This INSANE Piano Solo Nearly Made Me QUIT Playing

[@CharlesCornellStudios]

I MIGHT not quit. Maybe. But if I don't quit, then you have to at least start. Deal? I can help, if you want- shop.betterpiano.com/

[@MasterSandman]

Are you trying to guilt-trip us? 🤔🧐 Shame on you! 😅 That man's just insane... The way both him and the bass player are grinning like even *they* can't quite believe what they're doing... 😁

[@whtstr2133]

Okay bro, here's mine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJOad2aJipp1iNksi=A0bmvlo512MFJXdg Then there's Live House SSH... I've learned to think of those on a timeline. Example would be 1 second over 10 inches. Musically speaking, I hear city ambiance...with a subtle sadness in the chord progression. Obvious Jazz base foundation and beat is genre specific so taste is a big issue with understanding. Kinda hard without music education to see those more chaotic times and chord choices. I'm a 4/4 simple man...4 bar variation is home. However, I heard once on Tales of Destiny 2 a 6/3 Arabic that's just .... memorable.

[@Llamas-be8fc]

please check out the celeste ost! lena raine is definitely one of the most talented video game composers out there

[@cephas-1776]

Be glad it wasn't an asian kid or we all would have quit

[@allagreta9990]

Wrong notes? You are

[@namelesswalaby]

I can't play wrong notes that fast with a pack of AA batteries and a nerf gun

[@jbponzi1]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@mathieubolduc555]

😂😂

[@a-train6049]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

MMIA My Mirth Is Audible

[@XxMETALJAREDxX]

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!

[@savlecz1187]

I unironically love Tommy's solo on the Giant Steps track. It's such a reprieve from the endless barrage of notes that it just brings the whole tune together, at least for me.

[@alpardal]

Same - it provides a very nice contrast to Coltrane's high-energy phrases

[@Pseudify]

Yes, we need to hear your version of Giant Steps, Charles!

[@cooldebt]

💯

[@sman7963]

In all twelve keys...

[@pascalrijnders2061]

...slow and lush, like your rendering of clair de lune...

[@garyhoffman1]

There will ALWAYS be someone better, faster and stronger. The whole idea of the game is to find out how YOU can contribute. Miles couldn’t play as fast or high as Dizzy. Good thing he didn’t quit, huh?

[@NightOfCrystals]

The main problem is that the mindset “there will always be someone better” is one of THE most disempowering to center. Like you say, life is about what you have to contribute.

[@maclayyc]

​@@NightOfCrystals Or very empowering, when exasperation is replaced by exploration and discovery

[@sam-jf6cq]

ehhh.... be careful on that one. Miles could play extremely fast and could play high, but he just didn't because he didn't like it as part of his playing.

[@Nclght]

​@NightOfCrystals True, there's always someone better. "There never was a horse that couldn't be rode, There never was a man that couldn't be throwed. " .....as recited by Matt Dillon after being outdrawn.

[@sandoz64]

Thanks Charles for the contribution, but I must say that I find the performance rather dangerous for a student, in the sense that it can lead to frustration and distance him from the true heart of musicality. Camilo has always based his poetics on unbridled virtuosity, even rhythmic. And in any case, these are still patterns performed with ever-increasing speed. So, good practice to everyone...

[@TheKidKahmeleon]

I just bought the course bundle today, Im finally ready to take the next step in my piano journey and I couldn’t think of a better way to start. Thank you for everything you do, you’re doing the world a great service!

[@RedSkyWhisper]

Michel Camilo is the pianist that made me like Jazz, I still remember having goosebumps on hearing « From Within » from the Calle 54 documentary for the for the first time.

[@stuartcampbell4626]

Love this. Camilo for me is the one who made me realize just how much I was falling in love with jazz.

[@vi99da32]

when i was 16-17yrs old, i was just starting to play piano. i was really into it, and thought ppl like Stevie Wonder was as good as it gets when it comes to playing... then my youth pastor introduced me to Michel Camilo. it was the song "on fire". it was a revelation. up till then, i had NO IDEA, it was even possible to play an instrument like that. i was hooked unto jazz for ever. ♥️

[@hector.vigilescalera]

That tune is amazing, next level *goes to listen to it yet again

[@Calcprof]

Paul Chambers' playing is incredible. When you put this in front of a bassist, the impulse is to just hit the roots, as the harmony goes flying by. But PC does much more than that, actually connecting the chords (often not on the root). The Giant Steps changes are very similar to the B section of Have You Met Mrs. Jones.

[@Jantsenpr777]

Well, it's the great Michel Camilo! What did you expect!? To him, the piano is as native a tongue as Spanish (he's Dominican). When you see him doing that, he's just speaking "Spianise."

[@napilopez]

I'm Dominican and had no clue Camilo was too. Made my day!

[@nuberiffic]

It sounds more like a baby just babbling gibberish

[@Jantsenpr777]

@@nuberiffic Gibberish it most certainly is not.

[@nuberiffic]

@@Jantsenpr777 I'm sure babies don't think they're speaking gibberish too.

[@Jantsenpr777]

@nuberiffic Sure, but what Michel Camilo is doing is a greatly developed improvisation with a high level of musical information in it.

[@EnclaveSoldier2201]

This is the musician's equivalent of "You should uninstall NOW!!!"

[@jbponzi1]

😂😂😂😂

[@shemardavis8735]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@Baltzy24]

Giant steps was a minor 3rd practice exercise that turned into a tune

[@_lars]

A minor 3rd exercise in major 3rds! :D

[@agorgedslug]

A 'minor' (not particularly important) exercise in major 3rds.

[@MatthiasKnorrMusic]

Michel Camilo is one of my favorite Piano players of all time. I listened to his Albums when I was a child because I was a Dave Weckl fan. And as a drummer he was on another level that I wanted to achieve as well. Plus Anthony Jackson on Bass made the early Michel Camilo Trio recordings some of my all time favorites.

[@michael-ph3jn]

me too. Started listening to him in 1990

[@nobodynever7884]

That Rendezvous album was epic. Tropical Jam.

[@njoogle]

I accidentally stumbled into that trio at the blue note in NYC when he actually opened for Dave Valantin. It was either late 80s or early 90s. I had never heard of him. Needless to say, he blew the audience away. I felt sorry for Dave. The energy produced by Michel, Weckl, & Jackson was insane. They were an impossible act to follow.

[@jthawken123]

11:34 a wild Everlong appears

[@Matttheriley]

I hear it too!

[@xX1Mankrik3Xx]

The version Michel Camilo is playing is technically impressive, but the music produced by it was not very appealing to me.

[@EneldoSancocho]

0:40 😮 I know the devil is supposed to play the violin, and can challenge anyone to a duel. Now I know why the devil didn't choose the piano.

[@Luis-qe1uf]

Yeeeeees michel camilo finally

[@roropants6054]

some of these chords just hit you somewhere deep man.(dont quit)

[@DougMunro]

Hi Charles! Yes Michelle Camilo! I used to see him play all the time at Mikell's in NYC in the early '90's. Great player and great guy!

[@max784020]

Let's face the true. We stayed for the music value of the channel, but at the beginning we all got hooked because those face expressions. There isn't anyone else so satisfying to watch be mind blown. Thank you

[@Datamining101]

This is one of those situations where I think to myself “Sure it’s fast and complex, but do I enjoy listening to it? Not really.”

[@damoose0]

100% agree

[@Annihilator_5024]

true

[@Zeraphyr_]

Yep, another case of spectacle vs long-term enjoyment for me.

[@maximilianocarrion1599]

I was afraid of being the only one with that feeling.

[@dracuul78]

Exactly! This kind of jazz is too random or unpredictable for me to enjoy...

[@matthews8374]

I can't even think that fast let alone make my hands do either part separately - together is not even a distant possibility. The word "aghast" comes to mind.

[@charlescdt6509]

Those 3 notes reminded me of "I Wish" by Skee-lo. LOL good stuff as always.

[@cooldebt]

Blast from the past - repeated that song SO many times back in the day

[@MrManningata]

Agreed, in fact I'm just now realising that I don't like that song - I thought I did, but only for the chords!

[@ajcohen100]

I love the ideas of the Coltrane piece, and I know it's really to play. But when I listen to this version, it does nothing for me. I mean it's impressive that he plays so fast and the notes make sense, but that's not why I listen to music. I listen to music to put my life into context, and to feel emotions. This is more like watching a rocket launch or seeing some acrobats at a circus. I love you Charles, but this is not all that.

[@GiGA-BOB]

First guess: no, you didnt

[@zheppard413]

No way sherlock

[@mauricemcguillicutty4746]

You may want to mention that the title Giant Steps refers to the intervallic movement of the keys: 2 steps down in each phrase in bars 1-8 and then 2 steps up in bars 9-16. B to G to Eb + G to Eb to B, then Eb to G to B to Eb. And each section ends where it started!

[@tedl7538]

Kind of like a musical Escher.

[@eydiguttason1961]

Charles you are a good player too

[@ignacioalcantara513]

Michel is one of these dominicans that make feel proud of my small half island, and i love most his particular depictions of jazz standards, but this one is something special

[@Ernireg3]

💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🇩🇴🇩🇴🇩🇴👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 De Republica Dominicana pal mundo!!! Straight PLATANO POWER!!! It's not just baseball, folks!!! Michel Camilo, one of the Dominican greats! 🔥🔥🔥

[@caracolrojo]

I'd love to see Charles comment and disect Michel Camilo's From within. The one he recorded with Horacio Hernandez and Anthony Jackson in Calle 54

[@MotoNoobOfficial]

I was first exposed to Giant Steps in the 90s listening to a version by a group called The New York Voices... Even then, some of the vocal gymnastics in the scat solos were mind blowing! Thanks for an amazing video... Love your content!

[@danielvillaverde6885]

0% heart / 100% mind Don't get me wrong. It is a hard tune to play and can be beautiful sometimes. But just to play it as fast as this musician is much more an academic achievement than a musical one. It is just not beautiful, only mentally impressive.

[@BallisticEvents-e6i]

he for sure composed this and has a score. this is not improvisation.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Your point being? So what? It IS what it IS. Nothing more, nothing less. Can you do it? THAT is the question!

[@BallisticEvents-e6i]

@@Mrphilharmonic Can you? I bet not. So, this is not an "argument" - otherwise I would strongly recommend you to never talk about something you can't do.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

I love your idea of the major scales. This clip is totally AWESOME. I just love the ideas you are discussing here! I want to go play it …..again!!!!

[@Mtaalas]

Giant Steps used to be THE flex if you were able to improvise on top of it... now it's "just another" jazz standard... and that's how we push music forwards, but only if new generations learn the masters of old by the time they're 15, then they have their life to go way beyond :)

[@cooldebt]

Thank you for this! I love Michel Camilo. My favourite video is his solo Take 5 💖 PS. Your major version needs a full rendition - it sounds so happy you could call it Big Skips 😉

[@tiluriso]

Charles, I'm sure you've also known that there is a section from Maurice Ravel's 'Gaspard de La Nuit' suite, that has on its opening section 'Ondine', a short section that has exctly the same thirds related modulations, except that the tonics seem to be minor chords!. Check it out if you haven't heard that yet. Cheers, happy new year.

[@LogioTek]

Ravel's work was written in 1908, decades earlier than this. And most importantly, it also sounds more musical than this.

[@ralfpisters]

Quite right. And the technique is even older. Schubert already used it. The piece often cited as the first one to juxtapose major-third related triads is the beginning of the Sanctus from Schubert's Mass in E flat major from 1828 (Eb -> Bm -> Gm -> Ebm). And there's plenty more examples in Romanticism. Liszt was quite fond of third relationships, both minor and major. Another haunting example: the opening of Act 2 of Wagner's Parsifal (finished 1882), where you hear Bm -> Gm -> Ebm. Here you have the typical Romantic association of major thirds with fantasy/wizardry elements, also frequently found in the music of Rimsky-Korsakov.

[@tiluriso]

@@ralfpisters Hey thanks for all these other calssical music exmaples, I am going to check them out. And yeah, I can dig the association between major thir related tonics and fantasy/wizardry, since the roots of the chords spell out an Aurmented Triad, a symmetrical construction, like one of its parent scaels, the whole tone scale, which I feel due to its lake of semi tones, lacks a strong sense of tonality and thus a sort of 'out there' sound.

[@mB88-b3c]

beyond insane, thank you for your educational content as always!

[@Mrphilharmonic]

I learnt this tune ages ago. Took a while but it’s SO logical when you get to grips with it. Just beautiful. Genius. This guy nails it! I’m tempted to get his tuition packages! I like the way he explains and describes things. Easy but still musical and so informative. I wonder how Art Tatum would have treated this tune??!!!!

[@complexity5545]

I never thought of giants steps like this --- interesting. That's how the jazz pros think of it. But I never thought giant leaps was hard because I never thought of it the pro way. I think of it as augmented chord , while doing a 2-5-1 turnaround which is just minoring the major chords; its good warm ups.

[@ntimeproductions]

Giant Steps is about how the octave is divided and less about the key you are in. It is a pattern and very much like Nicolas Slominski melodic patterns that are based on the division of the octave.

[@henrychess3]

Ah Michel Camilo. I love his Take Five

[@cooldebt]

The solo piano one right?

[@ericanderson9706]

I remember his 1988 self-titled album got a lot of airplay on the jazz stations - that was my first encounter with MC. The tunes on that release are enjoyable/approachable, you don't have to be jazz fan, but if you are it's a real treat. If you're a pianist looking for a reason to quit: bonus.

[@captaincutoff]

Average Oscar Peterson solo

[@Jantsenpr777]

Well... maybe. But Oscar probably couldn't do what Michel does in the Latin spectrum. They're just two faces in jazz piano's Mount Rushmore.

[@TommyPleasure]

@@Jantsenpr777 No, Oscar is the greatest jazz pianist that ever lived.

[@TommyPleasure]

@Adam, Right, I was lost too. Because I can point you to recordings of Oscar that’s way above what Camilo was doing here. Oscar was the greatest that’s a fact!

[@Jantsenpr777]

@TommyPleasure That's your opinion and you're entitled to it.

[@TommyPleasure]

@@Jantsenpr777 Let me ask you a question. Do you really think Oscar couldn’t play this? I ask because you said “PROBABLY”..and that’s why I inquired!

[@michaelnorris2522]

Hi Charles. I bought your Better Piano course a few weeks ago. It's very helpful so far. I'm wondering if there is somewhere to post questions about it, both technical (e.g. how to make the music section full-screen on an IPad) and musical (e.g. how to learn the two-handed scales, one hand at a time or both together). Is there a forum or whatever where I can get answers from you or another knowledgeable person?

[@CharlesPayet]

Great questions, and I wondered the same.

[@JordanAlecLeeWhittaker]

Got me with the title, stayed for the Jazz! Absolutely love how passionate you get about music and piano. It's always been something I wanted to learn and appreciate the courses so far! Though it's going super slow right now haha

[@cbobschloss]

0:16 Charles you just like me fr

[@restorationconcrete]

The bass players strings were seconds away from catching on fire! I saw smoke coming out of his fingers

[@caryd67]

Drummer here: it’s not the speed of his fingers that impresses me, it’s the speed of his mind; his mental flow. Matched with an obviously impressive musical vocabulary, he basically sounds untouchable, like an alien.

[@seijunsejuki]

All I can think is that stuff like this is EXACTLY why hardly anyone listens to Jazz anymore. This is head music, not heart music. This is music to impress musicians in an otherwise empty room.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Yeah but it’s only ONE number, and obviously designed to impress. It sure as heck is NOT responsible for killing jazz!!

[@SuperAmazingJared]

okay but like, many many people listen to jazz? like, it hasn't been in the mainstream since the 40s, but it's had niche popularity ever since then. This is a ridiculous statement anyways, plenty of people who don't play piano or are musicians are impressed by virtuosity, and many parts that have virtuosity aren't just for show. This is an outlier in that it's meant to show off, but most of the pieces they play aren't that way and most modern jazz tunes aren't that way, either. Jazz has just changed. Even stuff like lo-fi has many changes and aspects of jazz music present, then you also have electroswing which prominently uses big band samples, r&b uses mostly jazz-inspired changes, etc. Not even including these examples of clear influence on a broad number of genres regularly listened to today, people REGULARLY attend jazz concerts and create new pieces, whether they be fusion, big band, latin, or any other flavor. ...also would like to mention, music being popular has nothing to do with how much it's "heart" music, there's numerous numbers of pop songs in every single era (including jazz music) that don't have any substance to them and just happen to be catchy or fit the mood of the day. Mass popularity is not a sign of the health of the music.

[@jwmc41]

That's why people have turned their back on jazz, it's all technicalities,, instrumental and harmony and just, well, indigestible.

[@olibo2049]

Fortunately, it is not case with so many artists, but I agree Michel Camilo is above all a technical performer, I don't understand how we can aprreciate this kind of solo... if you listen, it's only a scale exercise !

[@fredmoult583]

Would love to be able to hear Art Tatum’s interpretation………..

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Total bollocks!!! (But it’s just my opinion, like yours) MANY would disagree with you. Jazz has that unique characteristic whereby you can make it whatever you want. Sure there are rules, but not like ‘classical’ music. So let’s have some respect for an impeccable technique, amazing harmonic sense, and the chops to play it. Until you can at least match this - STFU!!!!! Please.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

@@fredmoult583Oh YES!!!! Me too!!!

[@future62]

Tommy Flanagan has been avenged.

[@1.4142]

I wonder when music transcription software will get good enough to transcribe stuff like this / with multiple instruments.

[@adrianlajas5336]

Michel! That man is amazing and you should listen to Caribe off the one more once album

[@mrtoast244]

So it starts out with a perfect cadence? Does it count as a cadence if it's at the beginning?

[@JohnColerMusic]

What you did around 12:30 is exactly what Professor Jeremy Siskind has his students do for tunes with a lot of modulation. Michel Camilo is terrifyingly great!

[@Shisouhyou]

This might border as music just for music players. The audience goes from normal people to people who appreciate, then to master playing for a master....

[@hector.vigilescalera]

Michel Camilo's From within with Anthony Jackson on bass and Horacio Hernandez on drums, gives the exact same feeling

[@j5555785]

Wow, I’ve been skipping this chart for years. I just played it through for the first time. It’s harmonically incredible. Thanks for making me look at it!

[@jwmc41]

So what made you nearly quit?

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Yeah!! PLEASE do a transcription. I sure as heck don’t have the time and you are so capable of doing it I’m sure. Looking forward to it!! PLEASE!!!!!

[@AogNubJoshh]

Can you do a video on Diane Krall? Her live performance of “east of the sun, west of the moon” is exceptional

[@rolo17]

So glad you found Michel Camilo. You should also listen to Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Chucho Valdez. Enjoy 😊

[@nicholaswerner8170]

I always thought the giant 'steps' are the Major Thirds the chord progression moves through. Great analysis, Charles!

[@TheChilaxicle]

Not a fan of this solo. The bassline doesn't sound good, and the insane speed makes the melody sound tuneless.

[@rramirez115]

Is Michael Camilo capable to play it in an way you enjoy it?.. yes he is ..!

[@tedl7538]

@@rramirez115 Wait...are you by any chance Ali G?

[@pauldionne2884]

Don't quit! The world does not need more soul-less 16th notes.

[@sphoenix7156]

I feel like this recording of giant steps kind of loses the feeling of giant steps, it stops feeling like giant steps and just feels like notes with no real reason.

[@Mrphilharmonic]

You ARE capable of hearing the changes then I assume?

[@soulscape5083]

"We sit there for a whole bar... Wow!!" 😄

[@shemardavis8735]

This whole trio is incredible!! 🤯🤯🤯

[@philippe-lebel]

Camilo... He's always on fire.

[@PhilosophyVajda]

@7:13 the lick?

[@RickJohnson]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one to hear it!

[@VilleNarie]

Sounds like musical diaharria to me

[@eydiguttason1961]

It's pure modulation it's all about and scale exercise

[@eydiguttason1961]

And that kind of stuff is'nt beautyful musicable

[@Mrphilharmonic]

Anything wrong with that? Especially when it’s set to such a sublime sequence.

[@eydiguttason1961]

It is virtuose and akrobat no so melodi but he is of course a talented one

[@Nclght]

Thanks for this video. I don't understand much of it but boy do I appreciate it. Compare this with McCoy Tyner's version. Would be interesting to hear you explain the difference in their approach.

[@nobodynever7884]

OMG thank you for covering Michel Camilo. Miss the old days with Anthony Jackson and Horacio Hernandez.

[@dima8955i]

Listen to his piece "From Within". My favorite piece by him

[@tomloncaric6189]

Check out the bridge of “Have You Met Miss Jones”. There you will find the inspiration for the chord changes of “Giant Steps”. Is that mentioned in the video?

[@KhemBMD]

Michel Camilo is my fav pianist thank you for featuring him

[@alexposilkin9683]

Love this. Saw Camilo a couple times in the 90s. He is insanely entertaining. Is that Dafnis Prieto on drums?

[@CarmeloCatania-sy5gn]

The question Is why did they let the Tommy flannagan choruses although flannagan Could not master the Fast changes i believe The reason Is that There are some good Melidical statements Flannagan suggests In his choruses

[@josetato]

Imagine growing up as a pianist in Dominican Republic and this guy is the standard haha....shit was tough

[@murphthesurf3409]

Does that come in a ringtone?

[@jeffwolinski2659]

The Michel Camilo trio videos at the North Sea Jazz Festival with Anthony Jackson and Horacio Hernandez are absolutely amazing, if this guy is new to you check them out.

[@Nico42ke]

I love, from within, the track he plays in the movie Calle 54. Probably the first jazz music that blew my mind.

[@FunkadelicPancho]

Michel Camillo’s trio with Anthony Jackson and Horacio Hernandez is fucking 🔥

[@KIKEPURIZAGA]

Great Channel Charles !

[@patrickytting]

First part with the "stride" left hand and perpetual line in RH is much akin to Bach/Busoni - Nun Freut Euch Lieben Christen Gemein (Listen to Busoni or Horowitz or Perahia playing)

[@HaydenCardinal2.0]

Hey Charles! Can you do a video of a response to Adam Neely is C-flat the same as B?

[@Nutball33]

Can you please look at some manfredo fest (Dig this Samba). He is my fav piano player and nobody talks about him

[@Baltzy24]

Always loved "Not Yet" and "Just Kidding" off of his big band album

[@HeroS_DionysuS]

So if I just go... 2-5-1....... then shuffle over a few notes... and do it again... and then shuffle up a few notes and do it again.... and then shuffle another few notes down and do it again.... am I coltraine?

[@nuberiffic]

Exactly! I never understood why this is supposed to be impressive. Ok, it's a whole bunch of chord changes: ok, and? Here's mine: Start from the root, each chord gets 2 beats, at 340bpm. Then go iii, iv, II V I. When you get back to the one that's the new III. Repeat. But every 2nd repeat, the iv is major (IV) and every 3rd repeat the V is diminished (V-) and every 7th repeat. the II is the new I. If the 3rd and 7th repeats line up, then all chords are tritone subs. I just made a chord progression far more complicated that the Coltrane changes. Do I win now?

[@mateusbmedeiros]

He's part of the reason both of you can think about it that easily nowadays.

[@deaconblues3964]

Amazing bro! I will never be able to do that, but I can do it slowly!

[@King_izik]

There’s actual crack in that building and it’s ALL on stage😭😭😭

[@YaoEspirito]

When I first saw and heard this, I was thinking it was Martial Solal. Great video, man.

[@richardyoung3462]

Out of curiosity, have you ever done an analysis of Chico Marx and his playing?

[@samueljoseph05]

Great playing Charles

[@dylantaylor1990]

Off topic, but I would love to hear Charles cover some Lawrence pieces. Great band with an incredibly talented keyboardist!

[@J.P.Lindsay]

👍🙂🤣 The "good s*it was "in town" for Camillo, that day!!😂

[@sinkfaze]

Love Michel, if you want Giant Steps on Professional mode watch some of those performances of McCoy Tyner from 80s on!

[@fabiansolis9385]

Camilo no solo un pianista técnicamente perfecto, musicalmente un gusto y delicadeza tremendos

[@billyalarie929]

Btw rapid key changes are BEAUTIFUL

[@immortalfigz5533]

Michael Camilo… this was my inspiration in high school… Charles you got this!!!!