The Amazing Hands of Tom Brier

[19Summers94]

Amazing!! who could dislike this??? =)

[Sl33qy]

yeah the hands are moving so fast, but the awesomeness are not the hands, its his head and brain!

[manynyful]

i think i just wet myself... sorry guys. wow he is good. inasne

[tazp123]

Happy Tom, why is he so happy?

[nubianbroheim]

Would like to see some of his music as the backing track to old Charlie Chaplin type grain films.

[Keeper1st]

@nubianbroheim Another pianist I know who can be seen on my channel, Frederick Hodges, actually does backing for silent films. In fact, he was the pianist in the recent Google doodle for Chaplin's birthday.

[jamocha101]

You live to make the world jealous.

[pathologicaldoubt]

a player this good deserves a better piano

[Keeper1st]

@pathologicaldoubt I do have another video of him playing this same tune ("Razor Blades") on a Yamaha grand.

[farruca111]

この人初見でエアプラットホーム弾くんだよね…



[NetrexCO]

Usually the right hand is the easiest one to control and therefore more notes are hit but with Tom Brier i think his best with his leftie :D

[DeDroa]

Wonderful

[entheomycophagist]

Great player, but must youdo the whole thing at triple-forte?

[Keeper1st]

@entheomycophagist Did you not hear the quiet Trio section? Granted, the camera's gain control kept the volume constant, but you can tell from the timbre that the playing was soft in that section. But only the first time through. The tune is called "Razor Blades" after all -- not "Fluffy Pillows".

[gabbosuares]

@iorost lol!

[Henry1993bc]

he is the scott joplin of our time, if not, better, a tom brier of our time just a shame music has pretty much been replaced by computers haha

[CronoNes]

Just wondering, Adam Swanson's version sounds pretty different, is this the real one? I love this piece, truly masterful! Man i need to get it somehow =/, but i don't see anything on ebay, do i need to contact him personally?

[Keeper1st]

@CronoNes Well, neither Tom nor Adam play it exactly as it's written on the page (Tom never plays anything the same way twice). Tom sells his folios directly, yes.

[baslerleckerli]

Hi, is there any way I can purchase "razor blades" in germany? amazon.de has a couple of Tom Brier's songs but not that one? thanks

[Keeper1st]

@baslerleckerli Razor Blades is in Tom's second music folio. I'll send you contact information if you want to purchase it.

[GTAdministrator]

wow, I wish I could play the piano and play it like that!

[tdub1941]

I'm kinda late to the party on this video, but I gotta get my 2 cents in.

Yes, Mr. Brier is one amazing pianist. I get a big charge out of hearing him perform no matter what kind of piano he might be playing.

RagJazzMonkey Tom

[ReturnOfTheStienway]

THIS DUDE IS A FREKIN GENIUS!

[memroy321]

this is amazing

[mynameistofu4]

Whoaaaaaaaaa~! Bravo!! ♫♪

That must be fun, to play so fast. 8D I think my brain would explode if I tried to do that!!

[Huffinearts]

His fingers are like sizzlin' hot chicken legs breading and all.

[notbuster126]

O___O if you had just kept it zoomed in on his hands I would have told you the video was being played in fast forward .. lol holy crud that guy is amazing...

[Keeper1st]

@notbuster126 Look at the video response I posted ("More of the Amazing Hands of Tom Brier"). I play a video of him doing "Redneck Rag" at half speed, then I play it again at full speed. It totally looks like fast-forward when you do that, I noticed!

[Megabine]

Pure ragtimer.

In what age did he start playing piano? O.O

[Keeper1st]

@Megabine He started at age 5.

[dynamicwolf]

That figures. All the great ones start young. ;)

[Squarerig]

I've heard of Deus ex machina but Tom Brier is Deus on the Keyboard.Sooo impressive and can only be followed by the ear;his hands are too quick for the eye,or at least my eyes.Thank you for this wonderful performance

[Squarerig]

Why can't "we" all enjoy the amazing mastery of Tom Brier without descending into personal invective and insult? I am no piano player but,with Kruschev-who he?-I know what is good and I know what I like.Brier is absolutely first class,even when "mashing" the keys!

[ben1996123]

LOL it looks it looks like hes just mashing random keys!!!!!

[juliar65]

This piece was not intended to be classic ragtime, of which Tom is a MASTER. It is a piano cutting contest piece which requires great dexterity. I have never seen anyone else play octave runs at this tempo. Watch some of Tom's other videos before you play critic. Not only does he play this quickly, but he plays it cleanly with no fluffs or errors. If you can play better than this I would love to hear you. Those who can, do; those who cannot criticize.

[peepeevagi]

No i cant play better than that, i play something else >.>, but nobody's criticism matters more than that of your audience. LOTS of other people can play music this fast. He's done nothing other than play up to bar.

[juliar65]

Well, you are right about the audience, they vote with their feet and people flock to hear Tom play at Ragtime festivals. He has composed more than 200 pieces of ragtime music and is a master of the genre. Believe me he does a lot more than just play fast. Don't judge the book by reading one page. I do hope you get a chance to see him in person some day. He is an amazing musician.

[peepeevagi]

I've allready seen the master of ragtime play, and he cant be beat. It's his job, but whatever, he's the best. This guy.... he's getting there.

Personally though, i like Tim Buie. He's cool, but not the best.

[Keeper1st]

Tom "got there" before he was even a teenager, and is now far beyond "there". By comparison, Tim Buie is a talentless hack.

[peepeevagi]

Brier doesn't amaze me like the rest do. Run of the mill good.  It's just.... boring.

Buie is the kinda guy you'd buy a beer.

He's just plain damn cool.

[KawhackitaRag]

OK man... I think you ought to get one of Tom's CD's (such as "Rising Star" or "Rewind") and then get the sheet music to the tunes he plays and COMPARE. A lot of them such as "Corn Shucks" and "Squirrel Food Rag" can be found on various online sheet music sites. You will find that Tom not only does not play the tunes exactly as written, but the stuff he adds is very AUTHENTIC. Rod Miller is a very clean pianist and one of the best of the 1950's style honky-tonk pianists. He is also a nice guy.

[KawhackitaRag]

HOWEVER, Rod Miller does not have what I would call an authentic vintage ragtime style. Tom does. That is not to belittle either man, but still, given the relatively few, lo-fi recordings of old ragtime pianists that still exist, (not counting piano rolls), Tom has done remarkably well in creating a style that does not resort to honky-tonk cliches like glissandos and simple arpeggios for flashiness. I enjoy the recordings of both people, but I personally like Tom more.

[KawhackitaRag]

PLEASE define what "the bar" is. I would say that about 75% (or more) of so-called "ragtime" pianists don't even know what an authentic ragtime style IS. Most people who play ragtime piano today either: 1. play the tune exactly as written; 2. improvise on it in a jazz (not ragtime) style; or 3. ad-lib in their own manner, with little knowledge of authenticity. While all three approaches are valid and have their place, props MUST be given for the few who have toiled to achieve authenticity!!!

[Bigmalletrs]

Your sir, are a fucking idiot. If you cannot see that this a is a master of the art or piano and ragtime, you are blind, Helen.

[BiigBuuh]

can someone tell me where i can get the sheet of this piece?

[Keeper1st]

"Razor Blades" is in The Music of Tom Brier, Volume 2. It contains 16 tunes, and he sells it for $20, I believe. If you're interested, I can get you ordering information.

[scottjop656]

yes could i plaese have the ordering info? he is a genious and i at least want to try some of his music...

[onnet7]

I am speechless. Utter brilliance.

[BabyGraeme]

When I first started watching this, I thought to myself that it wasn't particularly great. Sure, his hands move fast, but quick fingers don't make a rag. However, as the piece progressed into the second, slower section, then back into the faster part, it all made sense. What was a flurry of notes and chords previously now was part of an ingenious progression. So that, to me, is a testament to how video, especially incomplete video, doesn't do justice for incredible people like Tom.

[BabyGraeme]

I have much respect for the talent and discipline of people like Tom, and he's a great inspiration for my own rag-playing, so keep it up!

[Keeper1st]

He definitely should be seen in person!

[Toudreyte6501]

I play piano since 12/13 years, and i think that never i can play the part at medium speed...

Maybe the low but not the medium

[theasder]

Sounds great!

Tom Brier is absolutely *amazing* °_°

[tippy400]

i think i just gave up on music all together Oo

[Maturkus]

Those are indeed som amazing hands.

[Enderjim]

This piece it's fantastic! The chord progression is amazing!

It would be nice to see a complete video of this.

[Keeper1st]

There is a video posted by tdub1941 of Adam Swanson playing this. Search "razor blades swanson" and you'll find it. I used to have a video of Tom playing this all the way through, recording into a wax cylinder (and then the playback of the recording), but the owner of the phonograph took offense, so I removed the video.

[Keeper1st]

oh my mistake -- the video of Adam Swanson playing this was posted by solong36, and isn't quite the whole thing, as it's missing the intro.

[75egcg]

this video is so awesome it gave me a nose bleed

[limbojacko]

Normally I dislike songs that are "Fast for the sake of being fast", but I thoroughly enjoyed this. It feels like Razor Blades is really just suited to be played quickly(Provided you can play it right, I suppose x3)

[Ringo521]

I'm a big Tom Bryer fan, I loved Rewind and I hope he makes another album soon!!!!

[Keeper1st]

He and the Raspberry Jam Band were planning to record an album this year. I haven't heard yet whether they have yet or not. I'll see them again on Memorial Day weekend.

[juliar65]

In fact, Ron, barring unforeseen incidents, I am supposed to pick up the completed CDs today. These will be available at the Ragtime Corner Memorial Day weekend as well as by mail order. There are some amazing piano choruses played by Tom on Hindustan, Happy Feet, and other tunes.

[juliar65]

Tom is currently working on another CD. It should be completed by the West Coast Ragtime festival. In the meantime, the Raspberry Jam Band CD is currently available. Tom is the pianist with this group and has some fantastic solo choruses on this CD.

[wAtErsEvEn480]

This guy ROCKS

[Pokenerd132]

THIS IS AWESOME (the song is 2)

[wAtErsEvEn480]

uR righTa ;D

[ben1996123]

AWESOME! AND WHAT A BEARD! razor blades actually suits this composition for some reason...

[Keeper1st]

'cause it's quite a cutting-contest sort of tune, perhaps. You can hear Adam Swanson playing it if you search "razor blades swanson". He's only the second person besides Tom that I've heard play this solo. The other was Keith Taylor. I think Eric Marchese did duets with Tom on this one several years ago.

[skitzitilby]

my Mum can play like this--i have watched in awe all my life ---i can play to a degree but not as well as her.

[Ringo521]

Please ask Tom to record all of the video game songs he does and to sell them on Itunes, I would LOVE to buy them!!!

[waldenhouse]

Absolutely Brilliant! - Insure your fingers, mate.

[TomThaom]

Wow . My Name is Tom Breier . It Good that there is some1 SO GOOD from the Breir / Breier Family (The Famus) in the world that so amazing =]

Anyway im 13 years old from Israel ' Haifa

[stienwayz]

Badass.

[myslnat1]

It is reaaly amazing technic!!!!!!!!!I very like this!Bravo!!!5*****

[fluffy11360]

I can't do that

[realmsoffire]

Awesome!

[KoopaKool]

Mr Brier is awesome. The nerdy guy from Walt Disney also rocks. He's been playing ragtime day after day for over 20 years. His bass lines are much more syncopated than Tom's, it's not necessarily better but I tought it was insane!

[Morahman7vnNo2]

I think Toms going to do for Ragtime Piano, what Willie "The Lion" Smith Did For Stride Piano, Take It TO Its Limit!

[NeotyKairyu]

Well... now... wow.

[lenflower1]

that has to be the fastest one ive seen so far!

great job and wow!

[themadison7]

Julia, Shirl here WOW you were not exagerating...this guy is amazing alright!

incredible

[juliar65]

You have to see this in person to get the full impact of the difficulty of this piece. His hands are a blur, not only on this video, but when you watch him in person as well.

[Keeper1st]

Hi Julia! This comments reminds me of the story you told of when Tom sat down to play when the Auburn Symphony Orchestra was taking a break -- the deafening sound of music stands being lowered so they could watch in amazement!

[Rhaal92]

I truly can't think how much he must have been playing to achieve such levels...

[juliar65]

Tom has been playing since he was 3 or 4. He has an amazing talent in that he not only can play difficult numbers like this, but also he plays all kinds of music with great understanding. He also plays well with others!

[pepenomedestormento]

Great!!!!!!

[nickrock23]

now that was SICK ! ! ! !

did you even miss one note !?? damm im jealous

[TheKnabe]

Infectious!!!

[oroksh32]

Impressive to say the least. You play at an extremely fast pace with incredible accuracy. Great job.

[CJohnston079]

Excellent playing and an even better composition.

5/5

[umutcanyildirim]

wow...

[superherojim]

That was a good song..

[aaron12345432]

where do I buy tom's folio?

[Keeper1st]

He'll be at the West Coast Ragtime Festival in Sacramento next weekend, of course... Otherwise, I sent you his contact info.

[Keeper1st]

Tom has a second folio out now, and this tune ("Razor Blades") is in it.

[sigmund1898]

I'm very impressed. This is quite possibly the best video on youtube concerning piano speed and accuracy. You must be ambidextrous!

[photonsoup]

Fantastic. Great speed, accuracy, and an awesome composition in general.

[KawhackitaRag]

I think the genius of this piece is that not just that it's a fast and hot rag, but that he has written a lovely, lyrical, and optomistic trio melody as a contrast to the speed and bombast of the other 3 themes (though they all have plenty of melody as well)... also that D strain is a real barnburner.

I think this one is is in Tom's new folio, so everyone who wants a copy should buy the folio from Tom!

[aaron12345432]

Great performance, I wish I was there...

[Keeper1st]

Well, I shot about two hours of video, so there's a lot more where this came from... Slowly but surely, they'll get uploaded.

[aaron12345432]

First view!