Burt on PIANO JAZZ WITH MARIAN McPARTLAND

[rasputin]

I hope you Burt fans caught his recent guesting on the NPR radio program, PIANO JAZZ WITH MARIAN McPARTLAND.

Burt and Marion very casually strolled through a selection of Burt's more well-known tunes, with results both rugged and rapturous.

The highlight for me was Burt playing, alone, his intimate simple version of "The Windows Of The World". With just his trembling voice and gentle triads, he coaxed more emotion and incredible sadness out of that song than anyone has ever done before him.

What is astonishing about Burt is: in all my years of studying celebrities, I have never met one who is MORE talented, yet LESS affected or presumptuous. Burt is SO-O-O humble! I halfway wondered whether Marian herself realized what a staggering genius she was sitting next to. Yet he was content to fool around with his songs, make plenty of pianistic glitches and whimsical, almost silly, improvisations.

And Burt is a flirt! I don't think even Marian-- with her tough skin of decades of showbiz-- was immune to his charm. He knows how to make people feel as if they were the only person in the room! I don't know where Burt, in his 70-odd years, developed so much genuine empathy, tenderness and a willingness to be so intimate and "real" during his performances... He is a master of social grace and tact.

What a monster he is... I try to take a page from his book and try to incorporate some of his spiritual, humanistic largesse into me-- but I don't think I'm big enough.

I'd give anything to play and sing some of his tunes for him.



(-:



D.

[johnfoyle]

http://www.npr.org/programs/pianojazz/#songlist



(Show originally recorded Nov. 2005 at Media Hyperium Studios in Los Angeles)

April 5
Burt Bacharach
Composer, arranger, and conductor Burt Bacharach is a legend of American popular music. With such landmark tunes as "Alfie" and "What the World Needs Now," Bacharach has charmed audiences across the musical spectrum. He sits down with McPartland for an hour of freewheeling music making and conversation.

Set List for Burt Bacharach on Piano Jazz:

"Alfie" (Bacharach, David)
"I'll Never Fall In Love Again" (Bacharach, David)
"This Guy's In Love With You" (Bacharach, David)
"Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (Bacharach, David)
"What the World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love" (Bacharach, David)
"Portrait of Burt Bacharach" (McPartland)
"The Windows of the World" (Bacharach, David)
"Close to You" (Bacharach, David)
"When Lights Are Low" (Carter, Williams)
]

[Guest]

I hope you Burt fans caught his recent guesting on the NPR radio program, PIANO JAZZ WITH MARIAN McPARTLAND.

Burt and Marion very casually strolled through a selection of Burt's more well-known tunes, with results both rugged and rapturous.

The highlight for me was Burt playing, alone, his intimate simple version of "The Windows Of The World". With just his trembling voice and gentle triads, he coaxed more emotion and incredible sadness out of that song than anyone has ever done before him.

What is astonishing about Burt is: in all my years of studying celebrities, I have never met one who is MORE talented, yet LESS affected or presumptuous. Burt is SO-O-O humble! I halfway wondered whether Marian herself realized what a staggering genius she was sitting next to. Yet he was content to fool around with his songs, make plenty of pianistic glitches and whimsical, almost silly, improvisations.

And Burt is a flirt! I don't think even Marian-- with her tough skin of decades of showbiz-- was immune to his charm. He knows how to make people feel as if they were the only person in the room! I don't know where Burt, in his 70-odd years, developed so much genuine empathy, tenderness and a willingness to be so intimate and "real" during his performances... He is a master of social grace and tact.

What a monster he is... I try to take a page from his book and try to incorporate some of his spiritual, humanistic largesse into me-- but I don't think I'm big enough.

I'd give anything to play and sing some of his tunes for him.
(-:
D.

David, where have you been? I've missed your wonderful postings here. Postings just like this one.

You've absolutely ruined my life, I want you to know! I've always been in love with just solo piano music and I've always said that what I would kill for is an album of just Burt playing his own songs. But I figured that would never happen. But now you tell me, after the fact, that I've missed it!!! That I've missed Burt with Marian! If you only knew how much I love that show and how wonderful Marian is and how I've admired her own genius for so long. If anyone could bring out the best in Burt, it would have to be Marian. OMG!! How can I turn back time so I would have known about this show beforehand??

The thought of me sitting and playing Burt's music to Burt himself would put me into a state of apoplexy. But, then again, I don't play the piano like you do. What song would you play Burt (without singing--just solo)? And what song would you play and sing to him?

Solo piano, I would play "Promises, Promises" for him (or maybe "The April Fools"). And singing, I would play and sing "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (or "Paper Mache"). He'd probably be so nice to me, but inside he'd be cringing. Luckily, it ain't ever gonna happen anyhow!! Try reciting the Bible to God!

David, to refresh your memory, someone was gonna play some Burt songs on their piano...and they had a program that would transcribe what they played... and then they were gonna scan it and email it to me so I could see exactly how a professional would play some Burt tunes. I'm hoping one day that I'll get such an email with said transcriptions (SMILE!).

Hey, thanks for the post anyhow. I'm gonna need to contact someone from that show and see if I can send them a check for a tape or cd of that show. Because if I can get a tape or preferably a CD of that show, I can throw out everything else, since this will be all I'll listen to. Just Burt at the piano, with all his magic.

[An Enormous BB Fan]

I hope you Burt fans caught his recent guesting on the NPR radio program, PIANO JAZZ WITH MARIAN McPARTLAND.

Burt and Marion very casually strolled through a selection of Burt's more well-known tunes, with results both rugged and rapturous.

The highlight for me was Burt playing, alone, his intimate simple version of "The Windows Of The World". With just his trembling voice and gentle triads, he coaxed more emotion and incredible sadness out of that song than anyone has ever done before him.

What is astonishing about Burt is: in all my years of studying celebrities, I have never met one who is MORE talented, yet LESS affected or presumptuous. Burt is SO-O-O humble! I halfway wondered whether Marian herself realized what a staggering genius she was sitting next to. Yet he was content to fool around with his songs, make plenty of pianistic glitches and whimsical, almost silly, improvisations.

And Burt is a flirt! I don't think even Marian-- with her tough skin of decades of showbiz-- was immune to his charm. He knows how to make people feel as if they were the only person in the room! I don't know where Burt, in his 70-odd years, developed so much genuine empathy, tenderness and a willingness to be so intimate and "real" during his performances... He is a master of social grace and tact.

What a monster he is... I try to take a page from his book and try to incorporate some of his spiritual, humanistic largesse into me-- but I don't think I'm big enough.

I'd give anything to play and sing some of his tunes for him.
(-:
D.

David, where have you been? I've missed your wonderful postings here. Postings just like this one.

You've absolutely ruined my life, I want you to know! I've always been in love with just solo piano music and I've always said that what I would kill for is an album of just Burt playing his own songs. But I figured that would never happen. But now you tell me, after the fact, that I've missed it!!! That I've missed Burt with Marian! If you only knew how much I love that show and how wonderful Marian is and how I've admired her own genius for so long. If anyone could bring out the best in Burt, it would have to be Marian. OMG!! How can I turn back time so I would have known about this show beforehand??

The thought of me sitting and playing Burt's music to Burt himself would put me into a state of apoplexy. But, then again, I don't play the piano like you do. What song would you play Burt (without singing--just solo)? And what song would you play and sing to him?

Solo piano, I would play "Promises, Promises" for him (or maybe "The April Fools"). And singing, I would play and sing "Anyone Who Had A Heart" (or "Paper Mache"). He'd probably be so nice to me, but inside he'd be cringing. Luckily, it ain't ever gonna happen anyhow!! Try reciting the Bible to God!

David, to refresh your memory, someone was gonna play some Burt songs on their piano...and they had a program that would transcribe what they played... and then they were gonna scan it and email it to me so I could see exactly how a professional would play some Burt tunes. I'm hoping one day that I'll get such an email with said transcriptions (SMILE!).

Hey, thanks for the post anyhow. I'm gonna need to contact someone from that show and see if I can send them a check for a tape or cd of that show. Because if I can get a tape or preferably a CD of that show, I can throw out everything else, since this will be all I'll listen to. Just Burt at the piano, with all his magic.

I forgot to log in when I posted the above.

edit:

Here's the contact information for Marian's show in case you're interested. I am PRAYING that they sell CDs (PLEASE CDs!!) or tapes of any particular show you want.

Contact Us

Piano Jazz is produced by South Carolina Educational Radio.

Send your postal correspondence to:

Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz
c/o South Carolina ETV
1101 George Rogers Boulevard
Columbia, SC 29201-4755

You can e-mail us at pj@scetv.org.

Telephone inquiries should be directed to
Production Coordinator David Lyon at 803-737-3286.

Our fax number is 803-737-3503.

The main telephone number for SCETV
is 803-737-3200.

[Bill]

Concord's Jazz Alliance label has issued a number of these programs, including most recently, one such program from a few years ago featuring Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan fame. Like you, I hope the program with Burt will one day be released on CD also! Here's a link for some of the other Piano Jazz CD's that are currently available:

http://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?s ... z+Alliance

[An Enormous BB Fan]

Concord's Jazz Alliance label has issued a number of these programs, including most recently, one such program from a few years ago featuring Donald Fagen and Walter Becker of Steely Dan fame. Like you, I hope the program with Burt will one day be released on CD also! Here's a link for some of the other Piano Jazz CD's that are currently available:

http://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?s ... z+Alliance

Thanks for the link. One can only hope and pray that this Burt program will come out on CD. But I do have my doubts.

If I get a response from the show, I'll post what they said.

[rasputin]

Hello ENORMOUS BB FAN:


Yes, I've been remiss, I know... sorry! Life has been a rollercoaster for me the last year, and, it's true, I didn't come through for you on those transcriptions. But I will if you'll still let me.

Gosh... what would I play for Burt... I'm thinking of something like "If I Ever Make You Cry", "In Between The Heartaches", "Check Out Time", "God Give Me Strength", "Half As Big As Life", "Turkey-Lurkey Time", "The Young Grow Younger", "The Last One To Be Loved", "Be Aware", "One Less Bell To Answer", "Answer Me A Question", "Knowing When To Leave", "Let Me Be Lonely", "Dans Je De Heile Nag Met Mij"..., "No-One Remembers My Name"...

Oh, I could go on! I love 'em all... But these are some personal faves of mine. Some of these songs, as you surely recognize, are songs to make the pianist shvitz. (-:

re: The Marian McPartland PIANO JAZZ show. It was wonderful and intimate and charming... Marian's very sensitive and extraordinary version of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" was quite something, too.

My hunch is that this hour will indeed be available at some time, so don't fret. Burt also urged Marian to record an album of his tunes... he said that he had never really been pleased with how jazz interpreters had performed his songs in the past... [Gasp! Bill Evans? McCoy Tyner? Oscar Peterson? The Blue Note Tribute?] but that he was impressed and pleased by Marian's playing & ideas. [I'll have to confess: I thought the Bill Frisell album was a stinkeroo from beginning to end.]

Burt pointed out what a bummer it has always been to hear artists [e.g. Ol' Blue Eyes] record his 3/4 songs... in four! I agree. Talk about wooden! Or the people who delay the syllable "-gain" in "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" until the first downbeat of the next measure!!! His only exception: Luther Vandross doing a 4/4 version of (I think), "What The World Needs Now (Is Love)"



David

[An Enormous BB Fan]

Wow, David, that's great stuff that Burt said. And you never hear him say stuff like this whenever he's on TV. I hate to say it, but when he's on TV he rarely opens up and most often says the same things. I could have guessed that Marian would get great stuff out of him like this.

I emailed the show today and I'm wishing and hoping that they'll accept a check from me for a cd or tape of the show. I just can't go to my grave like this!!

[DonO]

Sadly, I'll have to wait until April 22nd to here this episode as my local NPR station, for reasons totally unknown, has delay this ep for a couple of weeks, while all other eps are on time.

What tilts this into the bizzare is that this ep wasn't listed on the stations web site until THIS WEEK!

Reguardless, I do plan to record it...depending if the station dosen't pull any more tricks.

Go figger....damn it,
Don-O