To add to the mix, here is a short improvisation as my first submission to 2013 Piano Bar. Hope you like it - Glen

Glen: improvisation always amazes me. How can you just sit down and play something, while it takes me hours to get a song without playing the wrong notes. Sounds fun, too.

Thanks, Bill. Same Zoom H1 as I have been using ... but placed a little differently.

Glen - nice job. Like the style, the swing and the melody is there. All too short.

Inlanding: Really liked you playing the piano, good job!

Inlanding - Great fun

Inlanding - so glad you made your way back into the bar. What a fun and lively improv. Your hands move around the keyboard effortlessly - cool bass line. Like someone else said, I just wish it were longer.

I've been out of the loop for most of the month. Starr Keys I'm so sorry to hear about your mother. We are going through the same tragic affair with my wife's Dad right now. It is any day. But it is good if you can be there at the end.

Here is my entry for Jan. This is done much slower than the way your would normally hear this song, but I like it as a ballad. I'm also trying to put some elements from difficult transcription that I found in here - so there's no way I could do it super fast.
All the Things You Are

kenjazz, that was nice and mellow.
perfect for this time of the night (11:30PM)

Playing catch up!

Ellsa: I enjoyed your more upbeat rendition of Those Were The Days and your cat is a fine pianist, too!

Peterws: What a lovely interpretation of Bach's French Suite. I felt as if I was in a cathedral. The voices were so clear and beautiful.

Weiyan: It was nice to be able to look at the hammers hammering out the action on your Bach Prelude.

Newman: Love your voice and what a romantic song! A great song to enjoy while having a cocktail with your loved one.

Since there's still a week left to go, I recorded this short piece this afternoon:

ORPHEE'S BEDROOM - PHILIP GLASS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX3SNlI2ZzM



YIPPEE! I managed to get my video cover to show up! Thanks, Amaruk!

Kenjazz - I know this is a jazz standard due to the thread here that analyzes this piece but must confess I've never heard it before. I enjoyed the laid back and relaxed arrangement. Your fluid and smooth style is showcased nicely with this one. Cool vibes solo.

Candlelightpiano - what a lovely lyrical selection and performance. You took your time with this and let the melody sing. Very well played.

Thanks BillM. I finished the blog post for this one that has some details about the song and the transcription that I took some pieces from for the solo

All the Things You Are blog post

Inlanding (Greg) lurve the jazz, man! You have a feel for it, I`m not a little jealous. . .

Kenjazz Great arrangement, wi th vibes and brushes. Double bass next, or - was he still at the bar?

Orphee Could be a TV programme/commercial track; Keep `em comin` lass!

Hi folks!

It's been a while since I visited the piano bar on the ABF. I took a listen to some of the great submissions and I'm in aw of the exceptional music I hear... outstanding!

I'm afraid I haven't been too inspired lately to write a new original tune, but I was listening to some of my older original tunes today and had forgotten about this one...

"I thought you loved me baby"

I know it's a re-run, but sometimes the re-runs are better the second time around.

Keep up the great playing All!


Rick

I'm so sorry for your loss, Starr Keys. Your song touched me. It was a lovely tribute to your mother. I'm so glad you were able to see her all the time you were there. Hugs.

Artur: Autumn Leaves is one of my all time favorites and you played it well.

Allard: I enjoyed the persistent and ominous bass pattern. Lovely melody.

Thank you, Bill and Peter for watching and commenting on my Orphee. I appreciate your kind remarks and encouragement. Thanks, too, Inlanding, for your comments on my Aristocat Scales and Arps. I do enjoy playing that piece very much. It's always the first piece I play when I sit at the piano.

Ken Jazz - very smooth rendition of this one.
Candlelight piano - very atmospheric
Rick - welcome back! That's a great example of blues tune. well done.

candlelightpiano, it's always nice to hear something I haven't heard before. I've only heard Glass' bigger works before, nothing for solo piano.

Rick, Since I missed it the first time around, I glad you re-ran it.

Fabulous entries from all the regulars this month. Welcome back Glen and Rickster. And a delight to see so many new folks out as well (peterws, Wish4Thing, SiSlermi, Artur, Allard.) Sorry if I missed anyone, or if you are not new, but I thought you were new . Very enjoyable listening and great job everyone.

Here is a number I put together this week. Its a bit of a break and contrast from my recital practice (Schubert and Mendelssohn.)

It never ceases to amaze me how these billion dollar rock bands can make such a production around one chord (excuse me 3 chords if you include the bridge.) I'm not knocking it though. It really is very clever I think.

This tune of course, originated from Acoustic guitar, so I took some liberties with it for piano. At any rate, hope you enjoy my rendition of;

Is There Anybody Out There - Pink Floyd

Greener = It's hard to knock making a few dollars out of a simple tune isn't it? Nice job.

Greener - I find P Floyd somewhat depressing at times. This fits perfectly into that genre . . .well done man heh heh

Kenjazz: definitely like it at this tempo. Jazz is a world of music I know nothing about. Much to discover!

Candlelightpiano: what a pretty piano! The song is nice too. Reminds me a bit of Einaudi; slow, setting the mood with repeating chords and a melody that sounds very good.

Rick: wow! You just did three things I can't do: speak on camera, play blues, and sing while playing.

Greener: nice playing. I hope you don't blame me for looking forward to your Schubert, however .

I posted to the October or November piano bar, so not entirely new, but I'm far from a regular. Didn't feel like sharing my crappy Christmas tunes! I'm going to try monthly posts to the bar. It's a nice way to share finished pieces. Now to learn a new song every month...

Greener, tahnks for expanding the genres

Thanks for listening to the Floyd and nice feedback.


I see what you mean. Personally, I would not classify it as depressing, but definitely dark. This is in a minor key and works well for just this affect. Kind suits my mood this week I guess .

Sorry, Allard. Yes, indeed, I do remember. And, I look forward to hearing more from you too.

"I hope you don't blame me for looking forward to your Schubert"

Not at all. I am too. It won't be great deal more uplifting then this one though

Thank you peterws, BillM, Artur, stumbler, Newman, Allard, for taking the time to acknowledge and your encouragement is so very much appreciated!

Kenjazz~ Very nice arrangement you put together for All The Things You Are. It's a wonderful ballad, beautifully done. I prefer the ballad version of this standard rather over the 200bpm version one hears all too commonly.

candlelightpiano~ I've never heard of Philip Glass until your tune. The sustain pedal really helps hold the melody. Very sensitively played, indeed.

Rickster~ I enjoyed, I Thought You Loved Me Baby, the first time I heard it. Thanks for bringing it back into the mix. Such good energy you bring with all your music. I toured your YouTube channel again and what fun it is to watch you play and sing!

Jeff~ I am a huge Pink Floyd fan. Great work with, Is There Anybody Out There. As well, you wrote a terrific arrangement - such skill to do that by ear.

Glen

Thanks for the comments, All!

I’ve decided that I have a couple of major shortcomings with my piano playing… first, I can’t seem to play a tune all the way through without making a bobble/mistake; and second, I seem to have a problem maintaining the same tempo… I’ll start out at one tempo and get faster and faster. I guess I’m just hyper!

I know I haven’t commented on all the presentations here individually, but they are all great!

Take care,

Rick

Thanks, Newman!