<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" = http-equiv=Content-Type> <META content="MSHTML 5.00.3502.5390" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hi Rich!</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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.</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>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...</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sarah Diane Fox, Ph.D., = NPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Columbus, Ohio, United States of America</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: = 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px">I spent some time reflecting on your post re: an appreciative Ahmad = Jamal <I>(' nothing improves hearing more than praise' </I>) 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. <BR><BR>For an artist/performer to vent their frustration toward a = technician (especially in public) is not only ill mannered. It is very likely unproductive.<BR><BR>Some perceptions/observations (not the same as justifications):<BR><BR>Historically, jazz artists acquire (they have = to in order to survive) a wider intonation tolerance.<BR>Historically, = classical pianists are coddled & too many people put up with the = outbursts.<BR>In general I think jazz artists are more acclimated to a variety of = performance distractions.<BR>I think classical pianists experience (real or = perceived) greater pressure for 'note perfect' performances than jazz = pianists.<BR>There are 'strictly solo' classical pianists than 'strictly solo' jazz = pianists. (A jazz pianist likely has much broader ensemble experience<BR>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!)<BR><BR>Hope you enjoyed the party.<BR><BR>and oh yeah, thank you for graciously = sharing your knowledge/experience.<BR><BR>Best,<BR><BR>Richard Lawrence = Olmsted Jr. NRP <BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>Hi folks<BR><BR>Just got back from tuning this beautiful = nearly new Hamburg D for Ahmad<BR>Jamal who's in town. He asked me if the = piano was sent up from Paris<BR>specially for him. Very nice fellow, made a = point out of telling his<BR>bass player and percussionist to quite down when = he called "the<BR>technician" on stage. Smiled at me and said "theres a = difference you<BR>know". (technician visa vi tuner)<BR><BR>Struck me, as more = and more I get a sense that Jazz pianists are much<BR>more in touch with = their instrument and what it can and cant do, what to<BR>expect from a = piano tech and what not to, and in general being able to<BR>relax and make = music.... get << that sound >> they are after, to = a<BR>significantly greater degree then classical pianists. I find classical<BR>players = very often to be easily disturbed by the slightest things and<BR>very = willing to lash out at the nearest and best potential recipient of<BR>wrath... = quite often the piano tech, quite often venting frustration<BR>with their = own inability to live up to their own expectations.<BR><BR>I heard a = story not long ago about a former professor (from Bergen) who<BR>upon visiting = a conservatory in Sweden, lashed out at the technician in<BR>full = public and demanded she make certain adjustments before he would<BR>play. He = left the room for a while and she took out her tool box and did<BR>basically = nothing for 10 minutes being consoled by a few onlookers who<BR>obviously = had understood the situation. Upon returning the fellow sat<BR>down and = played a bit and smiled hugely " MUCH BETTER" !!!<BR><BR>You know... I have = run into exactly one such similiar story about a jazz<BR>pianist in near 30 = years of work now. Keith Jarett, and my own personal<BR>experience with him = on one occasion was quite eventless. I'm sure it<BR>happens more often then = this with jazz players.. but still.... there is<BR>a marked difference.<BR><BR>Anyways.... I have to admit... I've learned a lot = about pianos from<BR>working around classical pianists. And thats good as = I have an awfull<BR>lot yet to learn, but it is so refreshing to run into = these fellows with<BR>such a positive attitude from time to time.<BR><BR>I = dont get to sit in on his concert as I am at a 50th birthday = party<BR>this evening, but I did get to hear about 45 minutes of warm up / = sound<BR>check. Nice !!!<BR><BR>Cheers<BR>RicB<BR><BR>--<BR>Richard Brekne<BR>RPT, N.P.T.F.<BR>UiB, Bergen, = Norway<BR>mailto:rbrekne@broadpark.no<BR>http://home.broadpark.no/~rbrekn= e/ricmain.html<BR>http://www.hf.uib.no/grieg/personer/cv_RB.html<BR><BR><= BR>_______________________________________________<BR>pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives<BR><BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCK= QUOTE></BODY></HTML>