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Rick - I've listened to a few of your songs but that was definitely the best so far. That could grace any blues performer repertoire. It has all the right characteristics and interesting lyrics for the form.

Elssa - As always you pick good material. I love those old movie themes.

Starr Keys - good work

In landing - that was a little different for you, I couldn't quite place it stylistically in my head.

Thanks all for the compliments.

(Trying to put ego aside)it never occurred to me to do anything other than sing and play piano at the same time - the same as I always have on the guitar. I'm blessed in that it comes pretty naturally to me. The challenge for me is to fill out my simplistic chord style (eg. to fill things out like Bill does) and to move beyond playing root and 5th in the left hand.

I credit my progress to date to many decades of guitar playing in bands plus at least 10 hours practice a week and sometimes more (I've done 10 hours alone on a weekend many times) since I got my piano - somewhere upwards of 500 hours in the last (almost) one year.

Thanks, Captain. Beautiful job with Hasten Down the Wind! I don't remember that song, but it's perfect for your voice. Those 10-hour practice days really seem to be paying off. A word of caution, though, just be careful doing it too often. I practiced that long each day for a week and had tendonitus the next.

Bill - Another classic. Great job.

Amarak - Really enjoyed your Canon variation. Steady ryhthm.

CapK - You have a seriously good voice.. and your piano skills are catching up...it won't be long till you're out there gigging.

I decided to do the responses first, as I'm not sure I feel up to recording my second piece. Tomorrow, my mom is going in for her second cancer-related surgery in two years and I wanted to at least record one for her before that.

LadyPayne -- Great classic Americana piece and 50's rock theme with a classical touch, both well played! you seem to have knack for finding unusual and striking arrangements. And you always seem up to their challenges.

Augustina -- Continuing your love affair with Asian-influenced music becomes you. And I always love your child's-heart picks. You are playing very well, these days.

BillM -- Nostalgia City! I love both songs and you did a great job with both.

Captain K -- I already stated earlier in this thread what I thought of your song and your voice, but your playing is amazing for one year.

Amaruk - Beautifully played and I loved the visuals.

Inlander -- very mystical sounding composition -- my favorite kind. A few more like this and you should have no trouble selling not only your cd's but also your sheet music collections.
Minor pice -- I love this style and you do it to perfection! Could you please please do it with Lush Life by Billy Strayhorn one of these days?!!
The Man I love --along with Jazzpoint's Porgy, my favorite standards of the bar this month.

Teodor -- I can see you're making the most out of your pedagogy degree!

Elssa -- Tchaikovsky and you were made for each other. Wonderful job with both pieces! And great--really great!--job with Gershwin.

beachcraft -- Lovely phrasing on this beautiful waltz. Your playing seems to have progressed by leaps and bounds.

Studio Joe -- very nice composition, well played. You might face some copyright infringement claims on the title, though.lol.

Jazzpoint -- This is one of my absolute favorites, and I can't find the words to express how beautifully you arranged and played it. Loveddddddd it!

Jazzwee -- I can see why they were so positive. What's to criticize! You do what you do like the pro you've become!

Rickster -Great Job! I agree with whoever said this is the best thing you've ever done. Loved the big Jerry Lee Lewis finish. You make it all look so easy!

Lady Chen -- Both Beautifully and inspiringly played! Makes me want to see you play!

ladypayne - Heart and Soul Variations - Is this a variations of the classic 2 person piano song popularized in the movie Big or is this a different Heart and Soul. Either way, I really liked your improv - an interesting composition.

Amaruk - Canon Fantasy - I usually prefer the sound of a digital to most acoustic pianos but I listened to both versions and couldn't come up with a clear favorite - they are both very well played and a pleasure to listen to. I guess the thumbs up at the end of the digital version gives this a slight edge although I prefer the wider angle of the acoustic version - I like watching people play (not just disjointed floating hands). You are a very good player and I liked the arrangement a lot.

CaptainKawai - Great song choice. I love the Linda Rondstadt version. Your voice is a good fit for this song.

Elssa - Theme from Exodus - You play this with majesty and power. An excellent job - you have a real knack for capturing the mood of these movie themes that you have been playing lately.

Starr Keys - Now if that doesn't bring a smile to your face nothing will. What a great old-timey sing along piece. I had to play it a couple of times and couldn't help singing along. Great tune!

Inlanding - What a cool and bouncy tune! The EP voice on your DP was just right for this groove. Speaking of groove - where did you get those pants???

Rickster - Way to shuffle those ivory, Killer. Between you and Starr Keys my mood has definitely improved this evening. This one hits your sweet spot.

Thanks Inlanding, Captain Kwai, and Amaruk. The support is great.

Thanks, Bill. I think you and I both love these 'old guy tunes' and have similar tastes in that vein.

Thanks again, all, for listening and the kind comments.

Starr Keys: I loved your rendition of Four Leaf Clover - nice and bouncy with great harmonies and stride style.. Good job!

Glen: Another great spicy, saucy, bluesy arrangement!

Well, here's another oldie that I had fun playing..

Love Letters in the Sand

Wow! Elssa, watching you ride those keys in Love Letters in the Sand is like watching an expert surfer ride the waves that leave those letters in the sand. Great job!

Thank you so much for your kind words on my attempt to simply stand upright on the board and keep her afloat.

Here is the second attempt on another Irish favorite that was, after "Clover", the second half of a two-song medley. It is done in a completely different style and one pretty new to me. I lose a little focus towards the end, but considering its my first real attempt at jazz improvisation and is, due to tendonitus, performed only with my left hand, I'm not unhappy with how it came out. Hope you like it:

http://www.box.com/s/91bc826887385cdf78cf

Hee hee, thanks, but recording the audio is nervewracking enough for me, nevermind video! lol

Starr~ What an interesting free-play. I get a visceral response from listening to it. The fact you play it entirely with your left hand is amazing.

Perhaps it's my own mood, but you leave lots of open, unresolved phrases hanging, then start another phrase, only to end the tune with a slow arpeggio up the keyboard on a very positive note. I like it very much.

Glen

Starr Keys: That was really nice! I know how it is.. I type for a living full time (medical transcription), and the tendinitis can really mess you up sometimes, but you did a great job!

Glen, thank you so much for your usual thoughtful and insightful feedback:



Thank you. I think working around limitations or within a smaller set of possibilities frees me for some reason. It was the same on being forced to work with only three chords and one key (C) at PM, it helped unlock my creativity. I've tried "free play" or jazz-style improvisation before many times but never really succeeded with it.

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Thank you, but I'm not sure I was aware I was doing that. I was more focused on trying to vary the rhythms and chord colorings and fills so that playing the simple repetitive melodic phrases with only five fingers wouldn't sound too boring. At the same time, I tried not to alter it so much that people wouldn't recognize it.