I have always liked this tune in F minor. Lennie became disillusioned with the commercialization of Jazz. He was way ahead of his time and never appreciated. I knew a couple of his students in Brooklyn. They were very good too. I am a fan of his concepts in music.
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
I love this guy's music and I can't believe audiences and critics at the time couldn't handle it. Art Tatum also left a lot of people scratching their heads.
@Fred Hest1 You say Miles never cited Lennie as an influence? Your damn right he listened to plenty of lennie in those days and got a lot of it from Mingus playing with Lennie. Lennie divoted his life and teaching to the expression of feeling not technique and was wrongly dubbed as "cool". He was one of the hottest players around. I can't take any more from all of you know it alls.
Come on guys, Lennie's a genius, the best of the best. But why all the Bill Evans bashing? Bill definitely checked out Lennie, and he played a ton of hip shit all the time. Both pianists are among the best ever; tasteful, satisfying, intellectual, and all-around beautiful.
@sbjforever if u wanna a melody get a singer.. and of course the melody is always there and absolutely clear.. this guy is much ahead of other guys who just know the right people. or else they had luck to make the cold sound cool..BUT THEY WILL NEVER COMPARE TO THIS GUY ! :)
All these years of listening to this genius play and this is the first time I have actually seen him perform, here on You Tube. Lennie is hands down the best for creativity and originality. Critics be damned.
Check Everybody Digs Bill Evans. The opening track (Minority) is proof enough of his strong linear concept (and mother-fucker swing).
He could burn on straight-ahead music...just got into the interplay thing and it became less emphasized. But he was good enough to fill in with the Tristano band when Lennie was busy. What else should be said?
(also, he was never shy about admitting to Lennie's influence...or Lee and Warne more specifically)
Lennie was mmost certainly known among musicians nationally. His contributions were phenomenal but he never seemed to receive credit. Lenni experimented with Free Jazz 10 years befor Ornette coleman invented it.WhenLennie played "cool" they called it cold. When Miles played cool they called it The Birth of the Cool. Even Miles admitted Lennies influence. Lennie never seemed to make it with the Critics who,until this day stillrefuse to recognize his genius.
@jrv1a2 It seems not even possible to copy him stroke by stroke, as some attempts here on youtube show. Light years away. It is easier to copy Oscar Peterson.
There is a difference. There's OVERRATED and there's NOT WELL KNOWN.
Bill is nowhere NEAR overrated because the praise that he gets is thusly backed up within his music. Lennie Tristano is NOT WELL KNOWN, which takes nothing away from his music. His contrabution still stands, it simply means that he wasn't well known.
Simular to the state of Coltrane compared to Hank Mobley or George Coleman. ALL monsters sax players, but by no means we should cut another to build the other up.
Bill Evan's music is very beautiful, touching, sensitive. It is his approach to chords and his over all approach to the piano and his touch that gives him that instant 'emotional' appeal.
Lennie Tristano played lines better than Parker, as apparently did Bud Powell (Tristano & Powell were buddies too!)
In terms of power of improvised lines Tristano is hands down winner. But in terms of appeal then its Bill. I think that the Duke was better than both of 'em! Such taste! its all taste for me!
I agree with you. Bill Evans is, in my opinion, puts the most emotion into his music, along with amazing imagery. However, for solo piano, in terms of lines and being a genius, i think Art Tatum wins out.
Oh, both Bill and Tristano have their musical personalities fully developed. Its like you say you don't need to cut people up to build another up. But its easy for people to exaggerate someone importance, like it has been done with Evans... maybe a little healthy pruning is in order. But no reason to pull the whole plant out!
I don't think it's possible to "exaggerate the importance" of Bill Evans. Just note his profound influnece on players like Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and even younger players like Brad Mehldau. Bill was simply the most important jazz pianist of the 20th century, PERIOD!
That is just simply not true. I don't know how much you know about music but bill never played such complex chords as lennie does in this vid. Nor with the same intensity. But its not about that: Lennie influenced more important, earlier musicians. Bill was fine stylist but his claim to fame is using 4th chords. he plays pretty, but he is not real "gigant of jazz". A pretty face witha nice touch = palatableto non jazz fans.
RE my background. 40 yrs + jazz musician w/Master's degree. I've played with many "jazz giants" (George Coleman, Ira Sullivan, etc.). First, I don't know what you mean by "4th chords". If you mean built on 4ths, that's Mccoy Tyners claim to fame. Lennie was good but for many reasons no B.E. To say Bill was a "pretty face", not a "jazz giant" is ludicrous. 100 yrs hence when history of 20th jazz is written Bill will have a chapter. Tristano will be a footnote. @jazzbox111
@FredHes1 I took my first Bass lesson in a clothes closet at Birdland the Jazz corner of the world, so what!
That was my intoduction to Ind and Tristano. I wonder if in your 40 years youv'e tried to keep up with what Lennie was doing with the rythym. To say Lennie's contribution is a mere footnote is ludicrous.You say Miles never cited Lennie as an influence He surely noted in his comments on Ornette 's "free jazz" that "Lennie was playing that shit years ago".
See? You are a liar and you know nothing: Bill used 4ths on a certain 1959 album, waaaay before McCoy and that was his claim to fame as everybody raved about the "colours" this is what got him into the lime light. Lennie was better at playing lines than parker - I guess that is a footnote to some. Get a real education you phoney.
So you're talking about Bill's playing on Mile's "Kind Of Blue" album, especially his solo on "So What" where he did indeed play some parallel 4ths in Dorian mode. However, he never played that way in his own trios. In fact, he was asked years later by Dave Leibman why he never played those changes any more and Bill replied "Not lyrical enough". You really need to get up on your jazz history unless you just enjoy making a fool of yourself!
Yeah, but the point is is that thats how he became popular. You think there were not players as good or better than him around that just simply didn't get that chance? Go and suck his d&*k if you like him so much you creepy idol worshipper.
My friend, I would love to continue this battle of wits with you but that would be unfair as between us there is only a wit and a half (you can decide who's the half wit). RE your vulgar reference to oral sex, I'm really not into necrophilia. BTW, your post of one year ago stating that Duke Ellington was a better pianist than either Bill or Lennie really demonstrates your complete ignorance. Adios Amigo.
@FredHes1 That is a ridiculous statement ! Correct regarding Bill Evans' influence on the post-1957 scene. But 20th century? Earl Hines, Duke (highly original & influential), Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Errol Garner. Great individualists (as was Tristano), all of whom would undoubtedly have been acknowledged by Bill.
ghostofdolphy: Lennie's contributions were enormous. He was certainly not unknown to musicians nationally. He was first to experiment with Free jazz 10 years before Ornette. Mulligan will tell you he is Birth of the Cool and Miles admits his influence. Lennie never connected with the Critics who still do not acknowledge his genius.
I know what you mean. Lennie is the link from Bud, to serious jazz education. Bill is only theory, that you might as well get anywhere else, drugs and nerves. Lennie's theory goes deeper, and has a heart. If it wasn't for Lennie, I'd spend my life doing nothing, or just kill myself. The word is development.
How could one say such a rude thing? Bill Evans is absolutly fantastic as is Lennie. You can't overrate a giant cat like Evans. They just got both different conceptions of music.
I have always liked this tune in F minor. Lennie became disillusioned with the commercialization of Jazz. He was way ahead of his time and never appreciated. I knew a couple of his students in Brooklyn. They were very good too. I am a fan of his concepts in music.
Flextones 1 week ago
Superb ! A true genious in history of jazz.
Thanks a lot
123must 1 month ago
Love what he does at 2:53.Tempo change,wonderful!
ack848 3 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
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
Dfrankjazz 4 months ago
wonderful-
phasyf 4 months ago
Absolutely fantastic.
JHL 5 months ago
wa only the sound of the piano gave me shivers.. <6
BeBeAyumiReturns 6 months ago
Lennie Tristano ~ You Don't Know What Love Is ~ Copenhagen ~ 1965
avivagabriel 7 months ago
I love this guy's music and I can't believe audiences and critics at the time couldn't handle it. Art Tatum also left a lot of people scratching their heads.
Modes9 8 months ago in playlist Lennie Tristano
we know what lennie contributed .massive is the word that comes to mind.make no mistake miles. ornette.and the rest knew as well.many thanks.
exjazzbassbaz 10 months ago
This guy is one of the hottest, coolest and swingest guys of ever heard.. His knowledge is just... unpredictable
alexjrmarino 10 months ago
Absolutely perfectionist genus!
2010521000 10 months ago
BEAUTIFUL.....Totally ROCKS!!!!
worsley1000 11 months ago
Fantastic!
Bruningable 11 months ago
Brilliant!
MrDevonpianochris 11 months ago
Hi Jazzfriends, I'm happy to invite you to enjoy a new free walking bassline clinic, type in "Dave Frank" bassline on YT
I guarantee an educational and entertaining time:)
Blessings and keep swingin!
God bless you Lennie!
We remember you with gratitude, love, and smiles.
Dfrankjazz 1 year ago
you tell me who in the 20th century knewmore about harmony than tristano. A-holes!
TheToocold 1 year ago
@TheToocold Igo Stravinsky and Bela Bartok to name a couple!!
FredHes1 11 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@TheToocold Igor Stravinsky and Bela Bartok to name a couple....
FredHes1 11 months ago
...also this was the REAL Thelonious Monk it seems...fascinating !
Mazurka1001 1 year ago
@Fred Hest1 You say Miles never cited Lennie as an influence? Your damn right he listened to plenty of lennie in those days and got a lot of it from Mingus playing with Lennie. Lennie divoted his life and teaching to the expression of feeling not technique and was wrongly dubbed as "cool". He was one of the hottest players around. I can't take any more from all of you know it alls.
jrv1a2 1 year ago
Anyone know if Con Con from Maelstrom is a contrafact? if so on what tune?
ChasinTranes 1 year ago
Lenny rox.....
kevinherbert 1 year ago
Wonderful as always... I'd expect nothing less than precision and exquisite perfection from this performer.
thessalonian71 1 year ago
to everyone, stop fighting for searching the best pianist player!!! they all good... and dont forget Petrucciani...
;-)
giordanomc1 1 year ago
Absolutely incredible.
UncleRoha 1 year ago
Come on guys, Lennie's a genius, the best of the best. But why all the Bill Evans bashing? Bill definitely checked out Lennie, and he played a ton of hip shit all the time. Both pianists are among the best ever; tasteful, satisfying, intellectual, and all-around beautiful.
JacobShulman 1 year ago
@sbjforever if u wanna a melody get a singer.. and of course the melody is always there and absolutely clear.. this guy is much ahead of other guys who just know the right people. or else they had luck to make the cold sound cool..BUT THEY WILL NEVER COMPARE TO THIS GUY ! :)
alexjrmarino 1 year ago
Hot Damn, I love a piano.
JazzmanJibilla 1 year ago
Comment removed
sbjforever 1 year ago
@sbjforever the melody is there........just listen.......
gwalkron 1 year ago
@sbjforever Can't believe someone saying something as stupid as this...
coppens 1 year ago
Comment removed
sbjforever 1 year ago
@sbjforever
You want the straight melody, listen to Sinatra.
Jazzanswer 1 year ago
Fantastic knowledge of harmony...
I wish I could improvise harmonizing like him...
pippomusic 1 year ago
wonderfull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
claitontesch 2 years ago
Un genioooooooo!!!
JLorz84 2 years ago
All these years of listening to this genius play and this is the first time I have actually seen him perform, here on You Tube. Lennie is hands down the best for creativity and originality. Critics be damned.
woodlawn4623 2 years ago 2
wow......
kevinherbert 3 years ago
About Bill Evans' linear playing:
Check Everybody Digs Bill Evans. The opening track (Minority) is proof enough of his strong linear concept (and mother-fucker swing).
He could burn on straight-ahead music...just got into the interplay thing and it became less emphasized. But he was good enough to fill in with the Tristano band when Lennie was busy. What else should be said?
(also, he was never shy about admitting to Lennie's influence...or Lee and Warne more specifically)
wtfwtfwtf123 3 years ago
@wtfwtfwtf123
How right you are!!
FredHes1 1 year ago
Lennie could be difficult but was always sensitive and he produced many competent students who achieved genius status themselves.
jrv1a2 3 years ago 8
Lennie was mmost certainly known among musicians nationally. His contributions were phenomenal but he never seemed to receive credit. Lenni experimented with Free Jazz 10 years befor Ornette coleman invented it.WhenLennie played "cool" they called it cold. When Miles played cool they called it The Birth of the Cool. Even Miles admitted Lennies influence. Lennie never seemed to make it with the Critics who,until this day stillrefuse to recognize his genius.
jrv1a2 3 years ago 22
@jrv1a2
Don't ever remember Miles citing Lennie as an influence
FredHes1 1 year ago
@jrv1a2 : Those critics are nonplaying assholes and are totally clueless. Go review some fast-food you slime balls.
cjenkinsjazz 1 year ago
@jrv1a2 It seems not even possible to copy him stroke by stroke, as some attempts here on youtube show. Light years away. It is easier to copy Oscar Peterson.
zzausel 5 months ago
Lennie Tristano is the best for me now. thanks youtube!!!
corrector14 3 years ago 2
There is a difference. There's OVERRATED and there's NOT WELL KNOWN.
Bill is nowhere NEAR overrated because the praise that he gets is thusly backed up within his music. Lennie Tristano is NOT WELL KNOWN, which takes nothing away from his music. His contrabution still stands, it simply means that he wasn't well known.
Simular to the state of Coltrane compared to Hank Mobley or George Coleman. ALL monsters sax players, but by no means we should cut another to build the other up.
ghostofdolphy 3 years ago 3
Bill Evan's music is very beautiful, touching, sensitive. It is his approach to chords and his over all approach to the piano and his touch that gives him that instant 'emotional' appeal.
Lennie Tristano played lines better than Parker, as apparently did Bud Powell (Tristano & Powell were buddies too!)
In terms of power of improvised lines Tristano is hands down winner. But in terms of appeal then its Bill. I think that the Duke was better than both of 'em! Such taste! its all taste for me!
jazzbox111 3 years ago
I agree with you. Bill Evans is, in my opinion, puts the most emotion into his music, along with amazing imagery. However, for solo piano, in terms of lines and being a genius, i think Art Tatum wins out.
thelifeofdoton 2 years ago
Oh, both Bill and Tristano have their musical personalities fully developed. Its like you say you don't need to cut people up to build another up. But its easy for people to exaggerate someone importance, like it has been done with Evans... maybe a little healthy pruning is in order. But no reason to pull the whole plant out!
jazzbox111 3 years ago
@jazzbox111
I don't think it's possible to "exaggerate the importance" of Bill Evans. Just note his profound influnece on players like Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and even younger players like Brad Mehldau. Bill was simply the most important jazz pianist of the 20th century, PERIOD!
FredHes1 2 years ago
That is just simply not true. I don't know how much you know about music but bill never played such complex chords as lennie does in this vid. Nor with the same intensity. But its not about that: Lennie influenced more important, earlier musicians. Bill was fine stylist but his claim to fame is using 4th chords. he plays pretty, but he is not real "gigant of jazz". A pretty face witha nice touch = palatableto non jazz fans.
jazzbox111 2 years ago
Comment removed
FredHes1 2 years ago
RE my background. 40 yrs + jazz musician w/Master's degree. I've played with many "jazz giants" (George Coleman, Ira Sullivan, etc.). First, I don't know what you mean by "4th chords". If you mean built on 4ths, that's Mccoy Tyners claim to fame. Lennie was good but for many reasons no B.E. To say Bill was a "pretty face", not a "jazz giant" is ludicrous. 100 yrs hence when history of 20th jazz is written Bill will have a chapter. Tristano will be a footnote. @jazzbox111
FredHes1 2 years ago
@FredHes1 I took my first Bass lesson in a clothes closet at Birdland the Jazz corner of the world, so what!
That was my intoduction to Ind and Tristano. I wonder if in your 40 years youv'e tried to keep up with what Lennie was doing with the rythym. To say Lennie's contribution is a mere footnote is ludicrous.You say Miles never cited Lennie as an influence He surely noted in his comments on Ornette 's "free jazz" that "Lennie was playing that shit years ago".
jrv1a2 1 year ago
See? You are a liar and you know nothing: Bill used 4ths on a certain 1959 album, waaaay before McCoy and that was his claim to fame as everybody raved about the "colours" this is what got him into the lime light. Lennie was better at playing lines than parker - I guess that is a footnote to some. Get a real education you phoney.
jazzbox111 2 years ago
So you're talking about Bill's playing on Mile's "Kind Of Blue" album, especially his solo on "So What" where he did indeed play some parallel 4ths in Dorian mode. However, he never played that way in his own trios. In fact, he was asked years later by Dave Leibman why he never played those changes any more and Bill replied "Not lyrical enough". You really need to get up on your jazz history unless you just enjoy making a fool of yourself!
FredHes1 2 years ago
Yeah, but the point is is that thats how he became popular. You think there were not players as good or better than him around that just simply didn't get that chance? Go and suck his d&*k if you like him so much you creepy idol worshipper.
jazzbox111 2 years ago
My friend, I would love to continue this battle of wits with you but that would be unfair as between us there is only a wit and a half (you can decide who's the half wit). RE your vulgar reference to oral sex, I'm really not into necrophilia. BTW, your post of one year ago stating that Duke Ellington was a better pianist than either Bill or Lennie really demonstrates your complete ignorance. Adios Amigo.
FredHes1 2 years ago
@FredHes1 That is a ridiculous statement ! Correct regarding Bill Evans' influence on the post-1957 scene. But 20th century? Earl Hines, Duke (highly original & influential), Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Errol Garner. Great individualists (as was Tristano), all of whom would undoubtedly have been acknowledged by Bill.
stuarthants 1 year ago
ghostofdolphy: Lennie's contributions were enormous. He was certainly not unknown to musicians nationally. He was first to experiment with Free jazz 10 years before Ornette. Mulligan will tell you he is Birth of the Cool and Miles admits his influence. Lennie never connected with the Critics who still do not acknowledge his genius.
jrv1a2 3 years ago 2
Thanks for posting a vid that demonstrates how overrated Bill Evans is and how underrated Lennie is.
Modes9 3 years ago
You're right on both counts.
When I was a piano student at Berklee, I had Bill Evans shoved down my throat. Thought he was overrated then, still think so.
ThomasAthanasius 3 years ago
I know what you mean. Lennie is the link from Bud, to serious jazz education. Bill is only theory, that you might as well get anywhere else, drugs and nerves. Lennie's theory goes deeper, and has a heart. If it wasn't for Lennie, I'd spend my life doing nothing, or just kill myself. The word is development.
3Phoam 3 years ago
How could one say such a rude thing? Bill Evans is absolutly fantastic as is Lennie. You can't overrate a giant cat like Evans. They just got both different conceptions of music.
zynnetrix 3 years ago
Bill sat in on at least one occasion with Lennie's band; the one with Marsh and Konitz. Everybody got along just fine.
bluenote71 3 years ago
A new Tristano-Vid, wow! Thank you very much. Please post more if possible.
pianojazz66 3 years ago 2