt need a piano player to feed it to him.
Very true. But even more than that, is a thing (I like to call) musical sensitivity. Musicians that are aware of their fellow musicians. Sometimes it's more important to feature your fellow musician than yourself, and the instinct for know when and how is the gift that every musician should search for - IMO.
I agree with Sonny's choice of guitar. In fact ,when Bobby Broom or Peter Bernstein can't make it I'm ready! Smile!
jazz1bro 2 months ago
fascinating : ))
SIRONEDRAGON 4 months ago
I still like the sound of piano in a jazz combo -- it gives it an orchestral fullness that sits well with me. The same is true of the rock I listen to preferring bands that feature keyboards in some capacity.
parzooman 4 months ago
I think I know what he means. On guitar or vibes, you might play the the third and seventh of the chord and one or two additional altered tones. On a piano you're more likely to play the entire chord scale in your voicing. I can see how a soloist would feel like there's nothing left for them to do harmonically.
Modes9 5 months ago 2
that's a really cool thing to hear as a guitar player who has always been a bit jealous of some of the voicings that are available on piano.
rillloudmother 7 months ago
AMEN
76Soco 11 months ago
Why even ask "why a guitar?" Guitar is one of the best instruments ever created.
nicnut210 1 year ago
Sonny did some of his greatest work w/bass & drums, freeing him even more to move the upper harmonic content of his lines virtually anywhere. A pianist can so easily play such harmonically complete substitutions that everyone must fit into his direction. The 'right' pianist can leave all that alone, & play as sparsely as any guitarist, but you might have to ask him to. I don't think Sonny likes to have to ask. Piano didn't seem to limit Coltrane!
lazur1 1 year ago
@lazur1 Even Coltrane stop using Piano. HE was looking for more space.
TheFlutevisions 1 year ago
I personally dont like the hard piano sound in jazz bands. dont get me wrong, the muscian can be awesome, like monk, but the piano sound is for me to "sterile" you cant slide into notes or swirl in notes like on the sax, trumpet or guitar. the piano is the king of classical music i dont see it in a "dirty" jazz situation. like i said: dont get me wrong, i am a piano player myself and monk is obe of my favorite musicians, but in jazz the guitar and the horn instruments are king. for myself :)
BeatBay 1 year ago
The beauty of subjectivity is that one can respectfully hold another view from a brilliant musician like Sonny and not be wrong. There's truth in what he says, but a coin has two sides, a swinging gate goes both ways. Some piano players comp marvelously and sparsely and don't dominate in any way. (Of course, Sonny graciously acknowledges that).
He's right about guitar, but when the guitar solos, at times there can seem to be a lack of harmonic richness that a piano can provide in the same role.
pyannaguy 1 year ago
Thank you Mr. Rollins!
savida34e 2 years ago
this is exactly why i like "the bridge" so much.
bkjbs762 2 years ago
Hahaha, that's interesting... Joe Pass said something similar in his video - something to the effect of "when considering melodic approach to turnarounds you had better defer to what the piano player is doing coz he's got 88 keys......"
TaipeiDawg 2 years ago
Sonny, Jim, Ben, Bob:
PLEASE REUNITE!
xnophloglas 2 years ago
I know what Sonny means about the dominance of the piano....and the lesser dominace of a guitar player....both are providing a harmonic background, but the guitar takes up less soundspace. He likes to do his owm harmonic thinking and have the freedom to interpret it and/or the freedom to leave it too in places. Believe me...Sonny knows the changes of the tunes he plays....doesnt need a piano player to feed it to him.
lpsling 2 years ago
Great "musician". I know people who are great players of the guitar, but are awful musicians.
macflyfilm 2 years ago 4
You can say that about any instrument. There are plenty of excellent concert band musicians that can't improvise to save their lives.
juanorod 2 years ago
Very true. But even more than that, is a thing (I like to call) musical sensitivity. Musicians that are aware of their fellow musicians. Sometimes it's more important to feature your fellow musician than yourself, and the instinct for know when and how is the gift that every musician should search for - IMO.
macflyfilm 2 years ago 6
great, this is "jazz video guy academy" - Thank you soooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!
0tt0ni0 2 years ago
interesting
oober349 2 years ago
Cool Video
fredloses 2 years ago