Relax...

for about 1 and 1/2 hours..

Fran, I'd love to give you an HONEST assessment of her playing but I know it would just upset you and make you lash back. Let's just say that as a jazz singer and ESPECIALLY as a jazz pianist, I was NOT impressed. Some examples: exagerated syncopation (that loses the groove and almost the beat/time); cliched 'licks', and maybe the worst 'comping' I've heard in a pro group (too loud, very amateurish, and no indication that she's listening to the EXCELLENT guitarist during his solo ('I'm old fashioned'). Of course this is just MY assessment; no one has to agree with it. It's just that there are SOOOooo many really good jazz singer/stylist and jazz pianist that are so much better. JMO.

chas

What does have to do with arranger keyboards?

Chas, I found it interesting.. She sings like Youtubes Aimee

She wrote most of the material they played, and did the arrangements.

Did I mention she is cute

At first I didn't think any were great... but good.. As I watched I changed my mine The drummer, the bass player, the guitar player and the brass were all excellent.. and Yes I thought She was pretty good too.

Did I say how good looking she was?


Donny It had about as much to do with arranger keyboards, as returning keyboards to FedEx.

I should add that some seasoned pros can learn from small groups and apply it to the way arrangers should sound..

Chas Sure there are tons of videos that we can watch, but I seen this .. I am sure she sings better then you or I

Plays piano better than we do

And looks better then you... maybe us


I did think drums , bass, and guitar were super tight..

Maybe worth a look again... without jumping around

Not the first, won't be the last, and it is part of what makes S-Z the great, interesting place that it is ...
And it's about MUSIC !!!

Chas here is another for you.. seasoned group that has been together for 35 years.

Chic can't sing and doesn't look good.





Donny it is rumored that the video is overdubbed. They used a Casio WK3800 (arranger)..

I wrote this before you posted the second video.

Fran, I agree with you about the musicians (although they all could have been fresh out of Berkelee). I even thought the arrangements were good (not exceptional, but not bad). As far as cute, not my type but certainly not unattractive - btw, not a requirement for making good music (but then, I know you're just kidding). I just think (my opinion only) she wasn't a very good jazz pianist and only a so-so vocalist. BUT, like most old men, we check the 'bod' first and THEN the music .

BTW, the next time you decide to post a musical performance, you'd better run it by our new 'forum content police' first to make sure it meets his approval. Anyhoo, I'd much rather have a nice music performance video to dissect/discuss/enjoy than a gazillion videos of somebody's latest 24hr love affair--uh, make that 3 1/2 hrs. Go 'Iggles' (they're struggling right now but they can still take the Giants - sorry Tony).

chas

Didn't listen to it all but skipped around and I think she's a pretty decent performer and a great group behind her. I wish there were a bigger market for such classy music and I wish I could play like that.
Donny , not an Arranger performance but maybe something we could strive to recreate with an Arranger or at least come close. Listening to all kinds of music helps expand our creativity. Enjoy the performance.

Certainly sounds like it Fran....
btw I turned off the first video after
3 1/2minutes....
just sayin

That is what you did wrong.. again!

Just like keyboards you don't wait long enough to evaluate.. The video didn't get interesting till after the 10 minute mark.

Fran I think you only watched it because of the
red dress....

Actually I initially watched it because her voice sounded like Aimee Nolte ..

I don't know who that is if it's not
Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan I don't listen to it.

You should...She teaches jazz chords on line... It could benefit you.

CUTE...makes up for a lot of mistakes!
Lee

Fran, comparing that poor girl to Chick Corea does her a great disservice. If she, herself, watched both videos, she'd probably go out and get a job as a waitress at a Waffle House. Outside of the bedroom, talent wins out over 'cuteness' every time (unless you just got out of jail after 10 years). In any case, keep posting interesting musical performances. As someone said, they can teach us a lot (if we remain open-minded). Unless they're primarily instructional videos (tutorials), these new-product promotional videos can be very misleading and lead to a lot of poor (or at least hasty) buying decisions (I think we've witnessed that--in spades). JMO.

BTW, if I think I'm being too influenced by 'CUTEness', I try to picture them in a hoodie with shades on slinking out of a 'Free Clinic' in the 'wrong' part of town.

chas

Thanks for posting that Fran. Nice sounding group, liked the way they used the horns, interesting arrangements. The singer/pianist really knows how to count off a tune! Lots of great take aways that are relevant for all musicians- even arranger keyboardist.

My post my choice

Watching Sarah's videos and listening to the guitar player, reminds me .. a few years ago while playing in Wildwood.. La Piazza restaurant had a jazz guitar player with a E335 and a Fender twin, He played just before we did (Just in Time). I use to come in early and play about half an hour with him.. Just his guitar, and my left hand bass and piano.. No vocals.. Seemed liked any thing we played (standards) we both new and always original keys.. I absolutely loved it..

I think I would jump at a situation where I could do this again..

Imagine if the jazz guitarist was a beautiful young lady too

And what would you do with a beautiful young lady if you caught one? HEE HEE!

Same thing I have always done... be the protective Father like..

Not the best in the world, but certainly pleasant and easy to look at and listen to. These days, I'll support almost anyone who would work that hard on the art form I love.

Thanks, Fran

Russ

My sentiments too, Russ. Sure we can nitpick all we want, and Chick Corea is a better pianist and Sarah Vaughn could out sing her, but to play at the level she’s playing takes a life time of dedication. Plus I am absolutely certain that most people (not musicians) would prefer her music over Chick Corea because her music is so much more familiar and accessible.

Paul, I'm usually with you but I think if someone puts a youtube performance up, they're usually looking for feedback. A critique isn't worth a dime if it isn't honest. After a half century of looking at, listening to, and playing, jazz music, I think I'm entitled to make honest, NON-mean spirited, evaluative comments. I don't think Fran took offense to that. Human nature being what it is and testosterone-fueled tendencies being what they are; men tend to be more defensive about any PERCEIVED slights to the opposite sex, whether deserved or not, especially if she happens to be 'fair of face' (CUTE). I'm sure my critique (NOT put-down) would have gone pretty much un-noticed if she looked like Bride of Frankenstein. So in the end, it's not about whether she can play better than you or me or whether her music is more 'accessible' than Chick's; it's about 'how would you critique this performance'. I'm sure a lot of those little geniuses at Berklee and Julliard can outplay their teachers but that doesn't mean that that seasoned musical education professional can't critique them.

As I said, I agree with you on 99% of things so this is just a minor blip . Take care.

BTW, your signature quote "It not the keyboard, it's the keyboardist" is probably the MOST-QUOTED in Synthzone history .

chas

All good points Chas, and well taken. Music is such a subjective art form, we're all bond to have different opinions. I respect and I'm interested in your thoughts on music. I wish our conversations here on SZ would be more about music and less about gear. Thanks for trying to move the conversation in that direction.

From somneone who won't listen to this type of music at all, because of her I listened....

OK, now you're ready for Dianna Krall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr8xDSPjII8