How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

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IslandPink
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#1 How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by IslandPink »

Here's a thread I've been meaning to launch for a while.
This is for people to put down their favourite examples of exceptional musical skill, either virtuoso instrumental ability, or great examples of vocal performance, beautiful lyrics or song writing construction.

It's a bit like Dave's thread on miniscule magical moments of music, but less miniscule.

Please provide a Video or audio clip and if necessary the optimum timing to look for within that.
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#2 Sonny Rollins

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First-up :
SONNY ROLLINS
For a while, I couldn't quite decide who was the best saxophonist of all time, maybe Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Wayne Shorter .. ?
Eventually I realised it had to be Sonny Rollins .
This clip demonstrates why ( and please watch the whole video if you have time )
Thanks to Arena - one of the greatest TV programmes ever !

Starting at 23mins, and for the next eight and a half minutes, he launches into an improvisation that boggles the mind - so many ideas, some lyrical, some fast & complex, but it all skillfully flows together with no hesitations or awkward cul-de-sacs. I know that most of the pieces of this long improvisation will have been played before in some sequence, but having played a clarinet for a few years at school, I know how unspeakably difficult it would be to play like this ! At times I noticed he's using circular breathing to complete some of the longest or most complex bits.

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#3 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by andrew Ivimey »

For the few out there who dont know..

Keith Jarrett's The Koln Concert - astonishing and almost mythical, the whole night is very well documented...

Solo piano.
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#4 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by Dave the bass »

All 3.02 mins of it. Everything = awethumne. The wurds, the delivery, dynamic, the solo, the length.
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#5 Oscar Peterson

Post by IslandPink »

Thanks - I shall look it up - but bung us a clip if you get chance !
( Sorry that was a reply to Andrew )

Meanwhile I think it was this footage that got me thinking about this thread, and about the thread title in particular.
Around 1964, I think, BBC 'Jazz 625' programme.

The part that got me when first watching this was his playing on 'Con Alma' ( I think a Dizzy Gillespie piece ) that starts around 6:15 on here. It starts slow & quite understated, he's playing very precisely and 'with feeling' ; by 8 minutes he's improvising & playing about 5 times faster, his fingers are a blur, but he maintains strict timing with the band and it's still lyrical and artistic - it's not a typical ragged 'showing-off' sort of speed that somebody less talented could do.
I suppose it helps to have been practising for up to 18 hours a day for many years ?

Last edited by IslandPink on Tue Nov 28, 2017 8:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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#6 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by Ant »

Most of hocus pocus I think is extremely well played.
Missus hates it, makes it even better
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#7 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

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Dave the bass wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2017 7:51 pm All 3.02 mins of it. Everything = awethumne. The wurds, the delivery, dynamic, the solo, the length.
Yes, I must agree, its just perfect in every way (IMHO).
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#8 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by IslandPink »

Yes that is superb - I'm very happy I came across it and bought the 12" single.
Ant wrote: Tue Nov 28, 2017 8:15 pm Most of hocus pocus I think is extremely well played.
... well done, Ant , well done ....
However I think so far, Dave has got the best understanding of the gist of this thread.

Ok , next up... in the category of stunning voice and lyrics :
Best example for me of Joni in her early period -
"There's a sorrow in his eyes
Like the angel made of tin
What will happen if I try
To place another heart in him"


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#9 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by Lee S »

This is my all time favourite track.... for me it has it all... lyrics, rhythm, soul, solo and it evokes happy memories of times passed....

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#10 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by Nick »

There are many things I want to post here, many by Weather Report, but for me this is one of the greatest guitar solos I have heard, not because its clever or hard, but because it tells a story, it has a beginning middle and end, and takes you on a journey.

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#11 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

Post by IslandPink »

Serves me right for not having listened to the Shadows and Light LP properly yet... or having the DVD at all ( handy Christmas present idea there - thanks ! )
Really fine and actually quite clever and hard but doesn't strike you as such.
Glad I got round to this thread - plenty more to show.
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#12 du Pre

Post by IslandPink »

As mentioned recently, this clip is ideal to illustrate the greatness of Jacquelin du Pre.
Massive natural talent, total immersion in the music.
Saved this programme for the IslandPink archives.
Difficult to pick out highlights but the start of the second movement is particularly beautiful ( 16:15 to ~19:10 )
Then all of the final movement is impressive, you can clearly see the emotional and physical effort she's putting in - ( 34:00 to 45:00 )

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#13 Re: du Pre

Post by Ray P »

IslandPink wrote: Wed Nov 29, 2017 8:24 pm As mentioned recently, this clip is ideal to illustrate the greatness of Jacquelin du Pre.
To follow up on that, du Pre is one of the 'Stunning Soloists' on this archive collection that I caught on BBC IPlayer the other day - some outstanding musicians and virtuosity featured.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b ... at-the-bbc

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#14 Re: How could anybody be THAT good at ANYTHING ??

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Sorry Ray, I was stopped by some sort of sign-in procedure.
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#15 Elvis Costello

Post by IslandPink »

Composition and Lyrics on this - this is why Elvis Costello is a hero !

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