Ahmad Jamal

[Robin Olson]

    This is way off topic,but what does NPT stand for?Or NRP for that 
matter.
                                              Robin Olson RPT



----- Original Message -----
From: Sarah Fox <sarah@gendernet.org>
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2003 12:46 pm
Subject: Re: Ahmad Jamal

> 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. 
> 
>  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
>    rbrekne@broadpark.no
>    http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekne/ricmain.html
>    http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html
> 
> 
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> 
>