But you know, all this comes completely naturally to any half-way decent jazz musician. So much of the "gee whiz" aspect of this conversation is rather parochial. In the world of classical music, sure, this is all strange. But in jazz, not at all. All this stuff about Montero improvising without knowledge of music theory, that's just nonsense. Children chatter away without any knowledge of linguistics. Musicians who haven't been crippled by years of tutelage in the classical tradition find improvising to be utterly natural. All classical musicians could and should be like Montero. Alas...
From the YouTube page:
Gabriela Montero is an amazing pianist and improviser, perhaps even the best since Bach. In this work of art she will be interviewed by the one and only inglorious Aleksey and also be improvising on themes from famous movies like Star Wars by John Williams, Time from Inception and Boss Baby 2 by composer Hans Zimmer.
0:00 Introduction
1:04 "I turned 50 this year"
2:22 Childhood stories
4:33 Famously dumb concerning music theory
6:06 Gabriela and Aleksey improvising live in Geneve
https://oneaction.ch/en
https://karuna-shechen.org
7:49 Gabriela and Aleksey play again
8:40 Looking inside Gabriela's brain
11:50 "ExPatria" by Gabriela Montero
12:22 Latin Concerto by Gabriela Montero
13:15 Noteflight composing program
https://www.noteflight.com
13:20 Sibelius composing program
https://www.avid.com/sibelius
14:26 Plugging performances you WONT do
15:22 Music Traveler new streaming platform
https://www.musictraveler.com
https://www.musictraveler.tv
f / musictraveler
17:37 Gabriela improvising introduction
18:10 Star Wars by John Williams - Aleksey shows theme
18:45 Star Wars by John Williams - Gabriela improvises
20:23 "Time" from Inception by Hans Zimmer - Aleksey shows theme
21:18 "Time" from Inception by Hans Zimmer - Gabriela improvises
23:25 "Boss Baby" by Hans Zimmer - Aleksey shows theme
24:24 "Boss Baby" by Hans Zimmer - Gabriela improvises
25:30 Goodbye to Gabi and her famous words of wisdom
crippled by years of tutelage
ReplyDeleteVery dramatic, in tone. I know classical trained musicians that specialise in Jazz. Classical dance/ movement, all my instructors were seriously big time Jazz fiends.
Its influence is everywhere.
No idea about classical music, is it really the odd one out? It does not compute.
Its the technique (tutelage) style (classical) that does not compute. They are not the same thing.
ReplyDeleteRight, not the same.
DeleteIt's the standard class 1O1 argument used in 'classical tutelage.' Or at least in drama.
ReplyDeleteFreedom of expression is also the basis of good communication in art, really should give you the means to just not accept stylistic heavy manners from teachers no matter how distinguished. The goal is not to produce 'a model student.'
Its the basis of any good education in the arts, I think.