Jim Hession/Troublesome Ivories as taught by Eubie Blake

http://www.artistopia.com/hessionsession
As I look back at my career there are seminal moments that define your growth. One of these was how I learned Troublesome Ivories. Over the years Eubie and Marion Blake stayed at our home. Each time Eubie took it upon himself to push me to learn the stylistic elements that defined his approach to solo piano. With this tune he stressed the use of off-beat left hand accompaniment and heavily accented figures in both hands. In his words, "a lot of my rhythms come from shouts I learned in church as a boy..." The congregation would be stirred by the preacher's accented phrases as he delivered his sermon.
In Troublesome Ivories these off beat accents appear in the left hand of section A and in double-handed figures in sections B and C. Along with teaching the notes Eubie insisted that the accents and irregular rhythms were the main feature of this most difficult piece.
Curious listeners can hear Eubie's own performances of Troublesome Ivories on both Columbia's "86 years of Eubie Blake" and "Eubie Blake Introducing Jim Hession"(EBM6).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eubie
• Blake
• Jim
• Hession
• EBM6
• troublesome
• ivories
• ragtime
• stride
• solo
• piano
• jazz

[apoka128]

Great played.Wow, the rythmn is really hard and also the left hand.

[jazznbear]

Your observation is correct. Eubie wrote his piano solos to fit his own hands, which were of normal size except for unusually long fingers. The rest of us just have to stretch and think positive!

[danpiano1]

Almost makes the listener fidget with the off beat rhythms. Although not as difficult a piece, could you post a video of the beautiful "Memories of You" ?

[GaidinBDJ]

@GaidinBDJ Just revisited this video and I just reread my comment and I realize that it might have come across as me saying that someone was humiliated again. So not true. I referenced Spider Robinson's observation as testament to avoiding the humiliation. I play a (barely) decent jazz piano and just watching it makes my knuckles hurt. I understand now why Spider made the Ivory God in his books only even attempt it twice a year.

[dondecnj]

This was my favorite off the Eubie Blake dbl album from the 70s. Almost unbelievable isn't it. Wonderful to actually see it performed. Standing applause!! ... and many many thanks!

[GaidinBDJ]

Spider Robinson wrote that Blake wrote this just to humiliate other piano players. I think that might be an appropriate observation.

[GaidinBDJ]

Spider Robinson wrote that Blake wrote this just to humiliate other piano players. I think that might be an appropriate observation.

[GaidinBDJ]

Spider Robinson wrote that Blake wrote this just to humiliate other piano players. I think that might be an appropriate observation.

[mwevre]

Amazing performance! How can I find the sheet music for this?