BenPiano - I'll admit to not knowing much about Classical music but I would have bet that was Bach - I was surprised to see it was a Handel piece. A precise and crisp performance. You made this look easy.

Here's a performance from last night with a vocalist. This is my band (6 piece) and of course I'm on piano.

Look of Love (Burt Bacarach)
https://www.box.com/s/hsnz6z1jbqyz5k19eg2r

Mark - v relaxing. Not sure why you called it a ‘fun’ piece though.
Ben - Wow. Impressive. I couldn’t come near that LH RH independence
Bill – I think you said once before that looking back some songs seem better … Annie’s Song is one of those. Nice work, as always.
Greener - Good work. There’s something very familiar about the recurring passage which first appears at 0:50-60 seconds (reminds me of a Whitney Houston or someone similar)
KenJazz – Haven’t listened to them all yet.
Andy - classic piece.

BillM- Annie's song - your vocal comping is getting so good it is incredible. I like this version much better than John Denver.

Jazzwee - I was expecting to hear a super slow bossa groove on Look of Love, but this was an excellent treatment. Bacharach is an under-appreciated gift to jazz players. I like the staccato accents in the comp that you and the rhythm section put in. It kept the whole mix interesting. Very nice solo on your part. You must play with that drummer a lot. He (she?) had a lot of empathy for your playing even with what you were doing on the solo. Well, this is another one that has to go on the learn-it list.

Jazzwee - what a cool arrangement and fine, tight sound your band has. Surely someone in your band has a video camera - I'd love to see you and your band in action and think the commute from Maryland might be a bit much.

Bill, nice job on Annie's Song. This is one of the few John Denver tunes I enjoy hearing. Your version is excellent.

Jazzwee, your band does this one with style. The singer ain't too shabby, either.

Ken, Bill and Dennis -- Appreciate your comments!

Ken -- yes, it's my drummer for 2 years now. You're picking up on something important. As you get more into jazz, then the "conversation" between the instruments become very key. We pick up signals from each other. The fact that you noticed speaks nicely of your progress. Anyway, this uptempo and spirited version of Look of Love is really unique sounding I think. We take some old tunes and with a little refashioning of the groove, it sounds different. You may have heard some were we play standards with a funk backbeat.

Bill - there are "poor" videos (snippets). When I found that's a little better, then I can pass it along. Thanks again! BTW - I've been contacted by other ABF'ers who've wanted to catch a gig. Well, the answer is that I have a gig every week and sometimes many times/week so if anyone pops up in West Los Angeles, please come by and visit.

Dennis - so nice of you. Yes the band is getting a little better each time. I'm happy to hear a perceived improvement in quality since it translates to more gigs!

Sorry, I'm a little late in listening to the other tunes. I'll catch up. Just clearing my plate of gigs.

Mark - Sounds awesome! Beautiful piano sound and playing. Is that some sort of Jazz kind of piece? Really nice harmonies at the end there. Jazzy voicings.

Greener - Very pretty tune and nice transition in rhythm there. Really solid performance. Great job.

Kenjazz - Sampled Christmas time is here. I thought of playing this on a gig this week. I don't know it but maybe will have to learn it on the spot. Your rendition is beautiful with such a realistic backing tracks. Are those BIAB Real instruments? Sounds really authentic. Nice treat on the solo. Beautiful.

BenPiano - That was impressive! The evenness of the notes and touch and tone was wonderful. The piano tone coming out is really good. I like your developing touch here. Great work.

Andy Platt - One of my most favorite Christmas songs. Wonderful sound and really good improvising around the chords, particularly not an easy tune to play.

BillM - Such a treat to listen to you. A great sounding accompanist even if not playing for yourself which is more difficult. Your arrangements are wonderful. Beautiful singing and such a nice piano touch. There's something muddy on the low end though (pedal). Really pronounced on headphones.

My second time to post something not related but I've been getting back into singing again.

Thanks Jazzwee! These are all BIAB Real instruments except for the bell tree. The bell tree is a wave file from goldwave.com that I got off the internet. I think bought it from iTunes. I don't remember anymore.

Wow...that must be a great feeling to play in a band and sound sooo good...

I enjoyed your Annie's Song very much, your voice really matched up perfect with this song. Your very comfortable playing as always is well done too.

As for my piano, I still have a love/hate relationship with it. The lyre is creaking badly and driving me crazy. Waiting for January for the tech to come out.

Just a thought.
Eric Satie

That's It!

I haven't had time to play my piano much in a few months I found this song I really liked. Though I only had time to practice it for an hour and half during my lunch break and my last break at work. That said there are mistakes... and the recording skips a bit since my phone was about to die. Also the piano at work has a squeaky pedal! Anyways this is a really really pretty song, and I will defiantly be recording it again on my keyboard when finals are over with

The Approaching Night by Philip Wesley

https://www.box.com/s/lvpt6zazokb2d9ph86em

Here's something I've been working on to the exclusion of all else for days (driving all around me to distraction). While I'm not too pleased with the vocal performance on this take I've kept it because it's the first time I managed to get through it without my fingers getting completely confused.

It's probably a bit too fast. I put that down to nervous energy to get through it before I make mistakes.

https://www.box.com/s/669r1zew32rfnczyy459

If you're wondering, the sound is piano plus "slow strings".

I might have a few more tries and if I get a better one I'll post it

Augustina - yes, it is indeed very pretty. Feels like a movie theme. I'm impressed at what you have mastered in such a short time.

Augustina-very nice new age type piece. Sounds like it belongs to a movie sound track...

Newman-wow...that was extremely well done, both vocals and playing...wish I could play more modern pop pieces.

[b][/b]Jazzwee - Love the Bacharach.

Thanks Newman and Mark!

Augustina, that is a very pretty piece. Nice job.

Newman, strangely this is the first time I've heard this very famous song. Nice job. I can see why it is so well loved.

Here is a short instrumental piece from Michel Rivard a well-known artist where i live in Quebec Canada. Its a very easy piece to learn and its always a pleasure to listen to. I've learned it years ago and its one of those pieces you can't really forget.

I've recorded it this afternoon by request of my cousin that asked me for another upload saying she needed to listen some of my music . Though i'ld share it here.

Finally i've changed my microphones from the last upload i did on the october piano bar (Mendelssohn). Those are Studio projects C4 and they give a wonderful live sound and perform way better than the old ones i had. Note that no reverb or equalisation has been used. Actually, its the straight sound of the mics into the computer.

Enjoy!



Edit : Anyone tell me when is the next ABF recital? I have a Chopin Nocturne almost ready to record and i wanna save it for the recital.

slpianoproject, that's a really nice piece played very well. The mics sound wonderful. A great sounding recording.

There are many goog music and new friends this month.

Mrrk: Interlude, an interest piece. It seems newage fused with classical.
Greener: Its a nice gospel. Do you arrange it?
kenjazz: Enjoy your jazzy Christmas music.
BenPiano: Very good. I would like stronger left hand.
BillM: I am BM addicted. I had played the guitar cover long time ago.
jazzwee: Your band is really professional.
Teodor: Your voice is touching.
Agustina: Your playing is touching. I have some sad feeling with it.
Newman: Very good.
slpianoproject: I enjoy it.

This is my Bach of this month.

I played it slower.

pp.12 Minuet
First Lessons In Bach.

https://www.box.com/s/t3fgifnibslst712ikup

slpianoproject - mmm nice. Very delicate. And yes, those microphones sound good.

This is the blues.

Riff Blues
Tim Richards Improvising Blues Piano No. 21

https://www.box.com/s/ucxf96razrzv1rapndtw

Edit: update the link enable public access.

I've fallen way behind in this month's piano bar.

Ben Piano, Good clean take on the Handel.

KenJazz, great as usual. In particular, Christmas Time is Here is one of my faves.

Andy, I wish I could do what you and KenJazz do.

BillM, I haven't heard this for a long time.

Jazzwee, I wish I had a sextet! (Though they'd likely vote me off the stage.)

Augustina, This is a pretty piece. I went and purchased it for when the pressure from my assigned pieces get to be too much.

Newman, nice work again.

Augustina - Sorry to hear you haven't been playing much but I'm glad you found the time to play something here in the Piano Bar. A lovely melody - good job with the descending runs.

Newman - Man, you really rocked this one out! I like your uptempo arrangement and your rollicking and energetic accompaniment. Excellent vocal.