| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Jarrett in Chicago | |
| jbl81 -- 12/05/2004, 20:38:24 -- #9492 | |
| Jarrett was in town this weekend and played Symphony Center Friday night. I didn't go, but several friends did. One was close enough (second row, center) that he was able to perceive a great deal of detail in the techniques each member of the trio employed. My friend was a bassist and not having an understanding of the mechanics of a piano, was commenting that he noticed Jarrett "doing vibrato." I was confused and asked, "you mean he had his hands inside the piano?" My friend responded, "No, he was doing this on the keys" (and he proceded to demonstrate vibrato on his bass. I proceded to explain to my friend my [incomplete] understanding of the mechanics of the piano and how it seemed impossible to me that Jarret's finger motions on the ivories were imparting anything like vibrato or tremolo on the strings. Given the other crazy motions/vocalizations associted with his playing, I'd not be surprised if this was just part of his "getting into it." I don't have a real piano at my disposal, so I can't experiment. I can't imagine this imparts any sort of frequency modulation, but is it possible that the key is being manipulated in such a way as to pulse the damper (or whatever you call the mechanism that dampens the strings after the hammer smacks them) against the strings? Even if that were the case, I would expect that this wouldn't be any sort of AM or FM, but something more like a downward stairstep function in terms of damping the sound over time. | |
| 7 -- 12/06/2004, 12:22:41 -- #9512 | |
| I find myself "executing vibrato" on the piano as well, but that doesn't mean that the piano is "vibrato-ating" because of it. With synths, you achieve vibrato by pushing harder on the key (aftertouch). I always seem to "vibrato-ize" (wiggle) my finger when using aftertouch (even though I know I don't need to). Part of that is just plain showmanship, but part of it is that I also play other stringed instruments and it is a holdover from the way vibrato is created on these instruments. I found that when playing my spinet size piano that I could achieve a vibrato/tremelo effect by shaking the piano while holding a note (I'm not kidding!). Even though that was also a showman trick, it actually has an effect. I doubt if you can shake a 9' grand to any effect at all. | |
| jbl81 -- 12/06/2004, 15:57:03 -- #9517 | |
| 7, Yeah, my first question to my friend was "was he playing a keyboard or a piano?" -- thinking it was perhaps aftertouch. That's interesting that you've actually shaken the piano though! Thanks for the response. | |
| Ole -- 12/07/2004, 07:18:23 -- #9532 | |
| I wrote an article on Jarrett one year ago. During my research I did stumble over some information that claimed he could achieve vibrato on a grand piano, but I could not find out how he did it... | |
| jbl81 -- 12/07/2004, 10:03:25 -- #9537 | |
| Do any of the pedals offer a strange side effect that could be manipulated to cause vibrato? | |
| sid -- 12/07/2004, 12:07:36 -- #9540 | |
| Don't underestimate what the very best can do with an instrument. I've heard Gary Burton bend notes on the vibes - impossible but true! sid | |
| Ole -- 12/09/2004, 02:53:20 -- #9555 | |
| One of the theories I have heard is that Jarrett uses microtouch to hit the strings rapidly to cause this effect, but it seems almost impossible. But I agree with Sid: Don`t underestimate the very best... | |
| mikewem85 -- 12/09/2004, 10:00:50 -- #9562 | |
| Hey, jbl81 I was at that show in Chicago. They all played beautifully (I'm sure that's surprising, considering they are among the best trios ever...) and there weas a big focus on ballads. They also did a Straight No Chaser with some free improv in the middle... really interesting stuff. Anyway, aboout your question, I don't really know why he does it. I see him do it all the time in the DVDs I have of him but I think it's just part of his style. He does move around *quite* a bit, and has many other motions, so I don't know if theres any special reason that he does that with his hands. In other words, I don't think he's trying to get a vibrato, it's just a motion. But then again, who knows. Take it easy. | |
| CynBad -- 12/11/2004, 14:38:07 -- #9612 | |
| I think Jarrett is one of the very best pianists in jazz. He actually plays like a PIANIST. However, he does have a lot of annoying mannerisms. Like that incessant moaning. | |
| quartal -- 12/13/2004, 09:48:32 -- #9646 | |
| Hands down the most overated pianist in history. | |
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