Phineas Newborn was a phenomenal pianist. I’m a bass player who is fascinated by his music. Not just technically gifted, but he combined that with a relentlessly hard swinging style, and a natural feeling for the Blues. I hear some Gospel influences too.
This is a very perceptive insight into the talent of Phineas Newborn by someone who not only appreciates this underestimated pianist but also knows what she is talking about!
Nice focus on one of my top 3 all-time greatest favorite jazz pianists. He was also a big big fan of my favorite musician of all time, Erroll Garner, whom Phineas often pays tribute to in some of his recorded solos. (He does this early in his solo on "Sugar Ray" from "We Three" the Roy Haynes recording which featured Phineas. Hearing him in person when I was 22 years old in NYC's Sweet Basil was one of the 2 most impactful experiences I have ever had as far as listening to one of my musical heroes in person. He had more technique than anyone ever did but that's just icing on the cake. His real gift was his powerful blues feeling and how deep his sense of rhythm was. Phineas could lift you and even the other musicians he played with right off the ground because his beat and his sense of swing was so incredibly powerful. He is one of the only pianists to play with the variety of accents and dynamics within his lines no matter how fast they were. He is actually very close to the way horn players were especially Charlie Parker. They have much in common in that there is a strong sense of the "blues" no matter what song they are playing. I love how Phineas will add a perfect 5th or other chord tone onto his lines which not too many folks actually pick up on. Another amazing thing is that Phineas played the hell out of tenor saxophone and trumpet. I mean he played the absolute hell out of those instruments, but Phineas could play just about every single instrument in the orchestra and play them all well. I have heard this from several people who knew him from the very early days in Memphis like the late great bassist Jamil Nasser, who told me himself. Aimee, thanks for your most excellent tutorial and brief look into the genius of Phineas Newborn Jr. Another amazing thing is that Phineas had very small hands and he was a fairly short guy but he could still play 10ths and play things that most people could never play no matter how much they practiced. The only reason I say Erroll Garner is the greatest of all, is simply because Erroll makes me feel instantly joyful and he makes me smile, laugh and even cry tears of joy within a few seconds every single time I hear the first few notes. That truly is a gift!!!
Hey Aimee, just love your lessons, you are a great teacher . I don't play piano but I'm fascinated by music theory being a lifetime guitar enthusiast. There's so much symmetry in music. It's amazing that someone as talented as Phineas should be so little known. Phineas is like the Lenny Breau of the piano world. As you will know Oscar Peterson also had this ability to play the same lines with both hands.
Awesome video Aimee! Looking forward to working through the worksheet! The first time I ever played in the unison style was after listening to another Newborn classic: "Afternoon in Paris". I thought it sounded so cool, I just had to learn it! Great to see his name show up in your channel.
Although he was not a jazz pianist Gyorgy Cziffra was equalled only by other classical players in the multi-octave runs and arpeggios. Save our most talented jazz piano virtuoso by the name of Phineas Newborn. Agreed? BTW, Maestro Cziffra was my compatriot from Hungary. Very proud of him!!!! 🎹🇱🇺 - ( my Hungarian name is/was Bela Nagymihalyi)
I just completed purchasing his new catalog a few weeks ago. Very underrated and don't know why I hesitated on him (probably because he only used trio setting). Phineas was also a session musician for some early Sun hits in Memphis. Did you ever study or hear Horace Parlan who also played piano and recorded for Blue note? His music is rather unique because he was partially paralyzed in his right hand from childhood polio. His right hand employed phrases that were more rhythmic compared to others.
I think the best comparison to 2 hands on the piano is vocal. Imagine being able to sing the same notes, at the same time and with 2 octaves apart. If it were easy to do, more would do it.
Historical note: Paul Wittgenstein Paul Wittgenstein was an Austrian-American concert pianist notable for commissioning new piano concerti for the left hand alone, following the amputation of his right arm during the First World War. He devised novel techniques, including pedal and hand-movement combinations, that allowed him to play chords previously regarded as impossible for a five-fingered pianist. He was an older brother of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.Wikipedia Obviously, the Lord was trying to protect Bertrand Russell from being attacked with a poker, but He zapped the wrong guy... Luv ya, Aimée!
Thank you for spreading the gospel of Phineas Newborn. You said a couple of times that our hands are not mirror images of each other. But I wonder if you meant to say our hands ARE mirror images of each other? Or maybe I'm confused about what mirror image means. lol. Whatever you meant to say, I get it. The fingerings in each hand will be different when playing unison lines. Thanks!
Thanks for the amazing content (as always)! Would you have the link to that full interview? [On a nitpicky note: our hands are indeed the mirror image of one another ;) ]
Ahhh I see what you’re saying there. Lol there was a better way to say what I was trying to say. If you look up Phineas Newborn, it will be one of the top videos. About 27 mins long I think and black and white
Awesome, excellent! But hands ARE a mirror image of each other aren’t they? Mirror reverses an image. What they are not is a carbon copy of each other. Back on point though, what a brilliant pianist.
I guess I don't get the musical value of playing the same thing in both hands. Not saying it doesn't take skill or dexterity. I just don't feel it adds much to the music. Now if it were in harmony...
It was my mistake to say that our hands are not mirror images of each other. I hope you understand what I was getting it. :-)
*at
One of the most underrated jazz legends ever... Such a giant!
How good to see some attention given to Phineas Newbor, Jr. again!
Phineas Newborn was a phenomenal pianist. I’m a bass player who is fascinated by his music. Not just technically gifted, but he combined that with a relentlessly hard swinging style, and a natural feeling for the Blues. I hear some Gospel influences too.
Great video and great information… !
He is very underrated. I don't understand why he is not better known. He had personal struggles that lead to periods of inactivity.
This is a very perceptive insight into the talent of Phineas Newborn by someone who not only appreciates this underestimated pianist but also knows what she is talking about!
Never gave him attention, until now!! Thanks for being such a good teacher.
Fantastic, such an underrated genius, thank you!
Stanley Booth in his book "Rythm Oil " has a brilliant essay on Phineas called "Fascinating Changes ".
Aimee, your voice is the warmest voice ever heard.
Just got my Newborn CDs. Thanks for the discovery! And I thought I knew a lot about jazz pianists!!
Thank you for teaching me! I love your trainings
🥰🤩 I love this Lady Aimee! Thanks very much for sharing this with us.
Inmenso aporte para disfrutarlo
Gracias Aime desde Cochabamba Bolivia
Nice focus on one of my top 3 all-time greatest favorite jazz pianists. He was also a big big fan of my favorite musician of all time, Erroll Garner, whom Phineas often pays tribute to in some of his recorded solos. (He does this early in his solo on "Sugar Ray" from "We Three" the Roy Haynes recording which featured Phineas.
Hearing him in person when I was 22 years old in NYC's Sweet Basil was one of the 2 most impactful experiences I have ever had as far as listening to one of my musical heroes in person. He had more technique than anyone ever did but that's just icing on the cake. His real gift was his powerful blues feeling and how deep his sense of rhythm was. Phineas could lift you and even the other musicians he played with right off the ground because his beat and his sense of swing was so incredibly powerful. He is one of the only pianists to play with the variety of accents and dynamics within his lines no matter how fast they were. He is actually very close to the way horn players were especially Charlie Parker. They have much in common in that there is a strong sense of the "blues" no matter what song they are playing. I love how Phineas will add a perfect 5th or other chord tone onto his lines which not too many folks actually pick up on.
Another amazing thing is that Phineas played the hell out of tenor saxophone and trumpet. I mean he played the absolute hell out of those instruments, but Phineas could play just about every single instrument in the orchestra and play them all well. I have heard this from several people who knew him from the very early days in Memphis like the late great bassist Jamil Nasser, who told me himself.
Aimee, thanks for your most excellent tutorial and brief look into the genius of Phineas Newborn Jr. Another amazing thing is that Phineas had very small hands and he was a fairly short guy but he could still play 10ths and play things that most people could never play no matter how much they practiced.
The only reason I say Erroll Garner is the greatest of all, is simply because Erroll makes me feel instantly joyful and he makes me smile, laugh and even cry tears of joy within a few seconds every single time I hear the first few notes. That truly is a gift!!!
Hey Aimee, just love your lessons, you are a great teacher . I don't play piano but I'm fascinated by music theory being a lifetime guitar enthusiast. There's so much symmetry in music. It's amazing that someone as talented as Phineas should be so little known. Phineas is like the Lenny Breau of the piano world. As you will know Oscar Peterson also had this ability to play the same lines with both hands.
I didn't understand anything, but you have such a nice voice and delivery, I watched the whole thing.
Awesome video Aimee! Looking forward to working through the worksheet! The first time I ever played in the unison style was after listening to another Newborn classic: "Afternoon in Paris". I thought it sounded so cool, I just had to learn it! Great to see his name show up in your channel.
You gotta have heck o’ chops!
Aimee, your brilliant
Excellent lesson. Please do a similar treatment of Cedar Walton & Fantasy in D.
Although he was not a jazz pianist Gyorgy Cziffra was equalled only by other classical players in the multi-octave runs and arpeggios. Save our most talented jazz piano virtuoso by the name of Phineas Newborn. Agreed? BTW, Maestro Cziffra was my compatriot from Hungary. Very proud of him!!!!
🎹🇱🇺 - ( my Hungarian name is/was Bela Nagymihalyi)
Please add Art Tatum - I should’ve mentioned him first. ( this happens to people my age of 86, soon to be 87. The old brain is skipping some beats. )
Wow, I need to check this guy out.
Thanx, Aimee.
hi amiee yes practice is necessary but it is a function of brain synapse also for any instrument
🥶 - too cool!
I just completed purchasing his new catalog a few weeks ago. Very underrated and don't know why I hesitated on him (probably because he only used trio setting). Phineas was also a session musician for some early Sun hits in Memphis.
Did you ever study or hear Horace Parlan who also played piano and recorded for Blue note? His music is rather unique because he was partially paralyzed in his right hand from childhood polio. His right hand employed phrases that were more rhythmic compared to others.
I think the best comparison to 2 hands on the piano is vocal. Imagine being able to sing the same notes, at the same time and with 2 octaves apart. If it were easy to do, more would do it.
Coolness
The type of lesson I’ve been waiting for!
Thanks Aimee! I didn't know that guy. Oscar too was able to play unisson lines with both hands. Maybe he tooks it from Tatum...
Historical note: Paul Wittgenstein
Paul Wittgenstein was an Austrian-American concert pianist notable for commissioning new piano concerti for the left hand alone, following the amputation of his right arm during the First World War. He devised novel techniques, including pedal and hand-movement combinations, that allowed him to play chords previously regarded as impossible for a five-fingered pianist. He was an older brother of the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein.Wikipedia
Obviously, the Lord was trying to protect Bertrand Russell from being attacked with a poker, but He zapped the wrong guy...
Luv ya, Aimée!
Thank you for spreading the gospel of Phineas Newborn. You said a couple of times that our hands are not mirror images of each other. But I wonder if you meant to say our hands ARE mirror images of each other? Or maybe I'm confused about what mirror image means. lol. Whatever you meant to say, I get it. The fingerings in each hand will be different when playing unison lines. Thanks!
Yes…I expressed what I meant incorrectly. A few people have pointed it out. ;)
The second video on the DVD of this show was one of Jimmy Smith.
The Left Hand blues was Vierd Blues by Miles Davis.
Is the pdf five dollars to incentivize us to transcribe it ourselves?
LOL, not really. It’s more so I can feed my family.😂
Is there a specific name for two handed improvisations like this?
"Fingerings are hardly ever the same." What if you're all thumbs?
Thanks for the amazing content (as always)! Would you have the link to that full interview?
[On a nitpicky note: our hands are indeed the mirror image of one another ;) ]
Ahhh I see what you’re saying there. Lol there was a better way to say what I was trying to say. If you look up Phineas Newborn, it will be one of the top videos. About 27 mins long I think and black and white
Found it, thanks a lot! I guess everybody got the idea about the hands anyway and that’s what really matters
Great choice! BTW, it’s really odd, but he insisted on being called “Fine-us.”
Is your PDF link still available?
yes at aimeenolte.com ! In the shop
I admire Tatum so much, if he apologized to me I'd be a walking ego
Awesome, excellent! But hands ARE a mirror image of each other aren’t they? Mirror reverses an image. What they are not is a carbon copy of each other. Back on point though, what a brilliant pianist.
Yes...someone else pointed that out. My mistake.
That don't make no sense how you play that verbatim. I need to practice a month to do what you did probably in a day :)
I guess I don't get the musical value of playing the same thing in both hands. Not saying it doesn't take skill or dexterity. I just don't feel it adds much to the music. Now if it were in harmony...
Shameless self promotion instead of honoring the great Phineas Newborn Jr.