Regardingthe comment below about Kent's book I just want to say I purchased the book and he'd no problem what so ever. Kent was very responsive to my questions and easy to communicate with. I also highly recommend his book. Thanks for all u do. Dick

Thank you Kent - Long live the brilliance of Billy Strayhorn!

My favourite version has long been Nat King Cole’s. I always marvel at how good his intonation is with such a complex and chromatic melody. Even from being a kid, he’s always been my favourite pianist as well. Thanks for the breakdown! Great stuff.

Hi Kent, I've been watching your videos for a few months off and on, and I enjoy your very direct and meaningful approach. At age 80, I'm still actively playing jazz and cabaret piano after 65 years and never tire of learning new things. Jacob Collier has been my latest mentor since he was 17, although he has no idea. One little thing about the last section of the verse on "Lush Life", where you mention the natural minor scale -- the beginning uses a D natural, putting it into an F dorian mode. Try playing it with a Db (F natural minor) instead and see how it doesn't work as well (sounds like the Batman theme!). Now if we go into the next phrase, it becomes clearer that Strayhorn's D natural makes more sense since it repeats the first one an octave higher. There's no rule that I know of that says you have to remain in one mode or another, so you certainly have a right to your own preference -- in fact, I sort of agree with you. :) Whatever the outcome, thanks for all you're doing and say "Nuts" to your alter ego.

My sister sang that song in her Barber shop quartet Fanatix Connie Noble tenor. Super fun.

I'm not the greatest pianist but people are always impressed by how many songs I have memorised. I think the two tricks are 1) realising how similar a lot of the standards are and 2) if you can remember the lyrics and the melody, then everything else about the song comes very easily.

I'm a better player because of you, sir. Thank you for your generosity, intellect, formidable talent and musicianship, your sense of important concepts that players need and appreciate, and your outstanding communication skills. You're a rare gem, Kent Hewitt. Hope you have a swingin' holiday! Recommending your materials to all I meet that could use them.

As a singer, this is my most difficult song so far but it helped my in many areas... and still does. big fan of Lady Gaga's version BTW.

Extraordinary !!!tutorial !! Deep willing to explain from A to Z ... Even non advanced folks like me can succeed to play all chords by studying it slowly . The all theory is over my current knowledge but am learning music theory ! Interesting enough those who created jazz did not learn this theory before to create it ( sort of inversion approach 😊)

Fantastic tutorial as always. Unbelievable that Strayhorn was 16 when he wrote this!

Glad you're back KH! Been working on jazz blues with my teacher, and have found myself going through some of your old videos on the topic.

I think it's the greatest jazz tune ever written While you were beautifully uncovering the acrobatics involved in the creation I remember that this is a song about careless drinking and Strayhorns genius allows him to capture the boozy unsteadiness in this series of complex changes. Just brillisnt

Enough to keep me going for the rest of the SUMMER!! Nice!

13 b9 #11 ascending arpeggios love it

Brilliant playing. I never really noticed the Gershwin influences on Strayhorn's writing until now. (Glad you made it back from Maine safely. I'm surprised there wasn't an outstanding warrant there for ADEM.)

*ALTERED DOMINANT EGO MAN*

Nice playing

Received your book ken and it is a amazing jazz instructional book. One of best I have ever come across and I have many. Sorry about the miss communication. Thank you again. Michael Luce

Thanks for that! in the original sheet music, Isn't the melody in the verse on the word "SEEMED" a Gb -with a C7(9) chord (the #11 in melody), not a G (5th) in melody?

Thank you very much !! I wd like to play the john Coltrane one version the piano solo is superb

Thank You Kent, always wanted to learn this tune but as I'm not a sight reader this composition was in the "Toohard" basket...

Love it!

In the first A section, you play the rising line Db Eb F Gb Ab but in explaining it you say to play an ascending minor scale which would have an E natural. Which would you say is correct?

Very happy I just found this - Thanks!

I adore this song Kent. Thank you for another inspirational video😊

Thanks:)

Fabulous playing, Kent! Tough tune.

The version I have at 10:34 has the d natural while still on the Fminor 6 chord, then when the phrase repeats at 11.44 it uses the d flat. So it has both ways. But the second time instead of F minor 6, its D flat Major 7 , berore E Dim. But as you say its all up to individual interpretation. Nice video helped me with some of the arpeggios. ;

Thx you enjoy the lesson nice as usual actually I heard that song in the Bob Hope movie back in the day beautiful lessons thx u Dorothy Lamour was in Bob Hope Movie too

In bar 3 of the refrain the melody note is G flat over the C9+11 chord according to the original sheet music.

Your a crazy fuck, KH. I love ya

You're an amazing person. You definetly believe in what you do, and that should make you proud. I really wish you the best in your future and hope for more great videos like this one, that really helped me to actually change from a pianist, that just played piano to waste some time to a really music loving pianist. Thanks to the things you show and tell your audience, you made me enjoy and feel music again. All I say sounds very kitsch, but its true :) Greetings from Germany!

“I used to visit all those very gay places, those come what may places, where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life, to get the feel of life, from jazz and cocktails”

Very helpful KH

Alt7 ego man gives the best music advice. LoL

Really fine !

Hi Ken, Looks like the first two beginning sections are 7 bars and not 8.

luv it!

Great video as always Kent! Am I right in thinking that you really dig Red Garland's block chord solo on the John Coltrane version ? It's one of my favourite piano solos of all time. Any chance of you doing something on Red Garland's block chord style? Thanks!

Whew

Could you do a tutorial for Poinciana by Ahmad Jamal?

Kay Haych

hi kent

"How To Memorize?" I don't see any method for memorization here! You are just showing what the sing is. How is someone supposed to "learn to memorize" by the complex tune? I have watched other "How To Memorize" videos...none of them give any hint on how to memorize anything. I'll skip it next time!

Hear this performed at kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m9RigMWgvbbVqH0.html

I would feel much safer knowing which chords go with the melody rather than memorizing.

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I sent him money for his book and he never sent it or refunded me. Never returns emails.