@jacobcollier performs Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' (SFJAZZ Singles)

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About this clip:

Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier performs his version of the 1989 Billy Joel classic “And So It Goes” during his performance on June 9 as part of the 40th San Francisco Jazz Festival, broadcast on Fridays Live.

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About the concert:

From YouTube sensation to global superstar, 28-year-old British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier has turned the music world on its ear, pairing his boundless musical ability with cutting edge technology to redefine the meaning of “solo performance.”

Born to a pair of classical violinists and music educators, Collier was singing and performing from childhood. He first made waves when the homemade video of his stunning a capella version of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory became a viral phenomenon, introducing the world to his four and a half octave vocal range and staggering approach to harmony, overdubbing his voice over a dozen times to create a densely rich musical tapestry.

Collier’s GRAMMY-winning 2016 debut album, In My Room, hit #1 on the iTunes jazz chart in 23 countries and debuted at #1 on the Contemporary Jazz Album chart in Billboard, who declared, “Jacob Collier is blowing minds.”

A collaborator with the likes of John Mayer, Snarky Puppy, Coldplay, BTS, Alicia Keys, SZA, and Tank and the Bangas, Collier began work on his sprawling Djesse project in 2018 — a 50-song collection spread over a planned four releases, each devoted to a different part of the day, that features contributions by the Metropole Orkest, Sam Amidon, Oumou Sangaré, Ty Dolla Sign, Chris Thile, and Becca Stevens, among others. The third and latest volume was released in 2020, and these performances will likely feature music from the as-yet unreleased fourth volume.
To witness Jacob Collier live is to experience a visceral definition of “pure imagination.”

PERSONNEL:

Jacob Collier: piano, vocals

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***SFJAZZ is a non-profit organization that presents year-round jazz concerts, festivals and educational programs at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, CA.

[JonnyCooper]

This is one of Billy's most underrated and overlooked songs. No idea why!

[joeobyrne]

What makes Jacob such an incredible musician is his ability to identify the soul of a song. For every song he covers, he knows what makes it amazing. He never corrupts that core essence. He adds dynamic changes, elongates breaks and adds in immense extra flavour, but he never changes what makes the song work. In this specific piece for most of the aong, he keeps it quiet and simple (for his own standards) because "And so it goes" is not a scream of anguish. It's a whisper and close of the eyes. He then repeats the last couple of lines (the crescendo of the lyrics "and you can have this heart to break") and then really let's go and lingers on the most emotionally compoex part and takes us to the despairing depths and the climb back to resignation abd sadness. A pleasure to be alive at the same time as him.

In many ways he reminds me of Liszt in the way he could take pieces of his time and make them longer, more complex, but without losing the basis of the piece itself

[JP.Q]

I like the changed lyrics in the first stanza from "to heal the wounds" to "to feel the wounds".

[discoveryyrjoytry]

This pouring out of his soul is so beyond beautiful. Thank you🙏🙏

[korpus]

Without a question: One of Billy‘s Best Songs ever, this Genius wrote! Be sure!!

[cleonemusician]

Jacob Collier, so genuinely heartfelt. Musicianship par excellence & what an impressive pianist! Thank you!!!

[pollyannaniehues]

jesus christ... this young man is splendid

[BoxterMusic]

i LOVED seeing him last weekend. he's my absolute idol. thank you sfjazz <3

[joelwilliammusic]

My favorite Billy Joel song! Incredibly well done, Jacob Collier is a legend in the making.

[felipemeirelles]

Ocean Wide, Canyon Deep… now I know where it comes from

[joyceglasgow]

SFJAZZ, I’m glad you picked this song as the highlighted single!

[_kyramisu_]

This soulful song coming out of those red overalls. I love it. Its so Jacob

[nancyrussell]

He can take any song and make it his own. Such a beautiful arrangement. They key changes... Genius. The pure emotion he puts into it. Genius. We'll be seeing A LOT of Jacob in the future I know. My favorite part... "And you're the only one who YOU'RE the only one who (goes up) YOU'RE the only one.... Who knows. If Billy Joel heard this I'm sure he was beyond impressed where Jacob Collier took his song.

[marq]

this one is among the best I’ve ever seen in a music video! Showing all his talent!🌻

[lynbreakwell]

My favourite Billy Joel song, thank you Jacob for appreciating it so beautifully ❤🎵🎹

[bonanderson]

I loved this song, and I love it anew. Thank you for the reinvention and appreciation for the original.

[robertgentry]

I appreciate the great talent and virtuosity as well as the soul and emotion here. There is also something to be said for the pure beauty, taste, and simplicity of the genuine article. Many times, less is more.

[MarinellaMagnani]

Una delle mie canzoni preferite... Da prima che Jacob nascesse ❤

[keithmccabe]

Understanding music theory and running endless scales. Bravo. Lmao

[SpencerTwiddy]

6:25 - is that a stringed instrument or his voice?!