Big Nick: Journey Through The Real Book #30 (Jazz Piano Lesson)

Jazz piano solo and musical/historical discussion of the John Coltrane tune “Big Nick,” which Coltrane recorded with Duke Ellington.

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How to create your own, unique arrangement of a jazz standard 0:00
How bringing your specific “point of view” to your solo jazz piano performances can give them a sense of structure 0:38
Structuring your jazz piano arrangements like Art Tatum, John Lewis and the MJQ, and Herbie Hancock 0:50
Herbie Hancock’s chord substitutions on “Embraceable You” 1:08
An example of Art Tatum using a pre-arranged bass pattern in his solo piano arrangements 1:18
The value of coming up with a musical idea that’s unique to you 1:27
History of John Coltrane’s “Big Nick” 1:34
“Big Nick’s” bouncy, playful melody 1:45
Coltrane based “Big Nick” on a piece by the French composer Poulenc 2:05
The influence of jazz on early 20th century classical composers including Stravinsky and Poulenc 2:11
The “usual” way of playing Coltrane’s “Big Nick” 2:34
Experimenting with the chordal “clusters” used by 20th century classical composers 2:47
Using LH cluster harmonies to emphasize the playful quality of Coltrane’s “Big Nick” 3:04
Echoing the melody in the left hand accompaniment, a la JS Bach’s Canonic Imitation 3:19
Using these various techniques when soloing on “Big Nick” 4:19
20-century classical composers’ use of Stride Piano (Stravinsky, etc) 4:27
Using Polytonality in the style of Darius Milhaud in a jazz context 4:34
Improvising an intro in the style of Stravinsky’s “Petroushka” 5:01
Starting the tune itself, as discussed above 5:06
Simultaneous trills with both hands 5:20
Beginning the solo by repeating and developing the last phrase of the melody 5:38
A pointillistic left hand accompaniment 5:50
Improvising a melodic left hand accompaniment under Coltrane’s original melody 6:09
Improvising note-against-note counterpoint 6:21
A Thelonious Monk-like voicing 6:30
Stride piano, influenced by Stravinsky and Milhaud in addition to the early jazz pianists 6:37
Rhythmic syncopation to disguise the underlying beat 6:55
Breaking up the left hand stride pattern 7:10
Stravinsky-like left hand chord voicings 7:25
Returning to Stravinsky’s “Petroushka” for a playful ending 7:58
Opening your musical vision 8:05
Including your other musical interests in your solo jazz piano playing 8:22
Feeding your musical soul 8:50


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Enjoy the journey, and "let the music flow!"
Ron

[Joshuamedina]

awesome i really like your channel subscribed

[Bipedlocomotion]

Ron I'm loving the real book stuff. Keep it up I'm trying to play catch up with you. Your Agua De Beber gave me a lot of inspiration for that tune. The funky way you handled the intro really got me. Big Nick as well I never imagined it as a solo piece, I can't wait for your take on Ecclusiastics.