Jazz Piano Medley of Radiohead Tunes – Part 1/2
Sep 2, 2010 Rock Bands
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Here’s a long overdue tribute to one of my favorite bands. Radiohead was one of the first “rock” bands whose music I started doing interpretations of on the piano almost 10 years ago. About a month ago I decided I ought to finally pay them homage by preparing a medley of songs spanning their entire career…but with my own personal “twist”, just like the Mario video I made almost exactly one year ago. Be sure to watch part 2…I’ll be very impressed if someone can name each song I play in both videos…I hope you enjoy… Recorded January 28th, 2010
September 2nd, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Beautiful! Keep up the good work!
September 3rd, 2010 at 12:04 am
You’re sort of got the Jonny Greenwood long-hair-flying-over-the-face-and-everywhere thing going for ya, too!
September 3rd, 2010 at 12:47 am
video stops at 1:25
September 3rd, 2010 at 12:53 am
What songs did you include in this?
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:34 am
OH
MY
GOOD
GAWD O.o
<3 nice man omg
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:52 am
Have you heard Brad Mehldau, he´s a jazz pianist who plays radiohead songs, you should try listening to him
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:53 am
Thanks for taking the time to write a meaningful comment, and I hope I was able to clear up my decision to include the word “jazz” in the title.
Remember, jazz is a term that means many things, but I believe most importantly it refers to both music of an improvisational nature, and a combination of many, many genres, something I’d like to think this video exemplifies very successfully.
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:18 am
Yes, with respect to jazz “theory” (only one aspect of jazz, don’t forget), harmonically this certainly isn’t a lesson on jazz chords and motifs.
But again, don’t forget that the music is based entirely on a pop band, and if I tried to add too much jazz “theory” into it, I would’ve run the risk of sounding like a Brad Mehldau clone (he’s a great pianist, but his version of Paranoid Android makes me want to doze off, whereas mine I feel is fresh and rhythmically original).
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:36 am
Jazz, I believe, at its core must be improvised, and while there is usually a harmonic foundation, a true jazz performance should be spontaneous and be generated from the performer’s heart.
I feel passionately about Radiohead’s music, and while I had a general idea of what I was going to play for this video, the majority of this video was improvised on the spot, and came from my heart.
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:37 am
If you’re familiar with the music of Jelly Roll Morton, then you’ll notice that in this video I’m constantly utilizing his rhythmic flair, turning the “straight” Radiohead songs into his driving and syncopated patterns, something unique to early jazz piano music (which he pioneered).
Also, 90% of this performance is improvised, and if you’ve studied Art Tatum, you’ll see many of his runs and finger patterns incorporated into this performance. The stride influence here is also very obvious.
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:48 am
Sure, this isn’t Bill Evans “jazz”, or Chick Corea “jazz”, but IMO jazz has come to mean so much more than the drab generic sound that so many people associate it with these days.
True jazz is an alchemical pursuit, an amalgamation of the music of many cultures and time periods, and classical and “pop” music are absolutely a part of its scope.
However, there is a unique rhythmic and improvisational aspect of jazz that transcends these, and all other, genres.
September 3rd, 2010 at 3:29 am
While I agree that the term “jazz” is thrown around too often incorrectly, there are 2 things about this performance that I believe warrants that label: rhythm and improvisation.
Obviously this is pop influenced, as all the music was written by a “pop” band…and as you astutely noticed I was indeed classically trained…but jazz would never have been developed without the classical antecedent, and the piano players I mentioned all studied the great classical composers, especially Art Tatum.
September 3rd, 2010 at 3:30 am
I’m glad you’re inspired by some of the great jazz piano players. I grant you that my previous post has a curt tone to it but the term “jazz” is thrown around too casually and the title of this video seems to point to that. I don’t mean to suggest that your playing is bad just this seems more pop/classical influenced.
What, in musical terms, is the connection of your medley to the piano players you mention to warrant calling this a jazz piano medley?
September 3rd, 2010 at 4:05 am
This is directly inspired by the musical stylings of Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, and Art Tatum. Sure, they wouldn’t be categorized as “modern” jazz, but they are *the* founders of the “jazz piano lineage”.
Should I have entitled this “stride piano medley” instead? Or “classical piano medley”?
Saying that this music has no connection to the jazz piano lineage demonstrates your ignorance of the history of jazz piano.
September 3rd, 2010 at 4:26 am
Some classical technical chops but no connection to the jazz piano lineage.
September 3rd, 2010 at 5:15 am
@radiogirl35
Agreed. Love all Radiohead music, but for me “Paranoid Android” takes the cake! amazing ballad!
September 3rd, 2010 at 6:12 am
You, sir, have disgusting talent. Many respects, fellow Radiohead!
September 3rd, 2010 at 6:46 am
yup, you got it. But don’t forget that the bridge between paranoid android and exit music is a very brief piece of pyramid song from amnesiac.
Now can you name all the songs from part 2….?
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:15 am
oh, and Paranoid Android I forgot to put that one
September 3rd, 2010 at 8:09 am
You start with Talk Show Host, then go to a Everything In It´s Right Place, You and whose Army, We suck Young Blood, Exit Music ( For a Film ).
Am I right ?
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:03 am
Whoa! I’m loving Paranoid Android. My favorite all-time Radiohead song that I never tire of hearing!
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:40 am
man i wish i could play like you, i am too slow i mean very slow lol. good job on that one man , keep up the good work.
September 3rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
I’ve been listening to this for the last few days. You should definitely consider recording.
September 3rd, 2010 at 10:17 am
wow, this is amazing! <3
September 3rd, 2010 at 10:37 am
Welcome internet, to the world of jazz.
April 16th, 2011 at 5:16 am
Very nice!…
Wow you are very very talented!! keep up the awesome work. You are very talented & I only wish I could write as good as you do
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