Eric Lewis: Striking chords to rock the jazz world

[@CW-so7uh]

Years later I still comeback and watch this.

[@mohitgadre4290]

This man knows this piano inside and out. Amazing spectrum he can play. Everything musical is represented in this composure, assortment of sounds, and willingness to break from the mold

[@Philosophyofmind]

This thing that Lewis has created... It moves me to tears. I often think of it as a musical telling of the story of the universe--from chaotic origin to beautiful and terrible organization, and finally, returning to oblivion. Also, I love to see the joy Lewis takes in his creation. It's like seeing into his soul when he's playing.

[@CancunMimosa]

the build up and ride from 4:56 until the release at 8:18 is just... incredible. i'mfrozenbythisperformance :)

[@david0aloha]

The expression he possesses is beautiful. The harsh, cold and real and the beautiful parts are so contrasted - but I think that's the point and it's very powerful.

[@DEVUNK88]

this man is not playing music..... he is communicating a his innermost thoughts and intentions in a most serious manner

[@chubbychekker]

I like the extreme contrast he creates between the chaos and the melody. Genuis for being able to weave and manipulate the two so convincingly.

[@panamanian911]

This man is ridiculous. After all of these years, he finally seems COMPLETELY happy with what he's doing, which is whatever he wants. He has truly reached the top state of musicianship

[@cricketmsv]

God, I think that was one of the best musical experiences I've ever had vía the internet. I can't imagine what it would be like to see him live. Amazed.

[@metranisome]

I love the chaos he creates, while giving just enough melody to cling to and feel that its music! And to the people who commented against his skill, if you listen carefully he is very controlled and talented even while making chaos! Simply pay attention to the notes he chooses and skips in the chaos to give it just the right sound! It takes a lot to understand but you just have to open up and listen, and not criticize just because its not the same music youve heard before!

[@Lolcoca]

Incredible 🔥🤍🥰😎

[@NamelessAndFamous]

It blows my mind every time I watch this. Bravo, good sir. Bravo.

[@artbymf]

so beautiful and musically artistic...as both a really appreciate everything about his performance. Thank you!

[@MrJLchaotic]

shivers down my spine when he plays those beautiful melodys

[@ronaldraegan7886]

This is incredible, who cares if it's not like regular music it conveys a lot of emotions

[@wondernugget000]

Bravo! you put into words the feeling and energy this song gives off. As a singer, I can ride the emotion of his playing. He is truly amazing!

[@gentlefury]

So amazing! The control he brings is just incredible!

[@brandonblount87]

Still the most incredible thing I've ever seen... #TilThisDay!!! 🗣️🔥

[@duaneharington1436]

Best pianist I have ever heard!

[@davidthorsrud]

To combine chaos and melody with such drama...I think it's genius. I can play piano, but I wish I could tell a story like Eric Lewis! Amazing.

[@Zofar]

This gave me chills down my spine.

[@BACCHANDHT]

i first heard him on lil wayne's "IANAHB" his playing just stands out. great player

[@curtcoffee]

That was very nice Eric. Please play it again from the top, but with feeling. Surely I gest. HeymanIdefinitelyfeltthatone!thanks!

[@mikerphone.]

...Eric went on to be a global sensation.... ...The piano used at this TED convention can now be found a few miles down the road at the local battered women and children's shelter. It may never recover...

[@Hess8purple]

waw waw waw waw waw waw WAAAAAHHHHHHHAAAW... this was one of the mose moving plays in my life, so much emotion, passion, uhhh waw, i could have busted my heart out bcuz of all that emotion, if keep going, i'd never stop.. AMAZING

[@criticalsharp]

Top pianist- everything you hear is exactly how he imagines it. Its easy to play chaos, but its hard to organize it into something that reaches out and grabs you from the ears down.

[@nathanhan2089]

Dude's incredible....he's like a cross between Keith Jarrett, Rachmaninoff, Oscar Peterson and Billy Powell

[@Y4n5te1N]

amazing, absolutely amazing. This guys does wonders with the piano.

[@Terrible_Peril]

it's not about the speed, it's about the sound, and the feeling it creates. the 'mistakes' [sic] are a part of that as well. you can see the way he lulls people with a pretty ethereal kind of thing and then snaps them to attention with the discordant stuff, it's like he's having a little fun with them in a way. but it gets them involved. the reason people think he's so great is that they FEEL it. it's pretty rare when someone speaks like that with music. your mileage may vary.

[@Slntpsych]

The chaos and experimentation makes the beauty of the song even more poignant. I love his style. Everything on a piano (or any instrument for that matter) can be used to make sound.

[@JonesP77]

Yes, very good. I love people who are trying something new and break symmetry and break some rules together with a lot of energy and passion. We need more people like this!

[@Casmige]

Genius...in many fields...walks that very thin line in between normalcy & maniacal lunacy. Tis what inspires the timid to venture forth a bit further out of the shadows ... I also was a bit put off @ the intro...except the genius is that out of a subdued to a building chaos comes forth beauty. A Virtuoso!! Standing/Clapping X100!

[@onionhole]

1 Minute in, meh, unique, emotional, atonal, "i've seen freeform jazz before." 6 Minutes in, this is one of the most unique, interesting, challenging but pleasant pianists I've ever heard. I am impressed. Wow.

[@magiorey]

I wonder if people read the description- it's a cover of Evanescence, so it's not new age and the 'randomness' at the end is not only part of the style in some variants of jazz, it's also a way to interpret on the piano the other instruments present in the original song, like the drums, so it's not 'random' at all, it does in fact relate in rhythm and harmony to the rest of the song, open up your minds people!

[@littobear]

Rather than 100% aggression like most of his stuff, this piece really keeps me captivated with all the dynamics. What an incredible balance between chaos and melodious lines.

[@thpt]

It really did sound like a storm. Excellent.

[@sanjog1989]

he is an artist.. n this is his masterpeace.. most of the people, they don't have the ability to understand the art, creativity & passion within... that's why they call it madness.. bt it actually is an ART that hardly anyone can get it.. those of you who are saying this sucks or making fun of this music are just miserable human beings who has no idea about music and art...

[@SimulationSeries]

I love “different” people, they make my world go round

[@johnsonracing93]

I saw him for the first time last night at the Josh Groban concert. He was simply amazing!! He was invited into our suite and watched part of the concert with us. What an awesome dude!

[@peterrhodes3662]

🤯 wow .... thank you

[@tomyu18]

I think the idea of this song is based on the idea that beauty is relative, a sunny day is only truely appreciated after months of drudging through endless rain and constant snow. If you can't see beyond the rudimentary there is nothing wrong with that, but just think how strong it is 'feels' when he breaks into a simple harmony

[@MattCanute]

The thing he does at 9:30 is really impressive. I didn't know a piano could sound like that. i think creative things like these gives lots of great ideas for people who are interested in improvising on the piano

[@papnlockin]

Can no one see that it is through his unorthodox style of playing that he is able to convey the emotions he feels to the listener? His style on the piano is like that of Jimi Hendrix's style on the guitar. He is a revolutionary, an innovator, and, in my opinion, one of the few musical geniuses of our time. I know he'll never read this but I hope he knows that he is an inspiration to young experimental musicians everywhere.

[@isthisduckdead]

I heard a cover version of this once. Someone had accidently left the piano open at our local church hall during a meeting of the mother and toddler group. They were bashing the strings and jumping on the keys. It sounded just the same as this. If I had known some Americans think this is "Pure Genious", I would have recorded it and launched it as a CD and made a fortune. I have listened to some more of this chaps performances. I suppose it makes work for us piano tuners so its not all bad.

[@008SteelFalconII]

The transition of playing that is his style has the same concept as bands in the mid 1900s, where they would up the distortion of their guitars to bring us sweet rock n roll and eventually metal. You can say that this dude here is re-inventing the way you can play the piano in the same way early rockers did with the guitar. Now if only we can get people to open up to this innovation! We can see the next big change in the music world.

[@lvecsey]

I liked that he pushed it to extremes. Some of the light notes didn't make much sense to me but they did to him, presumably referring to stuff he has played before. In that area it's the in-between stuff that counts.

[@fuman5]

When I first saw the video it reminded me of Cecil Taylor and I was turned off, but then I listened to it with my eyes closed. It ALL makes sense, every single note. He is conveying exactly what he wants, and he does it very well. Is it Jazz? Who here has the credibility to answer that? What would Coltrane call it? Lewis is far more brilliant than most of the posters here realize and people from TED saw it. When was the last time someone who commented from here was asked to play at TED?

[@pyrocyon]

Stunning, every time.

[@spitre5456]

Bravo! Tears in my eyes!

[@anonymousQ45]

very good ambient music. its abstract and has a special voice

[@TheJakeler]

The soul is moving through his body. Powerful.

[@Narriz]

This is actually very musical playing (from the beginning to the end) I bet no-one can deny that

[@xinlo]

Damn, every time I watch this, I love it more. I see something extra. The atonal falling at the end, ending with the F#'s, that gets me every time

[@NathansOnFire2]

This is like the abstract art of music. Its all about perspective

[@neil1337]

I like how the left hand keeps the jam going while the right hand exits the key during the solo.

[@ottosdaughter]

wow, never saw anyone's hands move that fast! never heard anything like it. AMAZING!

[@MiltonSuggs]

Eric Lewis is a beast! I think all of the obscene critics should show him how its done the next time you get invited to play at TED

[@dorotwhy]

It made beautiful sense to me :O)

[@noespectro]

genius level playing

[@ErichoTTA]

No dialogue, but still another good TEdTalks.

[@taizichen]

master piece, mixture of orders and chaos, just like this world

[@drumgod723]

Of course this belongs on TedTalks. It is one of the highest forms of communication there is. It is straight from the soul and beyond. It is just as much an exercise for any brain and soul as a logical conversation is. If you don't like that this is on Ted, don't worry: there are plenty of other videos for your viewing pleasure :)

[@Exestenz]

It's like hes just playing whats running out of his mind, not caring whether it sounds "normal". Crazy stuff D:

[@wa9r]

Breath taking!

[@BBQPeanut]

Anyone remember Ben Zander's speech? The head bobbing impulses? This man is insane!

[@davidpaynewise]

Wow! Just... wow!

[@verbaluk1]

First I must confess that I don't know the original piece, but like you I found that at about 5:30 it changed; whereas previously it had been an - admittedly impressive - indulgence, he seemed to pick up a theme at 5:30 which carried through to the end.

[@dorotwhy]

a quote from a comment made by KensaiAkahige: ".... he discovered a new vocabulary in piano." Wonderfully said!!!!

[@marcus01602]

nicely put there! He is an innovator to the utmost!

[@Shoutinthewind]

What is this melody? I swear to god I know another version of it from someone but I can’t put my finger on it.

[@LewisUpperton]

The E in TED stands for Entertainment, so, yes, it was worth TED's time.

[@DrkTide7]

You guys are talking about a piano player that won the Monk Competition at a young age, his technique is amazing, so is his concept of phrasing and improvisation...He comes highly regarded from people like Wynton Marsalis. I dare any of his haters to come up with a unique contribution to the music world....lol If it's not your cup of tea then shut your mouth and listen to something else. If you like it then listen and enjoy!

[@TJS15]

Not Jazz... But quite amazing. Some parts are a little strange. But I LOVE seeing musicians who really get into and feel their music. I liked it.

[@cuntsound]

How can something be far from jazz? Jazz has no limits.

[@grungemax]

Beyond amazing.

[@mazomo]

Light hearted thriller. Ice and fire

[@shockrouge]

Simply brilliant !

[@felipefernandonevesdapaz7886]

Acho que essa é a música mais linda que já ouvi, eu chorei ouvindo essa música.

[@williamn6133]

The 2nd half is excellent

[@danwest9900]

I cannot praise this guy enough! I am left emotionally touched every time I see a performance of his. Eric Lewis is a musical genius. Obviously.

[@xinlo]

have you every just "fallen" on a piano? it doesn't make the same noise that hes making here. what i like about this is that he has managed to kind of give direction to the chaos that he creates. of course, you cant be in chaos all the time, no matter how controlled. so he returns to the original song to sort of "reset" and then return to the chaos. as much as i tried, i could not reproduce this kind of button mashing. like the 6:15-ish area. i can detect order out of the chaos. cont

[@velvetpaws999]

Craaaazyyy awesome wonderful! thanks for sharing!

[@cronoscopic]

i recommend you to see "four minutes", a german movie in whith the main character plays the piano in the same way lewis do, combining "ment to play" manners with "whole piano play" hits... it has an amazing end. really.

[@Narriz]

Awesome. Though I can imagine that people who haven't got a chance to study music don't appreciate

[@Rickles]

Mesmerizing

[@LtShock]

Exactly, it's your opinion. Why did you comment this video like 5 or 6 times saying it's crap? I personally liked it. And other people clearly did too.

[@cuntsound]

It's technology entertainment and design. This qualifies.

[@overratedname]

"good music" is subjective.

[@RantKid]

so well written!

[@3daysamazinggrace]

i didn't think piano players could be gangster. This guy proved me wrong

[@HIHIMIII56]

De folie pure au celestiel. Magnifique!

[@iur777]

beautiful.!!

[@lurkist]

I agree. This is sanitized and devoid of any context. Most folks want art that is purely aesthetic and doesn't require thought. That said; I enjoyed this.

[@triston226]

1:30

[@dorotwhy]

Passion !!

[@1139a1]

Wonderful playing...

[@mootbooxle]

I love this.

[@peavey2]

Thank you so much. Amen! :)

[@Ficktao]

@walleeece -- Right on! I totally agree!

[@FreddyFuFu]

This was a beautiful use of contrast between sanity and insanity. I love this performance and I connect to it viscerally. I keep coming back to it syear after year and I sometimes improvise guitar over. A great achievement of the musical mind.