Is anyone familiar with Brian McKnight? I was wondering how you guys might rank him as a non-classical pianist. What difficulty level would you consider his music to be? I personally aspire to be able to play that well someday far far in the future.

Just had to say "I love his music!" I thiink he's probably something like Bruce Hornsby when it comes to difficulty...If you keep practicing you should be able to be as good...

I used to love his stuff in the 90's always thought he was a singer though?

Wow, didn't know he was a pianist ...I am gonna have to check out some of his latest stuff


Lee

I think his music would be rated Late Beginner to Early Intermediate.

late beginner to early intermediate..LMAO

I guess so...if you're a genius


lol

oh one more post on this topic folks. He said his next album is going to be a jazz album. He can play it all. I just picked up Gemini and I think it's really good. It will be interesting to hear how he puts his jazz album together. He definitely has tremendous technique.

We are both talking about Brian McKnight..... right?

Its really not too hard. I've heard some of his music, and it honestly doesnt seem too difficult.

Though, i am interested in hearing his new jazz album.

I've never heard of him. What sort of music has he recorded? Easy listening? Popular standards. Solo stuff?

Alan.

Mostly what I guess you'd classify as R&B..he has a gospel background so that's where a lot of his voicings are based. I think what sets him apart is his immaculate rhythmic placement and dynamics. He plays guitar also which is pretty cool. Must be nice to have all that talent.

You guys must be prodigies or something. I just heard Bruce Hornsby (LIVE) where he really cuts loose and he is pretty impressive!

I'm not sure what Brian Mcknight is really capable of in the piano, whether he can play better than what he produces or not . Regardless, those skills are not necessary for the type of music he plays. He is a singer/songwriter/producer/arranger, and for that he is superb. Piano playing is just a small part of what he does.

The music that he does compose are not too technically challenging, after all they are pop songs, so I'm fairly sure that you can learn those.

Thomosh I think you can definitely reach the level that will allow you to play like Brian Mcknight, I hope you can sing like him too, because that is what really sets him apart.

McKnight's music is smooth R&B soul and does not really translate well to solo piano. The "songbook" arrangements done by hack ghost writers that the publishing companies hire are probably not sounding like the vibe of McKnight's soulful gems. His highly syncopated music is great because of the fine soulful melodies he sings with lots of slurring, inflections, pitch bending and tonal shadings, none of which the piano does well. McKnight's music also relies heavily on the grooves provided by the backdrop of finely produced smooth hip-hop drum beats, another thing the piano cannot even begin to reproduce. There may a ballad or two that feature a piano background, but once agaig good luck with that inflected vocal soul melody.

I don't see much relation to Hornsby's music either.

Uhm, you're right rintincop, most of his songs dont translate well to piano. However I do remember playing one song by his at one point called ONE LAST CRY and it sounded pretty good as a solo piano number. At least, the girls loved it at the time Too bad I couldn't sing it, that would really have brought the house down!!

Hi,
Brian used to sit in on my gigs at Baked Potato Jazz Club when it was open in Pasadena. He was a great performer then and is doing some great pop music. I will curious to see what his take on jazz is.