Inside the Mind of a Modern Jazz Piano Genius: Aaron Parks' Musical Revelations | Jazz Lab Ep. 5

[@KC-nm4ct]

Noah, big props to you for never interjecting or interrupting; you allowed Mr. Parks to get his thoughts out fully. Just like your music, you demonstrated your great taste as a conversationalist. Thank you so much for arranging this interview. It is such a gift to us pianists! There is so much to practice out of this, it's kind of overwhelming, lol.

[@NoahKellman]

I know what you mean! Aaron shared what feels like an endless supply of incredible ideas. Thanks for the kind words- always working on my interview skills.

[@gabrielnewville2613]

Came here to say this - thanks Noah

[@arfoe]

Just discovered your channel through this interview. Thank you for this and for asking great questions and letting Aaron's perspective flow through his answers. Looking forward to exploring your channel further.

[@NoahKellman]

@@arfoe thanks so much appreciate that 🙏 hope you enjoy it!

[@marlablow116]

Agree, thanks so much Noah for letting the conversation breathe!! 🙏🏿🙏🏿👍🏿

[@michaelquinlenlee9979]

Holy... How did he just blow away my understanding of existence from talking about a metronome exercise... Genius.

[@NickLeeP]

Aaron is so brilliant. I've watched this like 10x.

[@Michael_Dominic]

12:15 omg his comments about "getting close to perfect and stopping" are so affirming!! that's why i call all my stuff "good enough takes" no where near that good but hearing it from someone at that level really just blows me away. I always say when I'm better I'll revisit this piece, or this technique. can't wait for the other ~80 minutes of the video to spam comments 25:54 ~ 29:00 - oh my god this whole section where he talks about his improv, and experimenting with "shapes" more than being concerned with the notes, and not being afraid to "splash around" and use clusters that you arent even sure about how they sound instead of focusing on playing what's "correct", this stuff people pay thousands for. really appreciate you giving him a platform to discuss this stuff and having the sense as an interviewer to get it out of him. really just priceless stuff. - ESPECIALLY tho, the segment here where he talks about "the wisdom of the hands" at ~28:00 32:20 - you know, at this point I am certain to have a comment for every section, but this idea about "adding the note between the 5 and 6" and how many more possibilities there are than just playing diatonic chords AND the way he illustrates it really is just beyond words. 35:53 - love how it ends up with you trying it!! "i've never done that before" glad we're all learning here!! 38:49 - glad you commented on his singing while he's playing, that really stood out to me too. everything else, i dont have much to say about but was equally insightful and inspiring. I was excited for you guys to play a song together and then AFTER? a second song, what a treat. really awesome stuff from both of you. Thanks for this one!!

[@NoahKellman]

Hey thank you so much for the thoughtful comment! So glad to hear how deeply helpful this episode was to you. Let me know if you've got any questions. Cheers!

[@garygimmestad4272]

Thanks to both of you. Noah, for asking great questions and responses, and Aaron for his incredible generosity. He lingers in an idea long enough for us to take it in fully. And he allows the idea to blossom. And his approaches are so wise. So great. So valuable. Cheers!

[@NoahKellman]

Cheers, Gary!

[@FlorianBusi]

Billant! Thanks so much for this great time.

[@tommasocollalti6441]

I'm speechless Noah... This Is One of the best content i've ever seen on KZbin. Aaron is great, an out-side of the box thinker! Thanks for your spontaneity during conversation.❤️🌈🤟🏼

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks for the comment so glad you liked it!

[@azaniaritualkollectivoffic5250]

That first question about rhythm was what I was thinking about as he was playing. Apart from that. Thanks for this man.

[@alexhopper8049]

Wow!! Awesome, thank you guys for a nice conversation❤❤❤

[@NoahKellman]

Sure thing, Alex! Thanks for checking it out

[@ericvanderbilt-mathews8131]

What he’s improvising at 36:54 is I think the same concept as the intro/outtro of “Heavenly Bodies” (which he is also playing on)

[@mrmusicplz09]

Wow!!! I know we are all understanding this from our own current skill set and what is resonating with me is probably different than what is resonating with someone else. But, this is pure gold. I feel a multitude of feelings. I feel inspired, inadequate, determined, humbled and amazed. But, above all, I feel a sense of gratitude. Thanks Noah and thanks Aaron for this wonderful Masterclass!!!

[@NoahKellman]

Hey, you're so welcome! Thank you for sharing how the episode effected you. I can definitely relate to those feelings myself. Keep up the good work! I think all the feelings you described add up into a very positive whole. Cheers

[@stephenmorring3370]

What would this world be like without people who bring their talents forward and put in the hard work to master it? So glad Aaron Parks has created the things he has!

[@akinakanomusic]

LOVE Aaron Parks's smile at 1:09:41, the kind of “A boy showing his favorite toy” look :) I’ve been impressed by how Aran Parks’s generously been telling his ideas and tips and his thought processes to others, and I appreciate Noah's great questions and insights here. What a great interview. Thank you very very much for making such a precious video and sharing🙏

[@NoahKellman]

Appreciate the thoughtful comment! Really happy to hear you enjoyed the video and found it helpful.

[@jackwilloughby239]

I think as an Interested Student you make for a better interviewer than even Marion. You asked all the questions that I might have asked. And I have to say that Aaron answered them in a very thoughtful way. Such Honesty! The way he looked at you while he was playing made such a connection with me as well. Straight to the Heart Brother! Thank you both very much, Jack

[@NoahKellman]

Man, what a compliment, thank you Jack! Really appreciate that.

[@alinguanti]

The Barry Harris explanation…amazing, the way he extended the concept is genius, and I’ve been studying BH for a long, long time. That tells me the way we analyze things is so different. The diminished 6 is so intricate. I loved that improv he did to show how it’s used. I’m speechless! Thank you so much!❤

[@NoahKellman]

Agreed! I've heard the b6 concept several times but Aaron uses it in such a unique musical way here.

[@davidwhite2949]

Fantastic interview! He made so many astute points, such as his comment on playing outside

[@song4night]

20 minutes in at it's just brilliant, brimming with ideas! Thanks Noah!

[@NoahKellman]

My pleasure! Aaron had so many incredible thoughts and concepts to share. Grateful to have been able to do this!

[@song4night]

yes! this was the deepest one yet.@@NoahKellman

[@gwilymselwood]

That’s several weeks work sorted! Thanks so much guys

[@NoahKellman]

Love it! 💪 sure thing

[@kalinamasash1137]

I was born on 7 october like Aaron In different Year I used the piano to create myself everyday with different staff ( I do not follow any music around, I just play from my solu an head ) Dependen how much I need to put feeling in my life .Greetings from Poland and Thank YOU :)

[@MiNDFREAK371379]

Hey Noah, just want to say absolutely love this episode! Super insightful and filled with wisdom! Also, at 35:15, that’s not a drop 2 chord but actually a lift 2 chord! 🎹

[@autumnleather]

Thank you very much Noah 🙏 Thank you very much dear Aaron Parks 🙏 Love youre style, best wishes to you 🙏

[@NoahKellman]

Thank you for watching 🙏🙏

[@janpeleivelic4234]

What an honor ❤ congratulations for having one of the greatest talents in jazz🎉

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks so much for watching and commenting!

[@teelurizzo8542]

Whoa, thanks so much, Aaron Parks is one of my favorite pianist/composers of today's music. His 2008 major label debut 'Invisible Cinema' is a modern, 21st century classic, and his 2017 outing 'Find The Way' and his 2 releases w/ his group Little Big also rank among my favorites. Thanks for sharing.

[@NoahKellman]

Agreed, his music is absolutely wonderful. Lucky to have him on!

[@roman_scan]

My music teacher recommend this video to me, shoutout Mr Lorelli he the goat. Great video btw 👍

[@aaronskepasts6970]

Watched the interview with Kiefer, and saw this. Wow another amazing video! So cool to see the keys so clearly on Aaron Parks improv on C Barry Harris scale. Definitely gonna check out more

[@ModernKriya]

This is your best podcast episode yet! I learned so much. Also, fantastic duo of those two tunes at the end!

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks so much for checking it out! Really glad you liked it and I'm excited to share more episodes with you.

[@theargonath7938]

This is fantastic. Great job doing this!

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks so glad you like it!

[@isidrott]

Woa this is absolutley amazing!! Thank you!!

[@jamesc60]

Brilliant! Please do more...

[@antoniog2854]

Thank you Aaron and Noah....so incredibly inspiring and full of ideas! ❤

[@NoahKellman]

You’re welcome, really happy you found it helpful and inspiring!

[@claudioruiz1363]

Beautiful! From North of Argentina, Thanks you Noah so much for create and share this information, this music. It turn some pretty lights on

[@NoahKellman]

My pleasure, Claudio! I’m happy to hear that.

[@drstrange629]

I love that the first thing y’all talked about was time-feel. My overwhelming sense after listening to Aaron’s playing was how amazing his time feel is. I kept thinking I was hearing brushes, and one point even heard a phantom “drummer”

[@NoahKellman]

Totally know what you mean- his time feel is ridiculously good.

[@anyoneallen4082]

The melody he plays around 50:00 (“Hearth”) has a timeless quality, like “Moon River” or “The Shoals of Herring”. Great stuff.

[@NoahKellman]

Agreed, what a beauty!

[@kylemakesmusic]

Oh my lord who is this man. He is set to us from up above. I just heard his opening chords and collapsed in awesomeness. His harmonies are intensely accurate.

[@NoahKellman]

Glad you dug it, Kyle! He's a true modern jazz piano legend.

[@carlcgarrett3]

Absolutely brilliant video. Amazing insights. Thanks, Noah.

[@JazzPianoTrio]

This is one of the best interview I've seen. Great stuff! Thank you.

[@NoahKellman]

@@JazzPianoTrio sure thing! Glad you enjoyed it

[@davidwhite2949]

Great questions, as well. Noah, more interviews, might be an interesting direction.

[@plvarnier]

My god how can one not love Aaron Parks

[@alexcurtismusic9164]

Brilliant interview

[@NoahKellman]

Glad you dug it, Alex

[@LunasWorld]

Loved this so much! Aaron is wonderful of course, and so are you, Noah!

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks so much, appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@CommandorX]

Very inspiring hang!

[@ArgoBeats]

This video is a masterpiece in music mastering and introspection.

[@studioscienzacultura]

Complimenti per l'altissimo livello di questo tutorial, molto bravi

[@paulrhodesquinn]

What Aaron is playing at 33:45 has opened up a world of harmonic possibilities! What an awesome video this is.

[@acwatercolors]

This is based on Barry Harris concept of 6th diminished scale. Check this series of videos, he explain that pretty well : kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGmte6GZiLqXi7csi=YF-E9_Z1zZBdUZkT Basically, in C, Ab flat is part of the scale. So you just have C6 and Dm° as chords, with their inversions. And what he says is that scale IS the real C major scale. (classical musicians knew that trick pretty well too).

[@jarediledundee]

This is one of the best jazz interviews/lessons on KZbin. Awesome content, Noah. Thank you for putting this stuff out there!

[@NoahKellman]

Hey Jared thanks so much for the comment! Means a lot to hear and hearing this adds a lot to the fulfillment of doing these podcasts. Cheers!

[@fakename3608]

beautiful player. and what a nice guy!

[@andradas9688]

Barry Harris' concept of lowered 6th or raised 5th mirrors the idea of modal borrowing. It goes back to baroque music, and was extensively used from Classicism to the more chromatic colors of Romanticism. It is how Harris grouped everything in one scale (and consequently generated a nice structure of blocks and harmonic progressions) that makes the concept quite appealing. Great lesson by Mr. Parks and this young man, Mr. Kellman. Congratulations.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I'll need to google "modal borrowing" for a refresher! Cheers

[@kylereilly3259]

Absolutely amazing! Parks plays so wonderfully. The questions asked were very insightful and really gave me a new perspective on an already interesting musician. Incredible :D

[@NoahKellman]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@stuartdryer1352]

He's got everything.

[@markmcmillan4233]

12:27 27:15 29:10 32:20 33:06 36:16 1:08:00 1:20:30

[@mattratcliffejazzpiano]

Fantastic episode Noah, Aaron Parks is such a great player and shares so many interesting insights here! Lovely duo jam at the end as well

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Matt! Appreciate that, so glad you liked it.

[@jkl.guitar]

really amazing interview noah, very well articulated questions!!!

[@vbassone]

This is fantastic! Aaron is simply brilliant.

[@neekomax75]

This is everything. Thank you!

[@shephronqpan]

What a beautiful meaningful meeting of two brilliant minds ❤ Thoughtful questions, explanations, deep spectrum of unique tips and surprising examples. Thanks a lot!😊

[@phly23]

Deep and valuable concepts

[@jamesnewberry2945]

your voicing was outstanding Thank you Noah and Aaron

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks for watching / commenting, James!

[@PierreLouisVarnier]

thank you so much for this incredible video 🙏🙏

[@jaimemontesrubio2069]

Gracias por la entrevista Noah, es una verdadera joya, saludos desde Mexico!!

[@NoahKellman]

Saludos desde Nueva York! Gracias por tu comento.

[@piktormusic2538]

This is such a great interview/lesson. Thank you both for communicating useful concepts.

[@NoahKellman]

Really happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment

[@davidolahmusic]

Thank you for this gem! Congratulatins, Noah 👌🤓

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, David, appreciate you watching!

[@davidwhite2949]

That discussion of Barry Harris was so cool

[@andrebiggz313]

This was a must watch, with my favorite online piano teacher and one of my favorite modern jazz musicians. Some real gems were dropped all throughout this especially around 33 minutes. Thanks for this Noah!

[@NoahKellman]

My pleasure Andre thanks for the kind comment!

[@simonanthonymcglynn3918]

Thanks Chap, this really helps me to improve my playing. love the 4 beats of 60bpm feel.

[@jangerdes9245]

Phantastic talk about so many interiour aspects of musicianship! Such an inspiring lesson to dive deeper into Jazz! Thank you from Berlin!

[@NoahKellman]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@maramazone]

Great interview with masterful pianist, Aaron Parks, would also love to see you interview Pablo Held, as he also does great interviews himself on his own podcast. Sure you guys will definitely connect conversationally!

[@NoahKellman]

Ah yes, love Pablo’s playing! He’s an incredible musician and composer. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@maramazone]

@@NoahKellman no probs, anytime and thank you so much for all your great content- all the best!

[@Bgoods]

top tier content. Great duo performance too.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks Brad appreciate that 🙏🙏

[@94Harrymitchell]

Great interview

[@mediawolf1]

Damn. Fantastic. I hadn't heard of him, than you for introducing him to me.

[@AxistubeToulouse]

thanks guys very instructive to say the least and ... omg Aaron literally kills it

[@NoahKellman]

I know he’s incredible!

[@ntandoscrayonbox]

Keep this coming ... truly appreciated

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, you know I will!

[@JRBianculli]

Awesome interview ! Noah loving this!! full of a wealth of information and beauty 38:28

[@chrisharrison809]

Excellent content here. Aaron on solo piano is keeping the flame alive of Monk.

[@NoahKellman]

Thanks, Chris! Yes Aaron’s playing is phenomenal.

[@ultraparadoxical7610]

That metronome exercise is cool

[@timbruer7318]

So much great stuff, thanks Noah.

[@tommasocollalti6441]

Would be really nice if you could make other episodes inviting other guests like Aaron!

[@NoahKellman]

Working on it!!

[@gilles1319]

Passionnant!! Merci à vous deux! Quel est le titre de cette superbe musique à 42 minutes? Thanks

[@BillyHarold-j7y]

“Stablemates” tune by Benny Golson at 9:30

[@tomasvidal4842]

Great interview!!!

[@Skep90]

This is awesome!! Thank you

[@mardin56]

A lot of music wisdom came through here.

[@Sam-zz7br]

Just heard him play with joshua reddman and brian blade live. So incredible!

[@NoahKellman]

Oh wow, that must have been amazing!

[@diegofranciscosalvadorvarg1035]

That was a Great conversation and master class. Thanks. But why is Parks overplaying when you guys where playing duos?

[@CRtrain]

Noah, the format here is amazing and thank you so much for getting Aaron on the show - so humble, knowledgeable and kind. Congrats to you for putting out some truly educational videos.

[@nachopereyra93]

Increíble Noah y Aaron! muchas gracias por sus palabras y este contenido de altisima calidad! saludos desde argentina .

[@NoahKellman]

Gracias, Nacho! Saludos desde Nueva York. Me alegro que te lo has disfrutado.

[@jmarvins]

let's fucking go!!! huge fan of parks and a pleasure to see him explain how he thinks about all the lovely things he can do

[@jermaineholland7108]

This was awesome!

[@baunmusic]

Beautiful; honest, inspiring. Thank you

[@chrisbardolph]

32:00 is brilliant

[@chrisharrison809]

What’s the hybrid scale where he adds Bb and Ab. Barry’s dom bebop scale is cdefgaBbBc. This new scale is cdefgAbABbBC 9 note scale? Modal interchange to C bebop plus that diminished 2 chord. Creating a 9 note scale. 12345b66b77 Interesting: harmonizing that scale would be curious

[@HappinessKazimoto-in3er]

I love using bass line

[@paulwhetstone0473]

Nice stuff

[@lillspraggen1]

So great man. Tnx😊

[@yoshimitsu1977]

I found the left movement it's interesting to make burst of tempo- shuffle and accent, like monk did. Expand and breakdown to the bone the armony of the tonal chord in the two hands

[@NoahKellman]

Cool, great thought. Do you have any examples of him doing it you could point us to?

[@richardsprince6980]

@@NoahKellman Perhaps he’s referring to the first part of the video where Aaron demoed some of his solo approach and his active left hand, which you commented on. If you do a video on him, you will need to do at least two, because this is like a completely different topic than what we were discussing above.

[@hangerlanetheearthman9421]

an amazing person ,, noah how did you not faint from 42.50 - 45.46 or even able to speak after that ,,, comp,,,,,,,wow ,, my first with this dude ,but now a seeker ,,

[@Xusticiero]

this guy gives faith in humanity... yes we can!

[@juliandavidsanchez9682]

Bravo !!! Hermoso

[@mmckmusic]

What a player he is

[@morenodonadel]

Thank you, this was a very helpful conversation. May I ask you what piano sound Aaron is using?

[@NoahKellman]

Yes, Aaron’s keyboard is using Keyscape!

[@tonid2672]

Could someone explain what Aaron is demonstrating at 36:58, please? How can C Major also inlcude B flat?

[@teelurizzo8542]

He does things like that on the intro and outro comping to the tune 'Heavenly Bodies' from Kurt's outstanding 2012 release 'Star Of Jupiter. Slowing it down here, you can see he is using D flat, as well as B flat and also A flat, along w/ the notes of C major. I believe he is using combinations of notes from the G half-whole octatonic diminished scale. That is to say, from the Dominant of C, but he is eventually resolving the lines and landing on chord tones or tension notes from C. So it's like he is doing V-I in the key of C, meaning he is playing V and I together more or less like blurring the line between Tonic and Dominant? (PS:Noah, or anyone please correct me if I'm wrong)