Jazz Pianist Reacts to Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack

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[CharlesCornellStudios]

I hope that the sentiment that this soundtrack was plagiarized isn't a widely held belief...because it's dumb. Also go check out the improv course on Skillshare so you can learn how to plagiarize everybody else's improv! This is how to get good at improv.

[isaacdennis]

Fun fact, the directors of Cowboy Bebop talk about how they wouldn't really talk with her and she'd just fall off the grid. Later she'd give them a piece of music and they seemed almost irritated because it was so good they'd have to reillustrat whole sections of the show because they couldn't just not use.

[SteveConteNYC]

Hey Charles, Steve Conte here… I have done tons of work with Yoko Kanno… (If you check the credits on the CD that you were reviewing here you’ll see that I sang the song “Rain“.) I’ve also worked on a number of the other Cowboy Bebop soundtrack albums as well as The soundtrack albums to other anime series she has written music for such as ghost in the shell, wolfs rain and her solo album - song to fly. I can tell you that you are spot on! She is an incredible musician and even though we didn’t speak the same language she was able to communicate with just a few words what she wanted me to give her in the recording sessions. I’ve also performed live with her a number of times with yoko & her incredible band the seatbelts in Japan and I gotta tell you… It’s a rush! You were right on about the playing being slightly loose on some stuff and that is exactly what makes it feel so cool. There’s nothing worse than a “perfect“ imitation of a certain genre and Yoko does things her own way. I’m so glad you discovered this music… cheers! SC

[Thomasfrank]

My evil plan to turn you into an anime soundtrack critic is off to a great start

[battlespace]

I was at a high school concert for my kids, and they brought out the jazz band and with no announcement launched into this. I totally embarrassed myself screaming out a big "YEAH!" as the only adult who recognized it. The best part was that the band NAILED it! It was a good concert.

[heyitsDevriss]

The fact the soundtrack was made first and then they wrote episodes about it after the fact is incredible for so many reasons

[rainyfriday]

When I was in marching band in high school, we’d always played Tank for our warmup song. The band director had never seen an anime before in his life. He’d heard a senior student who was conductor at the time play it and liked it so much, it just became a tradition for all new band members to learn it for practice.

[sanquine]

Fun fact about this soundtrack: the tuba player on multiple tracks is Bill Barber. Now if you aren't familiar, that is the exact same Bill Barber who plays in the Miles Davis nonet on legendary albums like Birth of the Cool, Sketches of Spain and Miles Ahead.

[Anail_Mhin]

I can only repeat myself like I did for the past 25 years: Yoko Kanno is a genius

[MelonCatto]

Yoko Kanno is ridiculously talented. Her work on Escaflowne, Ghost in the Shell (SAC), Wolf's Rain, Terror in Resonance, and of course, Cowboy Bebop is all phenomenal.

[shelbywhite]

The jazz group that Yoko Kanno made that soundtrack with was called "The Seatbelts", because apparently their jazz jam sessions got so wild that they'd fall out of their seats. And, from what I've heard, actually wore seatbelts while playing.

[AlexTimeExpress]

The fact that he went through all of Tank! except for the last flourish p a i n s me.

[tngdragon]

The Incredibles, Jonny Quest, Bond flicks- as a child raised by jazz fans in the 60s... this is my stuff. Love it all. And Kanno is a bloody genius.

[ryenschimerman]

It's nice to see Yoko Kanno getting the love she rightfully deserves. She may be one of the most underappreciated musicians of the last 20 years. She's been relegated to just being a "cartoon song writer" which diminishes the genre, yeah, but also just dismisses how amazing she is.

Than you!

[samuelbeltrami]

Early 20th century jazz musicians in the studio like: "yeah man, this should sound like the cowboy bebop soundtrack, drop it"

[johnvan]

Charles: This is a 12 Bars Blue and most of you probably picked this up.
Me: (Nodding my head like I know what he’s talking about) Of course, how could anyone miss that.

[mokkaherrman]

Samurai Champloo is by the same creator and took its focus on Hip-Hop instead. It's also a great series, and maybe another idea for a video?

[popcultureotaku]

No one ever talks about the fact that she did a cover of Pink Floyd's "On the Run" for Bebop. It's a hidden gem in the discography of the series.

[Lesandira]

Yoko Kanno is a musical genius. Her soundtrack for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex is also really fitting and unique.

[ryansizemore]

Her "Nailing" the sound is what makes this so unbelievable. I would've never guessed the soundtrack was all from one group. The blues harmonica in this OST is my favorite Harmonica playing I've ever heard. If anyone knows anything that compares or overshadows it please let me know.