WILLIE SMITH (The Lion) Jazz History #7

Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith is generally considered one of the top three of the New York stride piano players in the 1920s, along with James P Johnson and Fats Waller. He died in 1973, making him a living legend and a direct connection to the early days of jazz. The clip in this video of him playing Fingerbuster with a stub of a cigar dangling from his lips is a class favorite. There is also a clip from a modern-day master playing the same tune.
ABOUT THIS SERIES
The Jazz History series is a video adaptation of a PowerPoint presentation used to teach a university course. It traces the roots of jazz from Ragtime at the turn of the 20th century to jazz-rock fusion at the end of the 1960s. You’ll find a lot more videos like this one in the JAZZ HISTORY playlist on this channel.
If you want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of playing jazz, check out the videos in the
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ABOUT THIS CHANNEL
On this channel, jazz trumpeter, educator and author Chase Sanborn offers advice and tips for musicians and music students, based on more than forty years of experience as a professional musician.
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For more in-depth and personal information and instruction, check out Chase's books and online lesson options on his website:
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[@chasesanborn]

This is the seventh episode in a weekly series tracing the evolution of jazz from Ragtime at the turn of the 20th century until Jazz Rock fusion in the 1970s. If you enjoy this video, please give it a LIKE and subscribe for new episodes. Thanks for watching!

[@matthiaspfisterer2066]

Thanks for sharing this! Besides his playing abilities, I am always stunned by the incredibly wide versatility Willie The Lion had as a musician, just because he never shied away from the fringes. Especially the things he did with Milt Herth and O´Neil Spencer for some time must have sounded really very, very alien for 1930s ears - but they just did it and succeeded with it. What I also love about those recordings is how they show his ability (and willingness) to blend in and support the others in a combo. It´s a pity that WTL is so often only viewed as an (even if extraordinary good) "blues pianist" in the broad perception.

[@chasesanborn]

Here's my video on Willie 'The Lion' Smith. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGO3Yo2IppeHa5o

[@VictorReyes-wk9mh]

I love the album he made with jo Jones, "the lion and the Tigger"

[@chasesanborn]

I'll look for that.

[@_gabe_]

Got the first thumbs up! Thanks for sharing the knowledge, Professor. Have a great week

[@chasesanborn]

Thanks, you too!

[@MrKashio]

Good evening ^^ Willy "Lion" Smith sounds like "a good sound in the jazz age", doesn't it? Maybe it's because of my improved recording skills, but I still prefer old recordings and instrument sounds to newer ones. Thank you for your valuable video today , too.

[@itsRemco]

Nice video 👌🏾 I've uploaded the official Willie The Lion Smith documentary if anyone is interested

[@chasesanborn]

Cool, thanks.

[@TheloniousCube]

Great player, but "Fingerbuster" is so much about chops and not as much about musicality, that I feel it doesn't really show him at his best - Rippling Waters, Echoes of Spring or Relaxin' would better show his artistry

[@chasesanborn]

It's as much about hearing him speak, with the cigar hilariously perched between his lips.