Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

Cyprien Katsaris – Paraphrase on Piano

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY POST

This month marks the fourth anniversary of this blog

which was started in August 2015.

During this time I am pleased to have completed the transcriptions of

 three of my favourite two-piano jazz arrangements. 

All three are highly energetic and creatively improvised.

These were first mentioned in earlier posts,
with a note that perhaps one day someone will transcribe them!
The transcriptions have been posted recently but individually.

We feature them again here in this commemorative post.

1. 'SWonderful

 Composed by George Gershwin.

Improvised by Dave Grusin and Chick Corea

in "The Gershwin Connection" Album
 

2. Cherokee

Composed by Ray Noble.

Improvised by Olaf Polziehn and Rossano Sportiello.

3. Sleigh Ride
 

Composed by Leroy Anderson.

Improvised by Stanley Collins.

'SWonderful (Two Pianos) - Transcription

'SWONDERFUL (TWO PIANOS) - TRANSCRIPTION

Classic piece by George Gershwin.

Amazing improvisation by Dave Grusin and Chick Corea
in the album "The Gershwin Connection".
First referenced in earlier blog post here.

This has now been transcribed by The Geometric Pianist!

Cherokee (Two Pianos) - Transcription

CHEROKEE (TWO PIANOS) - TRANSCRIPTION

Jazz standard by Ray Noble.

Brilliant improvisation by pianists Olaf Polziehn and Rossano Sportiello.

This has now been transcribed by The Geometric Pianist!

See also earlier post on this piece here.

Selamat Hari Raya

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

Catchy Hari Raya favourite by Ahmad Jaafar (1955),

sung originally by Saloma.

Arrangement by The Geometric Pianist (2019)

for 4 keyboards, harmonica obligato and percussion

  

Saloma (Version 1)

One of the early original versions.
Upbeat version with strings.

Contains signature introduction and and coda passage.

 

Saloma (Version 2)

Another early/original version. 

More laid-back tempo, with cha-cha rhythm.
Jazz band, with trumpets featured prominently.

Nyango Star

NYANGO STAR

Interesting challenge between one half of TwoSet Violin and Nyango Star.

Nyango Star is a cat-apple mascot character from Japan.

Highly skilled at the drums.

 

Gong Xi Gong Xi - for Violin and Piano

Gong Xi Gong Xi

(Original Arrangement for Violin and Piano)

Arranged by The Geometric Pianist (2019)

In the style of virtuoso solo violin pieces of the romantic period.

Inspired by Paganini, Kreisler, Wieniawski and Rachmaninoff. 

 "Paganini and Rachmaninoff jamming. 
If they had been born in the same era. 
And in China. " 
An observation by Quantum, a friend of the Geometric Pianist.

More information on the original piece in a previous blog post here.