Russ Conway's hit tune Roulette

This is an old video of me playing Russ Conway's hit composition 'Roulette' on my old honky-tonk piano. I think this was rather easier to play 15 years ago than it is now!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• russ
• conway
• piano
• honky-tonk
• uk
• hit
• single
• no

[oilburner75]

Stunning!, it's amazing how you are able to look up to the camera at around 1min like Russ used to do and still manage to hit all the left hand notes!.

Russ Conway is one of my heroes who inspired me to take up the piano a few years ago . I'm trying to 'play' a version of this from the published sheet music but finding the intro very tricky indeed as it sounds all wrong at the speed I play...any tips would be much appreciated!, Cheers Steve

[honkytonkpiano]

@oilburner75 I was a bit surprised myself when I dug out this old video! When you refer to the intro, do you mean the descending chromatic scale with repeated D notes at the top and bottom? You need to miss out the lower D before you get to a point in the chromatic scale where you can't comfortably play all the notes. Does that help? Sometimes the trick is to know which notes you can missout without it being obvious!

[oilburner75]

@honkytonkpiano Thanks that's helpful!, I can almost 'play' the descending chromatic bit on each hand individually...but getting them synchonised at the right speed seems nearly impossible!.Can I miss out the upper and lower D ? and play D,C#,C,B..........C I noticed you just 'tinkle' the high notes after the first bars of melody notes B,D,E,D ..B,D,E,D,E,G

I'd love to know how to attempt this as sadly it doesn't seem to be included on the published Mills music!. Regards Steve

[honkytonkpiano]

@oilburner75 Slow practice is the best and typically the only way to tackle technical problems. memorise sufficiently to be able to watch the keyboard rather than the music. You do need the upper and lower D, but you can relinquish the lower one when the chromatic scale reaches F or F sharp (depending on shape and size of your hand). I'll try to write out some of the G major chorus for you, if you wish? The version I play on YouTube uses the keys A, B flat and G (sheet music starts in G).

[MarcusTomatos]

Great stuff Mike, that's two down and two to go!

Don't forget you can never have enough 'Side Saddle'...unless of course your name is Lynne. Cheers Mark

[honkytonkpiano]

@MarcusTomatos Fair point, Mark!

[BizzMarki]

: O amazing!!... glad to see this 1996 recording actually managed to get appreciated by all 15 years later!

[oilburner75]

@honkytonkpiano Thanks that would be very kind of you if you could write down the G major chorus. Dropping the D seems to help with speed and accuracy. I don't expect to ever be anything like as good as yourself, but if I could just capture some of the essence of the piece I would be happy. Hopefully with much slow practice I will get there - I just have to keep watching your videos and Russ's performances for inspiration and keep on practicing i guess ! , Cheers Steve

[MrHobebude]

awesome!

thks4posting this!

[IVORIESMAN]

Spot on Mike.

[matrixsenior]

A wonderful rendition, well done!



[GarrardAT6]

Absolutely Beautiful Mike!

You must have been listening to records back then...This is just like the original release!

I hope you do have 'Side Saddle' from this era...I can't wait to hear it!

Mark is right...You can never have enough..haha!!! :)