FIRST TIME Hearing Jacob Collier - Little Blue (Mahogany Sessions) || Breathtaking Performance

[@setonhillstudios]

*To Receive PRIORITY requests for future videos, head on over to our Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated. ❤️ Links in description* Realized after the fact I misspoke about the Rick Beato interview, I had Matteo Mancuso on the brain! It’s hard keeping track of all these insanely talented young guns!

[@rachmann516]

Yes, it's a normal guitar with wider string spacing. The tuning is simple: DAEAD, basically 3 notes-a triad-which makes it easier to navigate chord formations. Good on him for reducing the complexity in the instrument to serve his purpose. Unconstrained!! Beautiful!!

[@thomasw1865]

Paul Davids made an interview with him recently, explaining the story of the guitar and much more. Really unique person!

[@victorsixtythree]

If you want to know more about Jacob, the BBC aired a documentary about him about a year or so ago called something like "Jacob Collier - In the Room Where It Happens". You can find it on KZbin. It does a good job summarizing Jacob and his career so far. He first came on the music scene when he uploaded some of his videos to KZbin of his covers to songs like "Don't You Worry Bout a Thing" and his cover of the Flintstones theme song, among others. His videos quickly caught the attention of people like Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. Quincy Jones has said of Jacob, "I have never in my life seen a talent like this."

[@setonhillstudios]

Awesome, thanks for the heads up! He is an unreal talent!

[@gbulmer]

I lost a close family member late last year. This is the most comforting song I've ever heard, when I needed it. In a comment under that original, a person claiming to be one of the 'choir' wrote Jacob Collier asked fans, via social media, to meet him later the same day at that venue, the Heritage & Arts Centre in Bow, London. The 'chorister' wrote after little preamble, he taught us the song, rehearsed and performed it, all in about 2 hours. Skim some of the original videos comments. The music helped many find their way home. Jacob Collier was a child singer, from wikipedia: _"At age 10, Collier portrayed Tiny Tim in the ... film A Christmas Carol (2004).[] At the same time he was performing as a treble singer in classical roles, such as one of the three boys in Mozart's The Magic Flute and Miles in Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw, which influenced his use and understanding of harmony.[] Of Britten's harmonic language, he said, "My mind was shattered outwards."[] He received the ABRSM Gold Medal for the _*_highest mark in the country_*_ for his grade eight singing result in 2008"_ He has quite exceptional perfect pitch (aka absolute pitch). In interview he has said when he's healthy he can recognise notes to 5¢. I've read comments under his videos by musicians saying they have perfect pitch but *_only_* to the notes of a piano. 😀 His Mum, Suzie Collier, raised him and his two sisters in North London. Suzie Collier is a professional violinist, conductor and teacher at the Junior Royal Academy of Music. She didn't force Jacob to learn music or an instrument. There was a music room with instruments and she encouraged him to do what he liked. He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist. AFAIK, he can't play instruments with a bow, or any instrument which requires 'Embouchure' (brass, woodwind). You now can deduce what he can play. Collier started uploading covers to KZbin when he was 17yo. His videos 'blew up' when he was 19yo. Quincy Jones was recommended them, after which he asked his staff to "go find that kid". Jones asked him to sign to his management company, but Collier initially turned down the invitation, but asked Quincy if he'd be his mentor! 😀 One of the YT videos which captured Quincy Jones attention was: _Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing - Jacob Collier_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqeuhqeqjthopdk Collier was still a teenager Currently blowing minds from his latest album Djesse 4, Audio only: _Bridge Over Troubled Water · Jacob Collier · John Legend · Tori Kelly_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5nIpqV3j5JnobM (5m:52s) Yebba (Abbey Smith) sings first Tori Kelly only has an hour to do her parts, and this is edited highlights from that hour: _Jacob Collier & Tori Kelly recording Bridge Over Troubled Water (8-minute version)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6jFnGqYadhpgZY Best Wishes. ☮ Maybe react to some of his Grammy Winners on KZbin? _Flintstones - Jacob Collier_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKbEaWZnqtmqg68 (3m:10s) 2017 _You And I (Audio) - Jacob Collier_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6baqaRtZZZ_oJY (4m:29s) 2017 _Jacob Collier - Moon River_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIGvdJ5je7mJrNk (8m:50s) - A Capella 'Magnum Opus' If you want to understand how he made it, he made an explanatory video, _LOGIC SESSION BREAKDOWN: "Moon River"_ kzbin.info9d4-URyWEJQ (1hr:37m) _Jacob Collier - All Night Long (Official Video)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKTToox9r5KNZ9U (7m:20s) Orchestra + jazz piano + three A Capella groups/choirs + multi-instrumental Collier + ... If you want to understand how he made that, he made an explanatory video, _LOGIC SESSION BREAKDOWN: "All Night Long (feat. Take 6)"_ kzbin.infoUAMc4K_NXsA (1hr:48m) _Jacob Collier - He Won't Hold You (feat. Rapsody) ft. Rapsody_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZ-kZqOlaKaGr6s (5m:5s) _"In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" // säje (featuring Jacob Collier)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKO8Zmytadh9mKM (4m:23s) Other Jacob Collier's KZbin videos worth watching: _Jacob Collier - Here Comes The Sun (feat. dodie)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/monJYqGLi8mJq68 (4m:1s) _ Jacob Collier - Never Gonna Be Alone (feat. Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer) [Official Music Video]_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/hH7SZWlmbbZgj68 (5m:10s) _ Jacob Collier, Lizzy McAlpine & John Mayer - Never Gonna Be Alone (Live At The Troubadour)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aITGf4Gjr9F5o80 (5m:33s) a very 'screamy' American audience, but gorgeous John Mayer guitar Acoustic Sessions: _@jacobcollier - Never Gonna Be Alone | A Take Away Show_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip6loqKtmtuijKM (4m:45s) recorded in a Paris street market _Jacob Collier - Lua (feat. MARO) [live]_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoGsfoWVpKyFmbc recorded with 'Sydney Strings' sextet, including his Mum, Suzie Collier, and featuring MARO who sang in the Eurovision Song contest for Portugal I have no relationship whatsoever with Jacob Collier.

[@gbulmer]

It's worth watching _Jacob Collier & Tori Kelly recording Bridge Over Troubled Water (8-minute version)_ kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6jFnGqYadhpgZY to appreciate Tori Kelly's great singing, and Jacob Collier's arrangement. Best Wishes. ☮

[@setonhillstudios]

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing and it’s so cool when a song comes out such an important time to comfort us when we need it most! Appreciate all the info and suggestions! Definitely gonna check out more!

[@dlbwoodbury]

I envy you just discovering Jacob. Jump down his rabbit hole. You’ll find treasures!

[@setonhillstudios]

Oh I’m sure! Dude is insanely talented and his musical knowledge is unreal! Can’t wait to hear more!

[@fliprim]

Honest response is when I love these reaction vids the most. They help me feel connected to others. Thank you so much for yours.

[@setonhillstudios]

Means a lot! Thank you for watching and so glad you enjoyed it! Have a great day!

[@palm2004]

There’s something spiritual about a music performance like this

[@setonhillstudios]

Absolutely!

[@LindsayHancock]

It is really fun to watch people do reaction videos to this performance where they forget to react because they're too busy having a transcendent experience. :)

[@setonhillstudios]

Haha 😂 It does just draw you in from amazement! Thanks for hanging out for a bit!

[@wilkvanburen]

There's an interview talking about his guitar playing. After messing around with taking a string off, he eventually had a luthier custom make the 5 string for him. And another company that makes electric guitars, custom make a 5 string one of those too.

[@DanielLandress]

His cover of "Fix You" is gold. I promise.

[@setonhillstudios]

I bet it’s amazing, I’ll have to check it out!

[@sstopher1]

Especially Fix You with just him on the piano, in his room at home, just lovely.

[@MikeKobb]

First off: thanks for not stopping much, and thanks for backing up when you did. It allows the music to build as it should. Also, for checking out something else of his, there are lots of options, but Moon River is one of the most amazing things I've ever heard. Somebody also mentioned his cover of "Fix You", which is mellow and contemplative, and surpassingly beautiful.

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks for hanging out and glad you enjoyed it! He is unreal and I can’t wait to dig into more of his stuff! Appreciate the suggestions!

[@malikashiqui]

This song, and this performance, is a masterpiece!

[@setonhillstudios]

Absolutely!

[@mikaellavrell]

I love that he shows himself human by "failing" a lick and goes back to the major scale, and it works out just fine. Showing us normal humans that the important thing is just to keep playing instead of bashing yourself for not beting perfect.

[@melbournewolf]

"Out of this world" is an understatement

[@setonhillstudios]

Right?!?

[@thetalantonx]

“There’s musicianship and then there’s genius, and then way, way, way above all that, out in the stratosphere, is Jacob Collier.” - Hans Zimmer

[@setonhillstudios]

Haha 😂🤣 No doubt about it!

[@debrafiendel-boutilierandd3542]

Jacob is a musical genius!

[@setonhillstudios]

💯

[@diananunez7]

Thanks for a great reaction. Since he posted his KZbin video in 2013, Don´t you worry ´bout a thing, he has blown up to become a global phenomenon, has won 6 Grammys and recently released his fourth album in a series he calls Djesse. You have to check out Bridge over troubled water, which starts out with the famous Yebba version, to which he recorded multi-track voices back in 2021. He goes on to use John Legend and Tori Kelly with about 10.000 voices (all his!) as the only accompaniment. Talk about breathtaking! And goosebumps? ...total waterworks everytime! A sonic cathedral of beauty and hope. ❤

[@setonhillstudios]

Wow! And he deserves every bit of it! His talent is unreal! Appreciate the suggestion and you swinging by! More Jacob Collier to come on the channel for sure!

[@petertoal371]

Heart felt comments there. How can you not be moved by such a gifted human being such as Jacob. Just think about his thought process here... I'm going to write this beautiful song, then I'm going to gather some random fans and give them a short tutorial on how it's going to go. Oh, and I think it would sound great in an empty ancient church. I mean..come on! Thanks for your reaction friend.

[@setonhillstudios]

Such a cool concept and the finished product was absolutely amazing!

[@MGTS24]

He was interviewed by Paul Davids on KZbin and explains about the 5-string guitar (made to order by Taylor guitars)

[@setonhillstudios]

Sweet! Appreciate the info!

[@victorsixtythree]

For other Jacob Collier songs to react to, I'd go with All Night Long and Moon River...but there are literally dozens and dozens of mind blowing videos of his!

[@setonhillstudios]

Dude is unreal! Thanks so much! Will definitely check those out! Have a great one!

[@beau5099]

Great reaction! Be sure to check out his cover of Bjork's Hyperballad from this same Mahogany session that just got released. It's absolutely incredible too and features his piano playing (and more of his amazing voice).

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks so much for checking out the video and for the suggestions!

[@arwincapati287]

15:56 perfectly said

[@WoodlandT]

I know a bunch of other people have said it, but you’ve gotta react to Bridge Over Troubled Water. I completely lack the vocabulary to describe how good it is

[@declinox]

It's a regular 6-string neck, but with 5 strings, so the spacing is a bit wider. I think he tunes it DAEAD or something like that.

[@Jacedamace]

You need to check out his Flintstones and Moon River covers, amazing

[@AdamDray]

Jacob tunes his guitar strings to thirds and fourths. He explains why in an interview, "How Jacob Collier Reinvented the Guitar." kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZzRhZWPhMqnasU Yeah, it's a normal guitar with one peg removed, if I recall correctly.

[@setonhillstudios]

So cool, thanks for the info! Yea I mistakenly said Rick Beato

[@iainmcguire7190]

He tunes to 5ths on the low strings, and 4ths on the high strings. It isn't a normal guitar with a peg removed, it was custom made by Taylor with different string spacing

[@setonhillstudios]

@@iainmcguire7190 Oh ok! Thanks for the info and have a great one!

[@JimiChristopher]

Great reaction thanks!

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks so much for swinging by and checking out the video!

[@desbeattie3964]

Check out his arrangement of Bridge Over Troubled Waters - there's no video, so it's just you and the music. Astonishing.

[@setonhillstudios]

I bet it’s incredible, thanks for the suggestion!

[@kathrynwalker324]

The choir consists of friends and people who responded to an online request for people to join him on a date and rime.

[@tedsanders7070]

Yes it is tuned in 5ths with one 4th D - A - E then A the 4th then D a dude did an interview with him about his guitar and its tuning I think Taylor made him a guitar

[@bryanleggo3489]

It's not a choir. It's random fans, likely unrehearsed and he regularly does improvised audience 3 to 5 part harmony choirs of thousands at his concerts. These Mahogany Sessions videos show his softer more acoustic side of songs he created on albums or videos. Other songs to check out: All Night Long, Moon River, Hideaway, Bridge Over Troubled Water, A Rock Somewhere, Make Me Cry, Lua, Summer Rain, etc. There is a video someone did about his guitar tunings below. The real innovative genius is in his use of music theory principles to do microtonal chord progressions where he ends up in "in between" keys like G-Half-Sharp, where you feel but can't perceive the transition to a key that is technically out of tune. That's restricted to a cappla stuff like in Moon River because instruments can't be tuned that way on the fly. As for his vocal control, he can hear and precisely sing in 14 cent increments a level of control that is rare even among those with perfect pitch. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZzRhZWPhMqnasU

[@Joshsclips]

I second these suggestions

[@setonhillstudios]

Gotcha, thanks for the info and for all the suggestions!

[@Joshsclips]

@@setonhillstudios I’ll narrow down some of the suggestions to the more popular ones: moon river for sure, bridge over troubled waters is mega-viral right now and will get tons of views but it’s incredibly complex and mind-boggling. Hideaway is a personal favorite, summer rain is new and I absolutely adore it, make me cry is absolutely wonderful, but his NPR tinydesk performance covers that one (and 2 other beautiful pieces) and is even better than the official version in my humble opinion. And lastly, All Night Long is simply iconic.

[@cjbprime]

It's a little excessive to say they're random fans -- one of the participants said they did do some rehearsal there, and a significant fraction of Jacob's fans are expert musicians, and this is a subset of those fans who felt comfortable showing up to sing on a recording. I don't think an actually random selection of Jacob or anyone else's fans would be able to sing so well. (The audience choirs are nowhere near as intimately recorded.)

[@Joshsclips]

@@cjbprime I understand your point and agree, the average Jacob fan that’s willing to show up will definitely be, on average, much better than a normal person. But they’re still random fans lol, he just has a talented and educated fanbase

[@yehonatanlevy1]

Love this reaction!! Please check out bridge over troubled water by Jacob collier John legend and Tori Kelly :)

[@setonhillstudios]

A few people have requested that one! We definitely have to check it out! Thanks so much!

[@jbardet]

Great video. Highly recommend you watch the documentary the BBC did on Jacob a couple years ago! Its one of the best documentaries I've ever seen. It's on KZbin easily found.

[@i_am_m3384]

A suggestion: "Jacob Collier & AURORA - A Rock Somewhere X The Seed (Greenpeace)"

[@RobKeay1]

Jacob said that since he has five fingers on his hand that six strings doesn’t make sense. Check out his “Moon River” video and you’ll never question any harmony choices on any of his work.

[@setonhillstudios]

I think I can get behind that reasoning! Thanks for the info and suggestion!

[@Scoots1994]

Jeff Buckley comes up a lot around Jacob. I can hear it too.

[@dancingpaintbrush5]

Jacob isn’t a new artist at all. His first viral music video on KZbin was 2011. In 2013 he was ‘spotted’ by Quincy Jones, Jacob met Quincy but declined his offer of management at that stage. Jacob won Grammys for each of his first 4 albums. He now has 6 Grammy awards! The best things about him are how passionate, inspiring and yet humble he is. Music is so much fun for him. This really comes across if you watch one of his Logic session breakdowns, such as Bridge over troubled water. I would love to see you react to All Night Long (with Take 6), one of his Grammy winning arrangements. It’s a mind-blowing, whirlwind, feel good experience. Moon River is mind-blowing in different ways. He has a lot of famous people singing notes in the intro. Jacob’s current phase of creativity involves collabs with lots of different artists from every continent and genre. His recent song ‘Witness me’ was a collab with Stormzy, Shawn Mendes and Kirk Franklin! There is so much to explore in the world of Jacob Collier, I look forward to seeing more of your reactions.

[@setonhillstudios]

More of Jacob to come on the channel for sure! Such a once in a lifetime talent! Thanks for sharing!

[@handycamdave]

Jacob was recently interviewed by Paul Davids where he explains how the guitar works kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZzRhZWPhMqnasU

[@setonhillstudios]

Awesome, thanks for the link! I mistakenly said Rick Beato

[@iainmcguire7190]

"Simple guitar playing, simple chord progression ..." hold my beer

[@setonhillstudios]

🤣😂🤣 No doubt! 💯

[@denniskillin3090]

Hi try his earliest stuff and just to get you started try his version of moon river

[@setonhillstudios]

Sweet, thanks for the recommendations!

[@bryanleggo3489]

I didn't learn about him until I saw him in concert last September but he's not new. His 1st album "In My Room" was 2016 won two Grammys but below is a viral video from over 10 years ago of Stevie Wonder: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqeuhqeqjthopdk

[@setonhillstudios]

Wow ok! Guess we just missed the boat on him then! Better late than never though!

[@victorianguyen6620]

Its a 5 string guitar that he asked Taylor to make for him.

[@kathrynwalker324]

He designed this 5 string guitar.

[@MartinPedersenTM]

D, A, E, A, D

[@paulshannon7303]

The 'choir' are fans, obviously with some skill. Also, there is at least one professional - Dodie - in the front row. Probably got some other pros embedded in each section?

[@setonhillstudios]

Makes sense! Jacob is just an unreal artist that has a wealth of musical knowledge! Truly unreal!

[@simonwild428]

Please please check out his cover of Björk’s ‘Hyperballad’ , also a Mahogany session..just him and a piano, it’s absolutely staggeringly beautiful and his voice is miked so well it’s just creamy…

[@setonhillstudios]

Appreciate the suggestion! We will definitely add it to the list! Have a great one!

[@TheSeliMD]

You got me at Jeff Buckley. Subscribed.

[@setonhillstudios]

Appreciate it! 🤘🏻

[@warpocmuse]

psst Jacob has about 6 Grammy's, he's been about

[@setonhillstudios]

That’s a few Grammys right?! 😂🤣 Such a BEAST

[@bryanleggo3489]

Guitar and tuning info: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZzRhZWPhMqnasU

[@setonhillstudios]

Awesome, thank you!

[@DerekMcMenemy]

Guitar made for him by Taylor to his own specifications.

[@setonhillstudios]

That’s awesome!

[@AdamDray]

The two women on the right in the middle section are Dodie and Yebba, right? The woman in blue next to Dodie looks familiar, too. I think most of these folks are just fans, though.

[@setonhillstudios]

Yes from what I’m hearing he just put out a call and people showed up! That makes it even more crazy 🤯

[@cjbprime]

Yes to dodie, but I don't think Yebba is there. (For one thing, they're recording in London and Yebba lives thousands of miles away.)

[@diananunez7]

Yes that is Dodie, but not Yebba...imagine that! Then I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven...not just this heaven on earth. ❤️

[@KingaSzanto]

I'm the woman in blue. Just a random fan who happened to be in town on that day.

[@setonhillstudios]

@@KingaSzanto Awesome! That’s so cool!

[@Joshsclips]

his tuning is E A D A E

[@setonhillstudios]

Awesome! Thanks for the info!

[@Joshsclips]

@@setonhillstudios absolutely, happy to contribute :) looking forward to more of Jacob on this channel, if possible? Plenty of super solid suggestions I could give, and others already have most likely

[@graynorton]

D A E A D, actually. 🙂

[@Joshsclips]

@@graynorton oops lol sorry, not a guitarist just heard those notes

[@Forest_Fifer]

Yeah the 5 4 3 strings are in 5ths, and the 3 2 1 strings are in 4ths. It was specially made for him, and he has a 5 string Strandberg custom electric as well.

[@startingfingerstyle]

I'm sure you'd worked out by the end that the choir was not entirely 'random'! For example, the middle section of the choir, front row, 2nd from the right is Dodie (a KZbin sensation in her own right) who has recently been featured in a PBS KZbin item featuring Jacob, the brilliant Laufey and Dodie singing a Scottish folksong with a full orchestra..... (and again an audience choir). Worth checking out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gquUfXiPrauEa7Msi=jzwggNqwxXryD3f7 Jacob Collier is a gift to us all. Greatest musician on the planet today? Many would say so. Is there nothing he can't do?

[@setonhillstudios]

Ah ok, that makes a lot more sense! I figured even if they were fans they had to be pretty talented!

[@68caribou]

:: he worked with Taylor and asked them to have a 6-strings neck with only 5 strings tailor-made (no pun intended :) ::

[@setonhillstudios]

That’s awesome! So cool that they did that for him

[@68caribou]

@@setonhillstudios I guess any guitar maker would be happy to collaborate :)

[@rogerdsmith]

Taylor guitars custom built this guitar for him.

[@setonhillstudios]

So awesome!

[@eveningstar1]

It’s not a choir.