I'd like to play another song before everyone leaves the bar to get a good seat for the ABF Quarterly Recital. Here is an Elton John tune titled Candle In the Wind.

BillM - yet another fine interpretation - I really like how you put your heart into every song you sing - and I really do admire your accompaniment style greatly - excellent job on this touching tribute to MM.

Speaking of the Recital, I didn't see your name among the first 33 entries - you are participating hopefully?

Trap

Bill~
This is one of my favorites of yours. It conjures up so many memories and you play and sing it so very well. I play your YouTube one regularly. Great work!

Peyton~
Thanks for the kind words. Yes, the improv is in f-min. Glad you picked up on the chords - the goal was to mix voicings that sounded decent together and to vary them from one round to the next - easier said than done.

I live near Denver. The storm was to our south (not coming from the north which would produce mountain snows), and when that happens, the mountains generally get no snow and Denver-points east get the brunt of the storm. The foothill towns got over three feet. I had almost two feet at my place. The ski areas do need snow, so hopefully they will get some good snow for the spring ski season.

Glen

BillM,

I too thought your Candle in the Wind was really outstanding and a great showcase for your singing and playing skills.

I have a question... where do you get you arrangements? Do you work them up yourself from leadsheets? If so I have to add that to your other obvious talents.

Jim

TrapperJohn - Thanks for the kind words - yes, I plan to participate in the recital.



JimF - Thanks for your kind remarks - Yes - I make up the arrangements using leadsheets as an outline.

another minuet, this time Krieger. It's not perfect, but as close as I can get for now.


p.s. I don't have time to comment on all the videos just now, but I just had to say that I'm really loving all the jazz!

I like it!

This was the first piece I learned and play it often just for fun. You do something different with the ornaments that I will shamelessly steal and play around with.

[Edit to add that this is in response to MaryAnn's piece. Haven't quite figured out how to post in this forum properly.]

Beautiful MaryAnn!! I really enjoyed it.

Paddy- That is some very lovely playing. I would never know you were a "bag of nerves" and any mistakes are barely noticable. Nice recording too. The piano sounds great.

LadyPayne- My Heart Will Go on- Very cool!:)

BillM- Now is the Hour-I enjoyed this piece very much.

Inlanding- Love came on Stealthy Fingers- you played this piece very well:P

Nikolaj- Champagne- Welcome to the Piano bar! you did a very good job on this piece:)

BeccaBb-Minuet- Your off to a great start!:)

This song is from a piano book my sister got me while she was in China. I posted it a few months ago. I thought I would post a better version of the song.
Also the name of the song is Jiedao De Jimo. Last time I posted this I just called it "Chinese Song" Since I didn't know the English name of it:) It is from composer Shi Jin.

http://www.box.com/s/aef1j89hvou0j504zoxv

Great Job, MaryAnne You kept a nice steady beat and brought out the separate melodies in each hand. Good work on the ornaments too!

Jim

My very first contribution to the bar:


(one shot, sorry for the mistakes)

...and a second one:

Supertorpe - Excellent first submission to the piano bar and very nicely done. I really enjoyed it. Just the other day I was wondering if I should get some Bach Inventions. I think you've convinced me!

MaryAnn - I enjoyed your piece very much too. I've not heard this before. I really like how you did the melody.

BillM - Candle In The Wind - Bill as always very nice. Your playing on this piece was super enjoyable and excellent.

Augustina - Jiedao De Jimo; I really enjoyed this piece. I'm not sure if I heard it before but it was so peaceful to listen to and so nicely played. Thanks for reposting it.

Augustina - Cirque Du Soleil - Another peaceful song but with a bit of anticipation and tension built in. I liked it very much. Thanks for posting it.

Studio Joe - I very much loved Stella. It is crying out for words it has such a pretty melody! I don't doubt that when the time is right the words will come. I could imagine this song being played on the radio! Very enjoyable!

Zoe, thank you for your kind words that encourage me to submit another video:

Supertorpe - I just noticed that you have been playing for less than 2 years. Wow! You are doing well. I also liked your Fantasia and Yann Tiersen very much. You look very relaxed when you play. You should keep those videos coming you are doing so very well. Nice!

Here's a rough rendition of a quirky Neil Finn song called 'Pineapple Head' (inspired by his son's ramblings when suffering a fever). Very basic. Nowhere near as fluid as BillM or relaxed as Supertorp. It's in 6/8 which is not that common in pop/rock tunes. I was recording something a little more melodic but abandoned it because I kept fluffing parts (maybe next time). Not that this is without its faults. That red recording light makes it so hard!

Dittos. I enjoyed it.

Thanks. Yes, Joe, I've been messing around with arpeggios and odd chords for endings ... not too schmaltzy?

Still catching up here but enjoying everyone's wonderful recordings!

Bill: Your playing/singing together takes my breath away sometimes.. really beautiful.

Here's another favorite Duke Ellington tune:

TAKE THE A TRAIN

Just dropped in and took a listen. Great stuff everyone!

Glen, it's terrific.

Zoe, nicely done.

I forgot who had the first one, Oboe & piano from Titanic: it was great!

Joe, Bill, supertorpe, .. ok, too many too list. I'm going to be lazy and just say: everyone--nice playing!

Wonderful music!

CaptainKawai - Really fun piece! I've never heard it before but it suits your style nicely. I also played guitar for many years before teaching myself piano and think it really helped with understanding chords and rhythms, etc. Keep up the good work and keep the tunes coming.

Augustina - this piece was unexpectedly romantic and has a lovely melody. A very sensitive and musical performance.

supertorpe - I watched all 3 of your videos and like ZoeCalgary am impressed with how well you play after only less than 2 years. You have a delicate and light touch and play without any signs of tension. Very nice.

Elssa - the combination of your excellent moving bassline and the brushes and cymbals percussion is a delight. Love the cat's contribution at the end - was that a major 9th? This was fun all around.

MaryAnn - I enjoyed listening to your minuet. You seem to have very good hand independence. Good job.

I was hoping to get my Chopin Nocturne recorded in time for the quarterly recital, but my recorder just came last week and I left the next day for holidays, and won't be returning until after the deadline, unfortunately. I did, however, get an easy little piece recorded as I was testing the settings on my R-05, so i thought I'd at least share it here . Enjoy -- it's Petites litanies de Jesus by Grovlez, from L'almanach aux images.

http://www.box.com/s/ds260sxegs5abkm27ckz

Yes, Bill, it does help and makes us not quite "absolute beginners" when we sit down at the piano.