Ahmad Jamal

[Classic Touch Ent]

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Hi Richard,

I spent some time reflecting on your post re: an appreciative Ahmad 
Jamal (' nothing improves hearing more than praise' ) and the marked 
difference in 'attitude' you have experienced between classical and 
jazz pianists. One of the reasons I am studying posts on list (and 
attempting to share my own experiences/perceptions) is to educate 
myself (as a pianist) about my instrument. Learning about the 
instrument helps me to understand limitations imposed by design and 
materials, condition, regulation, artist ability, and artist 
preference, and to be able to distinguish one from the other. Accurate 
articulation and realistic expectation of my preferences is a benefit 
of this education. It is a humbling process. I am hopeful that 
performers and technicians will become more willing to collaborate in 
each others education.

For an artist/performer to vent their frustration toward a technician 
(especially in public) is not only ill mannered. It is very likely 
unproductive.

Some perceptions/observations (not the same as justifications):

Historically, jazz artists acquire (they have to in order to survive) a 
wider intonation tolerance.
Historically, classical pianists are coddled & too many people put up 
with the outbursts.
In general I think jazz artists are more acclimated to a variety of 
performance distractions.
I think classical pianists experience (real or perceived) greater 
pressure for 'note perfect' performances than jazz pianists.
There are 'strictly solo' classical pianists than 'strictly solo' jazz 
pianists. (A jazz pianist likely has much broader ensemble experience
than solo classical pianist. If you throw a fit at an ensemble gig you 
distract and piss off other colleagues, and likely get direct feedback 
about it!)

Hope you enjoyed the party.

and oh yeah, thank you for graciously sharing your knowledge/experience.

Best,

  Richard Lawrence Olmsted Jr. NRP





> Hi folks
>
> Just got back from tuning this beautiful nearly new Hamburg D for Ahmad
> Jamal who's in town. He asked me if the piano was sent up from Paris
> specially for him. Very nice fellow, made a point out of telling his
> bass player and percussionist to quite down when he called "the
> technician" on stage. Smiled at me and said "theres a difference you
> know".  (technician visa vi tuner)
>
> Struck me, as more and more I get a sense that Jazz pianists are much
> more in touch with their instrument and what it can and cant do, what 
> to
> expect from a piano tech and what not to, and in general being able to
> relax and make music.... get  << that sound >> they are after, to a
> significantly greater degree then classical pianists. I find classical
> players very often to be easily disturbed by the slightest things and
> very willing to lash out at the nearest and best potential recipient of
> wrath... quite often the piano tech, quite often venting frustration
> with their own inability to live up to their own expectations.
>
> I heard a story not long ago about a former professor (from Bergen) who
> upon visiting a conservatory in Sweden, lashed out at the technician in
> full public and demanded she make certain adjustments before he would
> play. He left the room for a while and she took out her tool box and 
> did
> basically nothing for 10 minutes being consoled by a few onlookers who
> obviously had understood the situation. Upon returning the fellow sat
> down and played a bit and smiled hugely " MUCH BETTER" !!!
>
> You know... I have run into exactly one such similiar story about a 
> jazz
> pianist in near 30 years of work now. Keith Jarett, and my own personal
> experience with him on one occasion was quite eventless. I'm sure it
> happens more often then this with jazz players.. but still.... there is
> a marked difference.
>
> Anyways.... I have to admit... I've learned a lot about pianos from
> working around classical pianists. And thats good as I have an awfull
> lot yet to learn, but it is so refreshing to run into these fellows 
> with
> such a positive attitude from time to time.
>
> I dont get to sit in on his concert as I am at a 50th birthday party
> this evening, but I did get to hear about 45 minutes of warm up / sound
> check. Nice !!!
>
> Cheers
> RicB
>
> --
> Richard Brekne
> RPT, N.P.T.F.
> UiB, Bergen, Norway
> mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no
> http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
> http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>

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