Ahmad Jamal

[Sarah Fox]

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Hi Rich!

I wonder if some of the difference might be that jazz pianists are so =
often envelope pushers -- in the same sense that Franz Liszt was an =
envelope pusher.  What they are able to write/perform depends very much =
on the technology beneath their fingertips.  Classical pianists, on the =
other hand, are performing what has already been written -- within the =
limitations of existing piano technology.  I suspect there may be more =
enthusiasm on the part of a jazz musician when his instrument is =
suddenly able to "do" more than it did before.  In the world of jazz, =
including composition and improvisation, that means expanding the =
"vocabulary" with which they can work.  For a classical pianist, that =
means being able to play better what has already been played before.

I'm also captivated by the expressiveness of jazz piano.  (As a =
classical pianist, I'm rather envious of the jazz masters and wish I =
could "do" the things they do!  But I'm also that way about all forms of =
expression, like opera -- wow!)  I wonder if the abundant "enunciation" =
and "punctuation" of jazz piano requires more of the instrument.  Or =
perhaps it only requires *different* things of the instrument.  I'm not =
versed in jazz performance, so I don't really know.

I've often wondered why performance pianos don't ship with multiple =
actions for different performer preferences.  Take out one, slide in the =
other.  Different piano!  Two pianos at far less the cost of two.  It =
would make sense to me...

Peace,
Sarah Diane Fox, Ph.D., NPT
Columbus, Ohio, United States of America

  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.=20

  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=20






    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


    _______________________________________________
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