“Strange Meadowlark” by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
I’ve been listening to this entire classic album (Time Out) a lot recently. I love the whole thing from start to finish, but this beautiful little piece has to be my favorite track. That wonderfully expressive 2-minute solo piano intro is something I’d love to learn in the distant future.
Wow, that’s an amazing piano introduction and some beautiful voicings in there!
Some parts of the intro sound quite complex to transcribe, I find the key is to just do a little each day, embrace the slow progress, and stay focused. That’s a lot of work in transcribing just that 2 minutes of playing - i’d say months of studying, listening intently, and transcribing - just so you’re aware of the task that lies ahead Christian!
I’m not familiar with the tune, but I’ll study the form when I get a second and try to figure out what he is doing for the 2 minute intro.
Also, check out Tuomo’s 5-min masterclass on Ear Training & Transcription. I think you will find it useful guidance for aurally working out chord voicings, progressions, and melodies:
Thanks for the guidance, Hayden! I had a feeling it would be quite some time that I’ll be at the level to tackle something like this. I’m still working my way through Tune Up 
but someday!
Since I’m in a sharing mood, here’s a simpler piece I quite like. This is a song originally done by The Glenn Miller Orchestra, but I much prefer the tenderness of this trio arrangement. It may border on the stereotypical “rainy day jazz” category, but I like it all the same. Fun fact: the pianist on this plays every night as the warm-up to the Penn & Teller magic show in Las Vegas.
Yes we must all start with the basic tunes like “Tune Up”
Each tune that you learn will teach you something new about harmony, and then once you have 10 or 20 tunes under your belt, you will be feeling much more confident reading and interpreting lead sheets and scores.
It’s encouraging to see that you are listening to lots of jazz…
Ultimately, if we don’t spend the time to listen to recordings, and study them, we are depriving ourselves of jazz music in its purest form. So keep this up!!
I have to admit I did not dedicate enough time to this in my early jazz studies. I would certainly attach more importance to this if was I to start over again because there is so much going on beyond the theory.
Things like the feel, the articulation, and the phrasing of the music, can only be absorbed through listening, transcribing, and emulating our favourite players.
Nice recording… I love the down-tempo vibe and thanks for sharing the fun fact too 
Tonight I was listening to “Strays” by Larry Goldings, an original in honor of Billy Strayhorn (Awareness 1997). Goldings is multifaceted, or I guess better said, one hell of a player. He has been James Taylor’s “one man band” for years, has worked with Scofield, and many others, has a longstanding organ trio, and recently was traveling with John Mayer’s latest tour. He’s also one of the best Hammond B3 players since Larry Young. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
Love it Scott.
The intro is brilliant and the whole recording really takes you on journey.
I hear a lot of Bill Evans in his improvisation. I also then noticed Paul Motion as the drummer who played on many albums with Bill Evans.
I’ll be checking out the full album on Spotify!
And to show another side, here’s something with the organ trio Goldings works with. Besides their individual projects and tours, they have recorded around 12 albums over the last nearly 30 years. Apart from the music, they have something cogent to say here about jazz and playing, about melody vs virtuosity, about telling a story. Well worth a listen.
(I was fortunate enough to hear Bill Stewart, the drummer, with John Scofield last October in a small college venue here. He has a commanding presence.)
yeah really lovely Larry Goldings … someone not such wellknown as others masters thanks for sharing @scott1
Never Let Me Go. The piano comping on this is elegant
Of course Roy honors the melody in his gentle improv as well.
I’m starting Tuomo’s lesson on this song. Love it !!
I’m loving the video performances that are being shared… for me it adds an extra dimension to the music when I can see the setting and the dynamics between the musicians.
I love this video/performance of “There Will Never Be Another You”
Broadcast on KNKX Radio in Tacoma - not far from you @LoriNelson - they have some awesome stuff on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCezH4cD1a1lzgjEJNcrn35w - worth checking out.
I have posted this video before in the forum… such great solos from everyone in the room.
The comping of the pianist - Mahesh Balasooyria - is phenomenal. He’s incredibly responsive and complimentary to the soloists. This reminds me I should study it it in more detail.
His piano solo is pretty epic too. Inconceivably virtuosic in places. Brilliant talent.
But… is this by Bill Evans only?
Seems more than one pianist is playing…
Recently, I posted a video in the “Funk” section of the keyboardist Robi Botos. The guy does some amazing stuff. Here’s one from a Canadian broadcast he did for the 50th anniversary of the recording of Oscar Peterson’s Night Train. It’s recorded with Peterson’s last rhythm section. It was hard to pick from the various videos of that event, like “C Jam Blues” or “Hymn to Freedom,” which you can find on YouTube. I’ve also included a video from a NAMM performance with Ronnie Foster because Hayden recently mentioned the Ravenscroft virtual piano, so I went looking for it. I have since bought a copy, and it’s amazing. Best thing about Robi Botos–he’s always smiling and seems so very happy just to be playing. Enjoy.
A really fine set Hayden. Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic, thanks for sharing. 
Recently I’ve been listening to Larry Young’s Into Somethin’ (1965). All the cuts are an organ quartet, but “Ritha” is a trio. Young’s approach seems more like a traditional piano trio here than the usual groove stuff we associate with B3s. (There’s another version on YouTube with the sax. It’s quite good as well.) Having Grant Green (guitar) and Elvin Jones (drums) on board doesn’t hurt either. Enjoy!
Love it Scott.
I’ve still not had the chance to listen to more of Larry Young - on my agenda.
As I mentioned, he reminds me a lot of Bill Evans, those little motifs he develops and repeats like at 0:38
Yes it’s an interesting approach, a jazz trio vibe but with an organ. I like it!
Thanks for sharing Scott.
I originally got this classic album for “Poinciana”, which I love, but I found myself possibly even more enthralled with this version of “Moonlight in Vermont.” I love the way he plays around with the second line of the chorus every time it comes around.
Wow that’s a lot of great musicians on one stage!
Hank Jones’ intro on “Someday My Prince Will Come” is beautiful (10:19 in the video)… I’m a big fan of his solo piano style
