Just to give you an idea of how good Corey Henry is on the keys, the guy sitting next to him and shaking his head like his career is over is six time grammy winner, Shaun Martin.
"Even the bass player looks surprised." Made me laugh out loud! That's Michael League and he wrote the song. But, yes, my goal in life is to be half as happy as League looks when he's playing music.
The piano bass was played by Bill Lawrence. This song had 4 keyboardist including the soloist Cory Henry, Justin Stanton on Rhodes, and 6 time Grammy winner Shawn Martin playing synth. Love your analysis! And your attention to detail. There were 3 musical geniuses in this piece; Cory Henry with his solos, Larnell Lewis on drums, and Michael League the bassist who wrote, arranged, and produced this song. This is BY FAR one of the best technical and entertaining performances you will find on YT. Thanks for the reaction video!
I wanted to take a minute and say thank you for doing something that reaction videos of music rarely do. I have seen maybe a dozen reaction videos for Lingus , and in all of them, the reactor says something like, "Ugh, the way he plays with melody is...ugh...amazing," and then makes a kind of tantric face and shakes his head. This reaction repeats several times throughout the song, and we are supposed to grok that the song is good, and the musician is 'amazing'. They never tell us WHY it's good though. They just reach musical orgasm on screen and that's apparently sufficient. But you do, and I've subscribed to your channel (and I have not subscribed to theirs). You go out of your way to tell me (a musical illiterate) why it is good, and why I should be paying attention to it. I have to admit, the piano solo sounds like noise to me. I don't know why it is good, but musicians say it is so I am willing to believe them. Up until now though, the only argument I have found from musicians on RUclips is a kind of keyboardist O-face, long jealous sighs, and words like "amazing." You've taken the time to tell me why, and I wanted to take the time to say thank you for it.
I'm so glad people are resonating with what I'm doing here. I have two main goals on this channel: introduce lesser known music to new fans and help people who are already fans find a new appreciation for the music they love. And comments like yours reinforces my stance and objectives. It's like a little reminder to keep doing what I'm doing because not many others are.
The main thing for why Cory Henry's solo is crazy good is because he jumps from genre to genre. You can hear gospel, you can hear funk, and at one point you can even hear the influence of 8-bit video game music - and as Bryan mentions, all of those genres require different tones that Cory was adjusting on the fly in real time. And all of those things still fit within the chord framework he established at the beginning.
Pretty sure you absorbed the most in one go out of all reactions I've seen of this piece. Someone needs to give *you* props for picking up so much of what they were throwin' down!!!
Keyboardist is Cory Henry, Drummer is Larnell Lewis, and Bassist/Composer is Michael League. This band is absolutely worth exploring more. This concert/cd We Like It Here is a perfect starting point. I've checked out 4-5 of their albums though and they're all phenomenal.
*Larnell Lewis, Not sure if it was just a typo but he is by far my favourite drummer for feeling the pocket and just being an insane musician!! Case and point, he learn the entirety of this album (We like it up hear) on the flight over to stand in on drums! I believe he was sent the music the day before it was recorded
@@thewhorocks515 No Problem! I had a feeling you'd have known but just wanted to make sure if anyone else searched for him they'd find him! He's such a cool guy!
I've watched a few reactions to Lingus, a not uncommon vicarious pleasure, it seems. I am used to people being floored, amazed, flung back in their seat so it was really cool to hear an actual analysis rather than "wow, what did I just hear, um, thanks". Didn't expect anything different. I read that the drummer is doing a rumba variant btw which helped me get it. Yours is probably the best take I've heard. Impressive, just at one listen and not carried away but actually listening critically. That's a skill. Thanks, dude. 🙏
I could be on 200...and counting...and it's a watch as well as a listen. When I just listen, I don't get the same vibe of these guys interacting with auch commitment and joy.
Even though i'm a metalhead, this is my go to feel good song. There is just so much positive energy in this video and their playing is simply insane and you can enjoy it no matter how many times you've heard it. I got to see them live in October in Cologne, Germany and it was just awesome. Even though Cory Henry wasn't with them that night (they have a changing lineup), Shaun Martin (the 2nd Keyboarder from the video) did a great job and played a great solo. But i totally agree with the suggestion, that Shofukan doesn't get enough love and you should totally check it out. Also Tarova, Coven and all their other stuff. It's all awesome music.
I'm a metalhead, my musical upbringing was mostly punk/hardcore/metal but those musical style led me to jazz, what jazz brought to my musical perspective was the importance of understanding music to be able to improvise, jazz is all about improvisation which is something that goes unnotice most of the time because of the mastery of music these players got. Jazz is truly a language, all the greats (Mingus, Coleman, Davis, etc...) they were all godly improvisers which is now a lost art, specially nowadays were everything is rehearsed and played note for note (which for me became kinda lifeless) . People are not aware enough that what makes jazz "jazz" is the improvisation which is why there's so much emphasis on soloing.
Improvisation is a remarkable aspect of music. The composer and the performer are united in time! In western classical traditions, improvisation was a very important part of performance. However, from the beginning of the 19th century, probably starting when Beethoven transcribed a Mozart piano concerto cadenza for a concert performance, improvisation began to rapidly decline. Recently, strict adherence to note for note realization in live classical performance has been slowly eroding. Jazz pianist Makoto Ozone has no problem improvising in the wonderful solo sections in his live performances of Rhapsody in Blue. I'm sure Gershwin would not mind one bit! Classical Hindustani music is improvisational. Just listen to Zakir Hussain and Shivkumar Sharma. Very interestingly, the incredible synchronicity of the incomparable Balinese gamelan gong kebyar style leaves absolutely no room for any improvisation. And the gamelan musicians learn and play all their interlocking parts by rote. For me, the soloist in a bebop session is improvisationally identical to the metal guitarist creating a solo: composing while performing within a prescribed set of musical parameters.
@@thomastallis8819 There's a reason why Indian classical music in general meshes so well with jazz for a fusion concept. Lots of improvisation within what seems to be a very rigid framework.
Larnell has this amazing abilty to create a 'volume' of time within which he can free-flow, but the amazing thing to me is he always knows where he is in the space. You think he's digging a hole for himself, but it always turns out to be a tunnel to somplace even cooler.
I've listened to so many "reaction" videos to this song and the one thing I never hear anyone comment on is the fact that Corey goes into an extended section where he plays the exact same improvised lines with both hands! I've seen him do this on many songs and it kills me every time. It's just phenomenal.
2 things about this that blew me away, 1. it was recorded live, in front of an audience, 2, Larnell Lewis (the drummer) learned these songs ( except 2) on the plane while flying over to the UK for the recording session
This is my favorite "composer/musician/etc." reaction video I've seen. You let it play through and then somehow retained a ton of memory of the performance and then provided an educational reaction. Genuinely felt like I learned a bit. You're great man. Keep doing you.
Thanks! Music attention and retention are things that got drilled into me over the years by teachers and professors. I hated it then but I'm so grateful now having developed the skills.
I really love this reaction, and coming back to it again and again. I've been getting into drummer reactions recently, and now a little bit more makes sense (non-muscian, but guitar practiser) Music has so much to give and I appreciate the addition you give to it. Thanks
Ok… Some things I need to bring up: 1. the melody is in a slow 5/4 with the bridge or B section is also in 5/4, but twice as fast as the melody… In a live performance, Michael League said ths is SP’s attempt at ‘Dub step’. 2. This band formed at Northern Texas University (formerly North Texas State), which has been a Mecca for jazz instrumentalists for decades. 3. Corey Henry was a child prodigy keyboardist who has developed to almost savant-level skill and I’m sad he left SP to start his own group, because when he played with SP, it was lightning in a bottle. 4. ALL SP’s tunes are created in Logic, and literally each member of the band learns EVERY part as well as their own, which is why there’s no sheet music. For further conplexity, may I suggest Jacob Collier “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” … or Dirty Loops with the Cory Wong band covering “Thriller”
I couldn't help laughing when you said the name gave you "a punk vibe". I was like "this man right here is in for a real treat" I discovered them last year, been listening to non-stop. Also, don't wait to listen to the rest of their albums or react to all of them at once! xD
Mike League, the bassist, is the band leader and composer. Absolutely the best live band I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them, in all genres, over decades. I was lucky to see them playing in a small club in Dublin, several years ago, before they became more well known. They completely blew the roof off the place.
I love this composition and this spectacular performance. The wide range of technical features -- instrumentation, orchestration, rhythmic structures, harmonic complexities, etc. -- serve the artistic expression, not as mere demonstration of technique. Cory's solo is great because his mind is *musically* fascinating, not because he is technically brilliant. In closing, I find this music to be emotionally and spiritually satisfying to an amazing degree. The less I critically analyze music, i must confess, the more i enjoy it!
I'm time traveling all over your channel sorry. My friends and I learned about these guys because they were slated to come to our music school during our junior year of college. We listened to ALL of their music throughout the year and when they came (it was like April) it was an amazing show. You had all these older people, dressed like they were expecting a more traditional time lol. Anyway, they closed with Lingus and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. If you get a chance to see them live, do it. I also got my copy of We Like it Here signed 😁
The simple fact that this track alone moved you this much quantifies those 20m views. Absolutely incredible compilation with a 2 time Grammy winning drummer!!!
Love the channel, so happy to see Snarky Puppy featured! I really enjoy seeing musicians get stoked on performances from their peers, and if you watch Shaun's (the other keyboardist) in the background during Cory's solo, his reactions are epic. Snarky Puppy is bad shit.
Yeah that was very enjoyable, love it! The keyboard solo was clearly the highpoint for me, what an absolute monster! Great that this video got some more views, makes it easier for people to find your channel.
Fantastic! They got me high alright! I've been through some bad weeks recently yet this piece made me feel warm inside and smile outside big time. Thank you for sharing this amazing music 🤘🎧👌
Every video from this session is insane, would love to see more reactions from them! No specific recommendations, they're all fantastic - definitely have a real soft spot for Shofukan though! Looking forward to more.
I had been surprised when I heard that you hadn't heard of them. They're just phenomenonal musicians all around. I was like, "I can't wait to see Bryan's face when the brass comes in". You did not disappoint sir. I knew this would be right up your alley. Ugh that drummer is sooooooo CRAZY talented. I can't speak enough to the amazing musicianship all around in this group. I've always recommended them to music/jazz lovers.
was really nice to see someone explain this to me (very little music theory knowledge) in a way that makes me understand the magnitude of how good this whole thing actually was
That's why I love watching your reactions (this is a rewatch for me), because of the deep analytical mind you bring to it. Your able to notice and highlight the little things many others channels miss altogether, or fail to point out. That short syncopated two-note going in around 3:30 is one of the parts of the song I always anticipate and you acknowledged it though without words. Also your comments on playing with time and keys like "toys" was quite imaginative and helped me forget appreciate what was going on.
Really nice, thoughtful reaction. I really appreciate when the reactor actually knows what they're talking about. Makes a huge difference. You have a very nice way of breaking it all down. Impressed.
Reminded me of Thank You Scientist. My suggestion for "You gotta check this out week" would be Circle of Illusion - The Run, put in a mixer some prog, jazz, blues and symphonic all together
Hahah bassist does have a look of anticipation but he isn't surprised, he(Micheal League) is actually band leader/writer of Snarky Puppy! He didn't expect the solo to be one of the greatest in history though, that was a surprise :D
My humble opinion is that in all great jazz orchestras, everything including the final solo builds to the most important aspect of the style: The shout chorus. Here, Cory pays off like a billionaire.
This song is just incredible and when you combine it with their genuine enthusiasm when they are playing it is truly one of the greatest performance I have ever seen. The way the whole band starts all together after the keyboard solo is just out of this world. I really could recommend you: Tigran Hamasyan - Drip (with the Berklee Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble)
I have no idea why you never got around to "What about me?" from the same set. It's literally their best song, just an amazing composition with a tenth of the reactions Lingus has.
Similar to Miles’s Bitches Brew- Pharaohs Dance which had Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea and Larry Young all jamming on electric pianos at the commencement of the tune. Awesome that Cory can zone in this way.
I've been aware of the existence of this band for a while but, this is my first time listening to them as well, so I will definitely check their stuff, they sound great
Obviously this entire performance is legendary. The only thing I enjoy more than watching it is seeing someone else's reaction when seeing it for the first time. Thank you for such an honest reaction as well as your insights. My guess is that you've delved into more Snarky Puppy and Cory Henry by now. Welcome to their fan bases.
5:54 Sounds something like "On Green Dolphin Street" but misses the major 7th conversation of the 3rd chord. I totally heard that my first time, as well.
Gotta love Snarky Puppy...and I dug your thoughts on it. I hadn’t clued into the interplay between syncopated licks and legato melodic lines as you pointed out, and your comment about adding complexities in addition to volume to add energy is a great lesson for a composer/arranger. And that keyboard solo is just a study in all things jazz theory lol. Chord substitutions, blues licks, adding extensions and then altering said extensions, some pentatonic and whole tone scales thrown in for flavor, and then making chromatic jumps back and forth in the altered extended chords. It’s like Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea simultaneously took LSD before having a baby. Anyway...dig the reaction dude!! Looking forward to seeing more posts from you in the future.
The new Snarky Puppy live album is Empire Central after touring like everywhere, they recorded this album live back in Dallas, Texas in July 2022. I suggest reacting to "Trinity" the live extended version. Snarky Puppy are 4 time Grammy Award winners. While they have a core group of about 10 players, they have played with about 40 session players to suit the project over 12 plus years. So they have got really good with being flexible style wise, and do not even bother trying fit Snarky Puppy into any one genre.
lets get some Secret Chiefs 3! specifically the song The End Times. or how about some Estradasphere (A Corporate Merger) or The Orange Tulip Conspiracy (Fall Creek). killer stuff all around
I'm not their biggest fan os snarky puppy but god damn as a keys player this song is amazing. Also, always been in awe of drummers and this guy kills it!
this is beyond cool dude and dudettes... very rarely does any music suprise me. This suprised me. Not saying new music for me doesn't give me great feeling and its just like I was a kid almost with me still. I still get those feelings. But I listen to so much extreme music and different genres nothing "suprises" me if that makes sense. very very rarely and this straight shocked me with how awesomely different it was.
You should definitely react to Black Midi if you havent already. Its pretty insane noise rock with math rock and even a little jazz. Their live show on KEXP is crazy
im a crust punk, i dont listen to music for solos cuz crust punk music have no solos at all. i listen to music cuz it is good and this one is a damn good song. those snarky puppy guys right there they are all music geniuses, half the band are studio/professional musicians, Shaun one of the keybord players have i dont know 5 or 6 grammys. Michael the bass player is one of the best composers/arranger in the world. the drummer is an alien from another planet and Cory Henry have 4 brains, you need to see his band the funk apostoles and must see him plaing that hammond he plays!
Every single time I hear this keyboard solo I pick up on new things. For example, a few days ago I was listening to "Got a match" by Chick Corea and what do you know, he throws in two, *flawless* quotes to that song as if it was absolutely meant to be there, so effortless, damn.
This doesn't surprise me. The dude seems to be well listened and gives subtle nods all over the place to other tracks. His a ability to make the homages feel natural rather than shoehorned, as you said, is a big strength of his.
@@CriticalReactions Hes played with everyone. And everyone wants him to play for them. Best keyboardist alive in the Jazz vein. Hes surpassed Hancock and Correa at this point.
Yes! I was trying to figure out “where have I heard that keyboard sound/playing before?”... of course, Chick Corea! Love Henry’s homages to those greats.
And Michael League - who writes a lot of the songs - says the songs on the record are sketches and then they re-score them when they play out because they get bored easily. Keeps it fresh
Snarky Puppy's so awesome. I think I've seen most every video they have online. I've been meaning to go through their whole discography for years but haven't yet. I've found they're the perfect band to introduce jazz to non-jazz fans, one reason being that they also incorporate funk, r&b, and rock so well that even people who aren't into the typical sound or improv-heavy style of jazz can still find plenty to love. You also can't go wrong with pretty much anything you choose to listen to. I've never watched/listened to any Snarky Puppy and went "well, that was boring/banal." Cory Henry's keyboard solo on this track has become quite legendary, and there's a couple of good YT videos analyzing what he's doing. Another mind-blowing track by them is Something with Lala Hathaway where she... well, I won't give it away in case you do check it out. Now that you've done Hiromi and Snarky Puppy, you really need to check out The Aristocrats. Another ridiculously talented band (Guthrie Govan is probably the best living guitarist), though entirely different from Hiromi and Snarky Puppy.
@@CriticalReactions They perhaps lean a bit more on the rock side of things, but still lots of jazzy chords and solos. Their drummer, Marco Minnemann, actually tried out for Dream Theater when they were looking for a new drummer. Bad Asteroid or Sweaty Knockers would make good intros, and like with Hiromi and Snarky Puppy I think they're best heard live.
Cory has been a gospel church organist since the age of 3. His independence comes from that. Then he discovered Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea. Changing tones in the middle of things is common to gospel organists pulling on drawbars. Almost nobody mentions the ode to Michael and Randy Brecker in the horn solos. And you were probably thinking of Chick's "Spain" during Cory's solo. There are a few parts they pay homage to that.
Larnel Lewis is one of the best drummer around. He learned the 7 songs of this session on the 7 hour flight the day before. Check this Larnel video: ruclips.net/video/vIW72VXMPHo/видео.html (Fusion)) and ruclips.net/video/Zd_UcjMusUA/видео.html (Metalica)
I saw a video where he showcased his ability to play songs very close to the original from a single listen. The dude definitely has a mind for drumming. edit: actually it was that Metallica video you listed 😂
You really got check out New Maps by Tigran Hamasyan if you havnt. Or anything else by him really. Just a musical genius doing things unlike most anything else out there!
20M views, yes; divide that by multiple views... still kinda fringe. This must be the 100th time I have watched it, so inarguably awesome. Great react btw!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but Larnell Lewis (the drummer) learned this entire set on the plane ride over. Absolutely Insane!
If that's true..... 😵
It is ;)
@@CriticalReactions Just gonna leave this here for you, watch it if you get time. It's incredible ruclips.net/video/vIW72VXMPHo/видео.html
@@CriticalReactions Yup, on a 7 hour flight. He talks about it in the video that Rikiaz posted. That video is truly mind-blowing.
@@RikiazGaming 😲
The jazz standard you might be thinking about is called Lingus by Snarky Puppy.
🤣🤣🤣
DM the group you won ☝🏽😀
@@thedayones4918 what?
@@nathanjames4242 its a scam
Just to give you an idea of how good Corey Henry is on the keys, the guy sitting next to him and shaking his head like his career is over is six time grammy winner, Shaun Martin.
"Even the bass player looks surprised." Made me laugh out loud! That's Michael League and he wrote the song. But, yes, my goal in life is to be half as happy as League looks when he's playing music.
The piano bass was played by Bill Lawrence. This song had 4 keyboardist including the soloist Cory Henry, Justin Stanton on Rhodes, and 6 time Grammy winner Shawn Martin playing synth.
Love your analysis! And your attention to detail. There were 3 musical geniuses in this piece; Cory Henry with his solos, Larnell Lewis on drums, and Michael League the bassist who wrote, arranged, and produced this song. This is BY FAR one of the best technical and entertaining performances you will find on YT. Thanks for the reaction video!
Love to the lead trumpet too. Those spot-on brass chirps are so crucial and his sax duel was lovely too.
I've worked in a concert venue for the past 30 years and Snarky Puppy is probably the best show I've ever seen.
ruclips.net/video/qq2tu-vAOns/видео.html
I wanted to take a minute and say thank you for doing something that reaction videos of music rarely do. I have seen maybe a dozen reaction videos for Lingus , and in all of them, the reactor says something like, "Ugh, the way he plays with melody is...ugh...amazing," and then makes a kind of tantric face and shakes his head. This reaction repeats several times throughout the song, and we are supposed to grok that the song is good, and the musician is 'amazing'. They never tell us WHY it's good though. They just reach musical orgasm on screen and that's apparently sufficient. But you do, and I've subscribed to your channel (and I have not subscribed to theirs). You go out of your way to tell me (a musical illiterate) why it is good, and why I should be paying attention to it. I have to admit, the piano solo sounds like noise to me. I don't know why it is good, but musicians say it is so I am willing to believe them. Up until now though, the only argument I have found from musicians on RUclips is a kind of keyboardist O-face, long jealous sighs, and words like "amazing." You've taken the time to tell me why, and I wanted to take the time to say thank you for it.
I'm so glad people are resonating with what I'm doing here. I have two main goals on this channel: introduce lesser known music to new fans and help people who are already fans find a new appreciation for the music they love. And comments like yours reinforces my stance and objectives. It's like a little reminder to keep doing what I'm doing because not many others are.
Agree, one of the best reaction video of Lingus
Me too.
The main thing for why Cory Henry's solo is crazy good is because he jumps from genre to genre. You can hear gospel, you can hear funk, and at one point you can even hear the influence of 8-bit video game music - and as Bryan mentions, all of those genres require different tones that Cory was adjusting on the fly in real time. And all of those things still fit within the chord framework he established at the beginning.
Pretty sure you absorbed the most in one go out of all reactions I've seen of this piece. Someone needs to give *you* props for picking up so much of what they were throwin' down!!!
Thanks a bunch! I pride myself on my attentive listening and I'm glad it's appreciated :)
I agree this so much
@@CriticalReactions I thought the same. You have a really high music IQ. Great job.
Keyboardist is Cory Henry, Drummer is Larnell Lewis, and Bassist/Composer is Michael League. This band is absolutely worth exploring more. This concert/cd We Like It Here is a perfect starting point. I've checked out 4-5 of their albums though and they're all phenomenal.
*Larnell Lewis, Not sure if it was just a typo but he is by far my favourite drummer for feeling the pocket and just being an insane musician!!
Case and point, he learn the entirety of this album (We like it up hear) on the flight over to stand in on drums! I believe he was sent the music the day before it was recorded
@@ConDale1Music Yes Larnell! Not sure if it was autocorrect or a brain fart at the time of typing the comment but thanks for the correction.
@@thewhorocks515 No Problem! I had a feeling you'd have known but just wanted to make sure if anyone else searched for him they'd find him! He's such a cool guy!
ruclips.net/video/qq2tu-vAOns/видео.html
I've watched a few reactions to Lingus, a not uncommon vicarious pleasure, it seems. I am used to people being floored, amazed, flung back in their seat so it was really cool to hear an actual analysis rather than "wow, what did I just hear, um, thanks". Didn't expect anything different. I read that the drummer is doing a rumba variant btw which helped me get it. Yours is probably the best take I've heard. Impressive, just at one listen and not carried away but actually listening critically. That's a skill. Thanks, dude. 🙏
This performance is perfect music for me. Heard it at least 20 times and it still feels like the first time.
I feel you✓
I could be on 200...and counting...and it's a watch as well as a listen. When I just listen, I don't get the same vibe of these guys interacting with auch commitment and joy.
Even though i'm a metalhead, this is my go to feel good song. There is just so much positive energy in this video and their playing is simply insane and you can enjoy it no matter how many times you've heard it. I got to see them live in October in Cologne, Germany and it was just awesome. Even though Cory Henry wasn't with them that night (they have a changing lineup), Shaun Martin (the 2nd Keyboarder from the video) did a great job and played a great solo.
But i totally agree with the suggestion, that Shofukan doesn't get enough love and you should totally check it out. Also Tarova, Coven and all their other stuff. It's all awesome music.
It's like they are just playing around despite it being super clean. This is like a daily listen for me haha
I'm a metalhead, my musical upbringing was mostly punk/hardcore/metal but those musical style led me to jazz, what jazz brought to my musical perspective was the importance of understanding music to be able to improvise, jazz is all about improvisation which is something that goes unnotice most of the time because of the mastery of music these players got. Jazz is truly a language, all the greats (Mingus, Coleman, Davis, etc...) they were all godly improvisers which is now a lost art, specially nowadays were everything is rehearsed and played note for note (which for me became kinda lifeless) . People are not aware enough that what makes jazz "jazz" is the improvisation which is why there's so much emphasis on soloing.
Improvisation is a remarkable aspect of music. The composer and the performer are united in time!
In western classical traditions, improvisation was a very important part of performance. However, from the beginning of the 19th century, probably starting when Beethoven transcribed a Mozart piano concerto cadenza for a concert performance, improvisation began to rapidly decline.
Recently, strict adherence to note for note realization in live classical performance has been slowly eroding. Jazz pianist Makoto Ozone has no problem improvising in the wonderful solo sections in his live performances of Rhapsody in Blue. I'm sure Gershwin would not mind one bit!
Classical Hindustani music is improvisational. Just listen to Zakir Hussain and Shivkumar Sharma.
Very interestingly, the incredible synchronicity of the incomparable Balinese gamelan gong kebyar style leaves absolutely no room for any improvisation. And the gamelan musicians learn and play all their interlocking parts by rote.
For me, the soloist in a bebop session is improvisationally identical to the metal guitarist creating a solo: composing while performing within a prescribed set of musical parameters.
@@thomastallis8819 thanks for the many precision \m/ my thought needed clarification
@@thomastallis8819 There's a reason why Indian classical music in general meshes so well with jazz for a fusion concept. Lots of improvisation within what seems to be a very rigid framework.
The pocket of Larnell Lewis and this band is so deep that I want to climb into it and use it as a sleeping bag/hammock and tent.
Larnell has this amazing abilty to create a 'volume' of time within which he can free-flow, but the amazing thing to me is he always knows where he is in the space. You think he's digging a hole for himself, but it always turns out to be a tunnel to somplace even cooler.
I've listened to so many "reaction" videos to this song and the one thing I never hear anyone comment on is the fact that Corey goes into an extended section where he plays the exact same improvised lines with both hands! I've seen him do this on many songs and it kills me every time. It's just phenomenal.
2 things about this that blew me away, 1. it was recorded live, in front of an audience, 2, Larnell Lewis (the drummer) learned these songs ( except 2) on the plane while flying over to the UK for the recording session
the drummer learned this set on his flight
I've heard a shit-ton of legendary piano/keyboard players live, and Cory Henry is right up there with the best of them.
Yeah, there's a lot of monsters out there. Cory's got a lot of talent, he'll get there someday. I'll be looking forward to it!
Even his random insta reels are legendary
@@davenatale850 He's there!
@@davenatale850 talent ain't the word.. this dude is on another level..
@@carrgip yeah, he's there already, I'm looking forward to hearing where he takes it.
I'm always stunned at how tight the horn section is.
Yep. So many unbelievable aspects to this performance.
This is my favorite "composer/musician/etc." reaction video I've seen. You let it play through and then somehow retained a ton of memory of the performance and then provided an educational reaction. Genuinely felt like I learned a bit. You're great man. Keep doing you.
Thanks! Music attention and retention are things that got drilled into me over the years by teachers and professors. I hated it then but I'm so grateful now having developed the skills.
I really love this reaction, and coming back to it again and again. I've been getting into drummer reactions recently, and now a little bit more makes sense (non-muscian, but guitar practiser)
Music has so much to give and I appreciate the addition you give to it. Thanks
Modern fusion with polyrhythms, advanced chordal extensions, sophisticated scales-not to mention incredible articulation by extraordinary musicians!
ruclips.net/video/qq2tu-vAOns/видео.html
"playing with time like its a toy" great phrasing and insight
Ok… Some things I need to bring up:
1. the melody is in a slow 5/4 with the bridge or B section is also in 5/4, but twice as fast as the melody… In a live performance, Michael League said ths is SP’s attempt at ‘Dub step’.
2. This band formed at Northern Texas University (formerly North Texas State), which has been a Mecca for jazz instrumentalists for decades.
3. Corey Henry was a child prodigy keyboardist who has developed to almost savant-level skill and I’m sad he left SP to start his own group, because when he played with SP, it was lightning in a bottle.
4. ALL SP’s tunes are created in Logic, and literally each member of the band learns EVERY part as well as their own, which is why there’s no sheet music.
For further conplexity, may I suggest Jacob Collier “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” … or Dirty Loops with the Cory Wong band covering “Thriller”
Can you imagine reading this chart and being part of this amazing performance.
I couldn't help laughing when you said the name gave you "a punk vibe". I was like "this man right here is in for a real treat" I discovered them last year, been listening to non-stop. Also, don't wait to listen to the rest of their albums or react to all of them at once! xD
Have watched a number of reactions to this cut and yours is by far the most thoughtful and informative.
Thanks. I try to really get into music and what makes it great. Glad you enjoyed and I hope to see you around the comments some more.
Finally - a reaction video worthy of Snarky Puppy and Lingus! Great job - and thank you!
7:52 & 9:30 most accurate commentary.
"Playing around with time like it's a toy."
Yes.
Mike League, the bassist, is the band leader and composer. Absolutely the best live band I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them, in all genres, over decades. I was lucky to see them playing in a small club in Dublin, several years ago, before they became more well known. They completely blew the roof off the place.
I love this composition and this spectacular performance.
The wide range of technical features -- instrumentation, orchestration, rhythmic structures, harmonic complexities, etc. -- serve the artistic expression, not as mere demonstration of technique.
Cory's solo is great because his mind is *musically* fascinating, not because he is technically brilliant.
In closing, I find this music to be emotionally and spiritually satisfying to an amazing degree. The less I critically analyze music, i must confess, the more i enjoy it!
I'm time traveling all over your channel sorry. My friends and I learned about these guys because they were slated to come to our music school during our junior year of college. We listened to ALL of their music throughout the year and when they came (it was like April) it was an amazing show. You had all these older people, dressed like they were expecting a more traditional time lol. Anyway, they closed with Lingus and it was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. If you get a chance to see them live, do it. I also got my copy of We Like it Here signed 😁
7:52
Thank you. Finally! Someone acknowledging Lewis’ driving, rhythmic accompaniment. “Nasty” sums it up quite nicely.
The simple fact that this track alone moved you this much quantifies those 20m views. Absolutely incredible compilation with a 2 time Grammy winning drummer!!!
Love the channel, so happy to see Snarky Puppy featured! I really enjoy seeing musicians get stoked on performances from their peers, and if you watch Shaun's (the other keyboardist) in the background during Cory's solo, his reactions are epic.
Snarky Puppy is bad shit.
Larnell Lewis (Drummer) is an absolute genius, one of those people that are definitely born to do what they're doing. TIMELORD
26:58 "Plus, the piano was melting my brain." I'm with you there! Yep, Mr. Corey Henry tends to do that to people :-)
ruclips.net/video/qq2tu-vAOns/видео.html
Yeah that was very enjoyable, love it! The keyboard solo was clearly the highpoint for me, what an absolute monster! Great that this video got some more views, makes it easier for people to find your channel.
That smile at the end of the track, my feelings exactly sir! Such a wonderful track. Breath of fresh air and I’m super glad it made the cut.
Fantastic! They got me high alright! I've been through some bad weeks recently yet this piece made me feel warm inside and smile outside big time. Thank you for sharing this amazing music 🤘🎧👌
Every video from this session is insane, would love to see more reactions from them! No specific recommendations, they're all fantastic - definitely have a real soft spot for Shofukan though! Looking forward to more.
I have a soft spot for Sleeper. I'm a sucker for that talk box.
Outlier will always be my favorite
Could you imagine being in the audience for these sessions? My head would bob off of my neck.
Well... what about me?
I had been surprised when I heard that you hadn't heard of them. They're just phenomenonal musicians all around. I was like, "I can't wait to see Bryan's face when the brass comes in". You did not disappoint sir. I knew this would be right up your alley.
Ugh that drummer is sooooooo CRAZY talented. I can't speak enough to the amazing musicianship all around in this group. I've always recommended them to music/jazz lovers.
was really nice to see someone explain this to me (very little music theory knowledge) in a way that makes me understand the magnitude of how good this whole thing actually was
20:28
remember kids, there are no bad notes, only s p i c y harmonies
Thanks you for actually reacting and analysing what you heard. It's getting rare on YT !
Yeah this was the best reaction/analysis I've seen of this particular video for sure. And the guy has a very likable vibe. Easy subscribe.
That's why I love watching your reactions (this is a rewatch for me), because of the deep analytical mind you bring to it. Your able to notice and highlight the little things many others channels miss altogether, or fail to point out.
That short syncopated two-note going in around 3:30 is one of the parts of the song I always anticipate and you acknowledged it though without words.
Also your comments on playing with time and keys like "toys" was quite imaginative and helped me forget appreciate what was going on.
this entire song is an absolute CLINIC in how to play around a solo....and that cory henry solo melts my brain every time i hear it.
Really nice, thoughtful reaction. I really appreciate when the reactor actually knows what they're talking about. Makes a huge difference. You have a very nice way of breaking it all down. Impressed.
This whole album is fuckin amazing
Reminded me of Thank You Scientist. My suggestion for "You gotta check this out week" would be Circle of Illusion - The Run, put in a mixer some prog, jazz, blues and symphonic all together
Hahah bassist does have a look of anticipation but he isn't surprised, he(Micheal League) is actually band leader/writer of Snarky Puppy! He didn't expect the solo to be one of the greatest in history though, that was a surprise :D
What a great reaction!
Also, wanna talk about limb independence? React to Hiromi's 'I've Got Rhythm' BBC Proms performance. Superhuman stuff there.
My humble opinion is that in all great jazz orchestras, everything including the final solo builds to the most important aspect of the style: The shout chorus. Here, Cory pays off like a billionaire.
Gotta listen to Snarky Puppy with Laylah Hathaway Somethin.
You should check out (drummer) Larnell Lewis You Tube stuff where he hears a song one time then plays the piece.It's phenomenal !
This song is just incredible and when you combine it with their genuine enthusiasm when they are playing it is truly one of the greatest performance I have ever seen.
The way the whole band starts all together after the keyboard solo is just out of this world.
I really could recommend you: Tigran Hamasyan - Drip (with the Berklee Middle Eastern Fusion Ensemble)
Well we've gotta see a reaction to Skinny Puppy now 😂
I have no idea why you never got around to "What about me?" from the same set. It's literally their best song, just an amazing composition with a tenth of the reactions Lingus has.
Key solo starts as a Herbie Hancock homage. Think that might be the name you were searching for in the video.
Similar to Miles’s Bitches Brew- Pharaohs Dance which had Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea and Larry Young all jamming on electric pianos at the commencement of the tune. Awesome that Cory can zone in this way.
I've been aware of the existence of this band for a while but, this is my first time listening to them as well, so I will definitely check their stuff, they sound great
Obviously this entire performance is legendary. The only thing I enjoy more than watching it is seeing someone else's reaction when seeing it for the first time. Thank you for such an honest reaction as well as your insights. My guess is that you've delved into more Snarky Puppy and Cory Henry by now. Welcome to their fan bases.
17:12 ". . . I can't even. . . . "
Yep! That sums up his playing!!
pound-for-pound the baddest band in the land
Then there's Russia... ruclips.net/video/qq2tu-vAOns/видео.html
5:54
Sounds something like "On Green Dolphin Street" but misses the major 7th conversation of the 3rd chord.
I totally heard that my first time, as well.
Gotta love Snarky Puppy...and I dug your thoughts on it. I hadn’t clued into the interplay between syncopated licks and legato melodic lines as you pointed out, and your comment about adding complexities in addition to volume to add energy is a great lesson for a composer/arranger.
And that keyboard solo is just a study in all things jazz theory lol. Chord substitutions, blues licks, adding extensions and then altering said extensions, some pentatonic and whole tone scales thrown in for flavor, and then making chromatic jumps back and forth in the altered extended chords. It’s like Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea simultaneously took LSD before having a baby.
Anyway...dig the reaction dude!! Looking forward to seeing more posts from you in the future.
The new Snarky Puppy live album is Empire Central after touring like everywhere, they recorded this album live back in Dallas, Texas in July 2022. I suggest reacting to "Trinity" the live extended version.
Snarky Puppy are 4 time Grammy Award winners. While they have a core group of about 10 players, they have played with about 40 session players to suit the project over 12 plus years. So they have got really good with being flexible style wise, and do not even bother trying fit Snarky Puppy into any one genre.
lets get some Secret Chiefs 3! specifically the song The End Times. or how about some Estradasphere (A Corporate Merger) or The Orange Tulip Conspiracy (Fall Creek). killer stuff all around
Awesome awesome breakdown. Love it!
Love them.
Please don't forget about "Auktyon, Medeski, Ribot - "Devushki Poyut". Live in St.Petersburg" video )
I'm not their biggest fan os snarky puppy but god damn as a keys player this song is amazing. Also, always been in awe of drummers and this guy kills it!
Oh shit. These are my guys. First bit of jazz post 1980s that I got her to listen to that she liked.
Hahaha the bassist doesn’t look surprised he wrote and arranged this piece!
Right! At that very point though, he still doesn't know how absurdly prodigious Cory's solo's is about to be 🤯
this is beyond cool dude and dudettes... very rarely does any music suprise me. This suprised me. Not saying new music for me doesn't give me great feeling and its just like I was a kid almost with me still. I still get those feelings. But I listen to so much extreme music and different genres nothing "suprises" me if that makes sense. very very rarely and this straight shocked me with how awesomely different it was.
Quentin Tarantino reviews alien funk cinematic jazz band.
Nova Collective - Dancing Machines is a must! The live studio performance is a good one to react to plus the bassist is from BTBAM.
You should definitely react to Black Midi if you havent already. Its pretty insane noise rock with math rock and even a little jazz. Their live show on KEXP is crazy
The collab with Jacob Collier is another one to listen too.
Mouse on the keys - spectre de mouse. Good band for a fusion of jazz and post-rock
we need more jazz/fussion in the channel. I love it
im a crust punk, i dont listen to music for solos cuz crust punk music have no solos at all. i listen to music cuz it is good and this one is a damn good song. those snarky puppy guys right there they are all music geniuses, half the band are studio/professional musicians, Shaun one of the keybord players have i dont know 5 or 6 grammys. Michael the bass player is one of the best composers/arranger in the world. the drummer is an alien from another planet and Cory Henry have 4 brains, you need to see his band the funk apostoles and must see him plaing that hammond he plays!
Every single time I hear this keyboard solo I pick up on new things. For example, a few days ago I was listening to "Got a match" by Chick Corea and what do you know, he throws in two, *flawless* quotes to that song as if it was absolutely meant to be there, so effortless, damn.
This doesn't surprise me. The dude seems to be well listened and gives subtle nods all over the place to other tracks. His a ability to make the homages feel natural rather than shoehorned, as you said, is a big strength of his.
@@CriticalReactions Hes played with everyone. And everyone wants him to play for them. Best keyboardist alive in the Jazz vein. Hes surpassed Hancock and Correa at this point.
Yes! I was trying to figure out “where have I heard that keyboard sound/playing before?”... of course, Chick Corea! Love Henry’s homages to those greats.
Wow! This was unexpectedly helpful, thank you!
Your thumbnail is my mood.
I'm like, "This was 6 years ago? Where have I been?? 😂"
And Michael League - who writes a lot of the songs - says the songs on the record are sketches and then they re-score them when they play out because they get bored easily. Keeps it fresh
Ha I love watching people react to this. Could you react to The Midnight - Vampires?
Snarky Puppy's so awesome. I think I've seen most every video they have online. I've been meaning to go through their whole discography for years but haven't yet. I've found they're the perfect band to introduce jazz to non-jazz fans, one reason being that they also incorporate funk, r&b, and rock so well that even people who aren't into the typical sound or improv-heavy style of jazz can still find plenty to love. You also can't go wrong with pretty much anything you choose to listen to. I've never watched/listened to any Snarky Puppy and went "well, that was boring/banal." Cory Henry's keyboard solo on this track has become quite legendary, and there's a couple of good YT videos analyzing what he's doing. Another mind-blowing track by them is Something with Lala Hathaway where she... well, I won't give it away in case you do check it out.
Now that you've done Hiromi and Snarky Puppy, you really need to check out The Aristocrats. Another ridiculously talented band (Guthrie Govan is probably the best living guitarist), though entirely different from Hiromi and Snarky Puppy.
If Aristocrats are in the same group as Snarky and Hiromi then I'm down!
@@CriticalReactions They perhaps lean a bit more on the rock side of things, but still lots of jazzy chords and solos. Their drummer, Marco Minnemann, actually tried out for Dream Theater when they were looking for a new drummer. Bad Asteroid or Sweaty Knockers would make good intros, and like with Hiromi and Snarky Puppy I think they're best heard live.
Nice to hear an intelligent discussion on the complexities if this composition.
Please review to more Snarky Puppy, I have seen many many reviews this song and you hands down have the best breakdown point blank point !!!
Flood by Snarky Puppy. Check it out!
Knew you'd love it! 😁 Truly great in a heart-warming way ❤
Cory has been a gospel church organist since the age of 3. His independence comes from that. Then he discovered Oscar Peterson and Chick Corea. Changing tones in the middle of things is common to gospel organists pulling on drawbars.
Almost nobody mentions the ode to Michael and Randy Brecker in the horn solos. And you were probably thinking of Chick's "Spain" during Cory's solo. There are a few parts they pay homage to that.
Larnel Lewis is one of the best drummer around. He learned the 7 songs of this session on the 7 hour flight the day before. Check this Larnel video: ruclips.net/video/vIW72VXMPHo/видео.html (Fusion)) and ruclips.net/video/Zd_UcjMusUA/видео.html (Metalica)
I saw a video where he showcased his ability to play songs very close to the original from a single listen. The dude definitely has a mind for drumming.
edit: actually it was that Metallica video you listed 😂
You really got check out New Maps by Tigran Hamasyan if you havnt. Or anything else by him really. Just a musical genius doing things unlike most anything else out there!
DUUUDE , this was fantastic 🎸🎶🎶🎷🎺🎻🪘🪕
20M views, yes; divide that by multiple views... still kinda fringe. This must be the 100th time I have watched it, so inarguably awesome. Great react btw!
6:51 was great when you knew what Shaun Martin (the other keyboardist) was about to do...
Jazz is how musicians entertain themselves after they've beaten the game.
Fantastic critical reaction!
Great breakdown! Thank you!