Jens - PLEASE, do more of these conversations with other musicians. Your very good at it! Thank you for all you do in the Jazz Community. Have a great day my friend!
This is probably one of the most (if not THE most) important jazz education videos I've ever viewed. This was a subject probably every ensemble guitarist in the world would appreciate! Thanks Jens from southern California!
The best single tip I ever got about comping is simply being told what "comp" is short for: compliment. If you just keep that full word in your mind, decisions become easier. The goal is to make the ensemble sound better.
Jens, I don’t mind confessing, I’ve had a shitty day at work, but sat in the bath, a glass of wine and checking out yours and Aimee’s duets on her channel, is like a shot of vitamin C for my ear holes. A very sincere thank you to you both. 👍👍👍
I’m 100% with you on this one. When both instruments are in the mix the piano is the ultimate comping instrument. It has everything going for itself in this realm while we are struggling with the limitation of standard tuning, less digits available to play actual notes, as well as the overall timbre of our instrument being not as globally inviting as a piano is.
I know this video is more than a year old, but I just discovered it. It was wonderful watching you, Jens, and Aimee playing and having a "difficult" discussion. You both did such a fantastic job of playing together and staying out of each other's way. Thank you for collaborating with her!
So I've recently started playing in a trio with a Pianist and percussionist. This was very enlightening video. I've always found most pianists have no concept of leaving space. Leaving me as the guitarist to try to figure out where I'm supposed to be but often find that I'm either being stepped on or stepping on. In my particular case she is so used to being all the music to being the entire musical score that she's not comfortable leaving extra space I think the best advice I heard here was think like a horn player. Also good communication and understanding who has the lead line and who has the Rhythm comping needs to be worked out. Thank you both for such a wonderful video
If the piano player is any good then he/she should actually do the same in Jazz, so for comping together it doesn't really solve anything. However, for comping and locking in with the band it is the highest truth and the best advice! 👍🙂
For a long time I didn’t appreciate pianos in jazz because as solo instruments they fill so much musical space and easily talk over others in a group setting. Guitarists and pianists operating in the big band context point to elegant, sophisticated simplification that’s worth striving for.
A great example of adding "sounds" on top of piano comping is Mike Moreno, look for the Smalls live videos or the Kendrick Scott albums. Adding soundscapes on top of the piano.
Good conversation, thank you both! There's no reason for guitar/piano not to comp together in an interactive call and response format. All it takes is checking both players' egos at the door. Try playing 1/2 as much. Everyone in Jazz has creative ideas, and everyone needs a chance to express their creativity. I don't buy this concept that guitarists need to subvert their creative ideas to keyboards all the time. What if we said keys need to yield to guitars all the time? Either approach unnecessarily limits the possible tonal colors and textures. Aimee talked about discussing/planning taking turns comping for different sections of the tune. This could also be done comping via alternating phrases. Listening sympathetically is all it takes. Unfortunately, that is all too rare. Thanks again!
Awesome to see you doing collaborations man. Seeing two great minds of music sharing perspective and advice is something I'd say is definitely vital to the growth of musicianship for all. Cheers guys.
Wonderful! So glad you are visiting Aimee! I always think back to Joe Pass "Don't compete with the piano, it's bigger so it will win" lol. Or something like that. I love "The New York Rhythm Section" album with Hank Jones, Barry Galbraith etc. They've obviously worked it out so that all that stuff happens nicely. Or Barry turns down his guitar and just plays guide tone comping. That works, too. But it can get pretty hazardous if you don't figure it out first ha ha.
@@matthewgoldberg1461 It's difficult to compare the interaction and conversation between Joe Pass and Oscar Peterson to any other pairing of piano and guitar. They have developed a language that is both highly idiomatic and refined at the same time. Also at times very competitive, which adds energy and spontaneity to the improvisation. They knew one another so well that they could play with great freedom within each others envelope without getting in each others way.
This is an absolutely fantastic set of topics that dive into some of the un-said social minutia of playing in small combos. I'd love to see more topics like this featuring other parts of a combo.
I play guitar and piano and accordion and you two are my favorite you tube teachers. Makes me so happy to see y'all play together and bring up this point, which I have struggled with in various musical situations...
Great Video. I don’t play Jazz, but do play improvisational music with other players. One thing we found that works really well for us, and is apparently a recent invention - talk! Yup, we have an actual discussion before getting things started about who will do what and when. Works great. But I realize you are talking about musical conversation. A completely different language than speech - LOL. The two of you are of my favs and thank you for taking the time to get together to demonstrate the language of music.
One more comment: I really appreciate these two videos. Honesty, my progress on jazz has been slow and I was losing enthusiasm. This has energized me again. Thank you Aimee and Jens.
Fantastic. Two of my favourite Jazz youtubers. Most of what you talk about is way over my head but some of it usually seeps in, and always a pleasure to watch two masters of the craft.
Fantastic video!!! This is one of the most important topics for guitar/piano that as you said is rarely talked about!! I agree with almost everything pointed out here. I would also like to add that if you are playing some more modernish approach to your tone (guitar with alot of effects like reverb and delay and such) a beautiful sound is doing synth like effects on the guitar while the piano does "normal" comping and such. I think that if the two players know each other and listen to each other the sonic possibilities of the 2 instruments together are endless!
This was terrific! I watched the performance by you and Aimee on her channel before watching this video. While watching, I was thinking to myself about how great the communication and listening was between you two. It made me smile to see that this video is all about communication.
It’s pretty awesome listening to two of my favourite RUclips personalities talking about my favourite subject. Thanks for all the talking points. It’s great you guys got together.
great conversation! I'm a guitar player and always take a back seat to the keys, I actually really like to focus in on the bass with shell voicings, I love the Freddy Green sound, so fun - toss in a punch or fill every once in a while - the soloist kind of picks the weird harmony stuff, the pianist can pick up on that a little better - I've learned all my chords with NO Fifths!
I like to listen to the Nat King Cole Trio and Diana Krall's tribute to them to be reminded that Guitar and Piano really can live together in harmony (pun intended).
That was a fascinating conversation. Thanks to both of you for sharing this! _Fantastic_ . P.S.: I have watched Aimee's videos and I believe I'm subscribed to her channel. But if I'm not, I will correct that by subscribing!
This is a great collaboration. It is cool to play with other musicians that stay out of each other's way. Also, I was so happy to get a picture with you this year at NAMM Jens. It is a great experience, and artists like yourself are so kind to us fans. 😃🙏
Hey folks, in case you haven't seen it, there are more complete musical examples from these sessions over on Aimee's channel, released on the same day as this video.
Thanks Adam! I imagine that since I mention it in the video, link to it in the pinned comment, in a card in the video and in the video description they should have a fair chance of seeing it, but I appreciate the effort 🙂
Oh, this was so great. I'm getting back to playing after a long time and Jens you've been more help that I can describe. And even though she's a keyboardist, so has Aimee. I follow you both closely and am enriched because of it. Seeing a video with you both is like some kind of alignment of the planets!
This is awesome! A very inspiring conversation and some great examples. Thank you Jens and Aimee for taking us inside and sharing some useful and practical aspects on comping and supporting,
I think this is really useful for a lot of people that are just starting to get into playing jazz with other people, or coming from rock like myself where I’m used to being the guitar player in a trio - I had to play pretty much all the time. It lays out the situation and approaches you can take really well. Great video!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for coming over, Jens! It was blast to chat and make music with you!
Such a great video! I loved being able to sit in this instructive jam session.
Stuff like this is what is so great about the internet
Thanks to you both for the conversation. It seems, as always, that it's really about how to listen...
Great how easy it is to make music together, and it is nice to read the comments and see that the video is useful 🙂
That was delightful, and insightful. Thank you both!
Unbelievable! Do you know each other?
Jens - PLEASE, do more of these conversations with other musicians. Your very good at it! Thank you for all you do in the Jazz Community. Have a great day my friend!
Thanks Chris!
Unfortunate choice of conversation topic. This is bad and worse if you have it with a thin-skinned purist like the one you spoke to here.
A horn player once told me “horn players solo and piano players comp, and guitarists do both worse.”
10:40 Octaves! (like Bill Evans solos with Jim Hall.)
I respect and admire ALL instruments, but Guitar and Piano are my favorites hands down.
My two favorite RUclips educators chillaxin.
How wonderful to enjoy the sharing of wisdom from 2 admired teachers.
Thank you Paul! 🙂
This was a joke and YT algorithmic is totally rubbish.
Nice to see you both ...
This is probably one of the most (if not THE most) important jazz education videos I've ever viewed. This was a subject probably every ensemble guitarist in the world would appreciate! Thanks Jens from southern California!
The best single tip I ever got about comping is simply being told what "comp" is short for: compliment. If you just keep that full word in your mind, decisions become easier. The goal is to make the ensemble sound better.
Jens, I don’t mind confessing, I’ve had a shitty day at work, but sat in the bath, a glass of wine and checking out yours and Aimee’s duets on her channel, is like a shot of vitamin C for my ear holes. A very sincere thank you to you both. 👍👍👍
That is really great to hear! Glad it could turn it around 🙂
Amazing conversation, we all, the watchers became richer. Thanks a Lot, you both
that is exactly what i was looking for! the guitar-piano duet
Great 🙂
I’m 100% with you on this one. When both instruments are in the mix the piano is the ultimate comping instrument. It has everything going for itself in this realm while we are struggling with the limitation of standard tuning, less digits available to play actual notes, as well as the overall timbre of our instrument being not as globally inviting as a piano is.
Thanks Chris! 🙂
Jens and Aimee on the same stage? Yes, please!
I know this video is more than a year old, but I just discovered it. It was wonderful watching you, Jens, and Aimee playing and having a "difficult" discussion. You both did such a fantastic job of playing together and staying out of each other's way. Thank you for collaborating with her!
Thank you so much! It was a lot of fun to hang out with Aimee
Aimee you should do the same type thing with Rich Severson. This is great !
So I've recently started playing in a trio with a Pianist and percussionist. This was very enlightening video. I've always found most pianists have no concept of leaving space. Leaving me as the guitarist to try to figure out where I'm supposed to be but often find that I'm either being stepped on or stepping on. In my particular case she is so used to being all the music to being the entire musical score that she's not comfortable leaving extra space I think the best advice I heard here was think like a horn player. Also good communication and understanding who has the lead line and who has the Rhythm comping needs to be worked out. Thank you both for such a wonderful video
Wow. My two favorites together in one video
My two faves in one place .. unreal.
So cool to see you two talking! I've leaned a lot from both of your channels!
this is really awesome! I tend to think of comping on guitar as acting like a snare, I find this helps me avoid over complicating rhythms
If the piano player is any good then he/she should actually do the same in Jazz, so for comping together it doesn't really solve anything. However, for comping and locking in with the band it is the highest truth and the best advice! 👍🙂
For a long time I didn’t appreciate pianos in jazz because as solo instruments they fill so much musical space and easily talk over others in a group setting. Guitarists and pianists operating in the big band context point to elegant, sophisticated simplification that’s worth striving for.
A great example of adding "sounds" on top of piano comping is Mike Moreno, look for the Smalls live videos or the Kendrick Scott albums. Adding soundscapes on top of the piano.
Good conversation, thank you both! There's no reason for guitar/piano not to comp together in an interactive call and response format. All it takes is checking both players' egos at the door. Try playing 1/2 as much. Everyone in Jazz has creative ideas, and everyone needs a chance to express their creativity. I don't buy this concept that guitarists need to subvert their creative ideas to keyboards all the time. What if we said keys need to yield to guitars all the time? Either approach unnecessarily limits the possible tonal colors and textures. Aimee talked about discussing/planning taking turns comping for different sections of the tune. This could also be done comping via alternating phrases. Listening sympathetically is all it takes. Unfortunately, that is all too rare. Thanks again!
Greaaaaat topic, you guys!!
Omg my TWO IDOLS! 😱😱😱😱🥹🥹🥹🥹 so happy
Great crossover on a very important topic by two wonderful communicators!
I really like this format Jens. Excellent
Thank you, Ben! I hope to do more collaborations, with Aimee and others as well.
Their respect for each other is very evident.
Thank you
This is the collaboration (or maybe 'Clash of the Musical Titans') we need.
There is a special sound when a Guitar and Piano comp together. It blends real well
Best ever.
Very nice I've been watching both of your channels for a long time.
You two are awesome, I love learning from you
Awesome to see you doing collaborations man. Seeing two great minds of music sharing perspective and advice is something I'd say is definitely vital to the growth of musicianship for all. Cheers guys.
What a great segment! For a "difficult conversation", you both made it sound effortless!
Beautiful! You two are great! Thank you.
Thank you Michael!
Wonderful! So glad you are visiting Aimee! I always think back to Joe Pass "Don't compete with the piano, it's bigger so it will win" lol. Or something like that.
I love "The New York Rhythm Section" album with Hank Jones, Barry Galbraith etc. They've obviously worked it out so that all that stuff happens nicely. Or Barry turns down his guitar and just plays guide tone comping. That works, too. But it can get pretty hazardous if you don't figure it out first ha ha.
@@matthewgoldberg1461 It's difficult to compare the interaction and conversation between Joe Pass and Oscar Peterson to any other pairing of piano and guitar. They have developed a language that is both highly idiomatic and refined at the same time. Also at times very competitive, which adds energy and spontaneity to the improvisation. They knew one another so well that they could play with great freedom within each others envelope without getting in each others way.
This is an absolutely fantastic set of topics that dive into some of the un-said social minutia of playing in small combos. I'd love to see more topics like this featuring other parts of a combo.
I play guitar and piano and accordion and you two are my favorite you tube teachers. Makes me so happy to see y'all play together and bring up this point, which I have struggled with in various musical situations...
@Username-JenslarsenGuitar sounds sketchy
Jens called Aimee a "real piano player". Nice. This was great.
😁
Great Video. I don’t play Jazz, but do play improvisational music with other players. One thing we found that works really well for us, and is apparently a recent invention - talk! Yup, we have an actual discussion before getting things started about who will do what and when. Works great. But I realize you are talking about musical conversation. A completely different language than speech - LOL. The two of you are of my favs and thank you for taking the time to get together to demonstrate the language of music.
I love the Interplay album by Evans and Co. It has many great examples of comping textures between piano, guitar, horn, bass, and drums.
Beautiful conversation
One more comment:
I really appreciate these two videos. Honesty, my progress on jazz has been slow and I was losing enthusiasm. This has energized me again.
Thank you Aimee and Jens.
Glad you liked the videos, Jim 🙂
great conversation !
great video by two absolute professional musicians
Fantastic. Two of my favourite Jazz youtubers. Most of what you talk about is way over my head but some of it usually seeps in, and always a pleasure to watch two masters of the craft.
20 out of 10 score on this conversation. Thanks
Great video, love it. She sings so beautifully.
Thank you Vince! 🙂
Fantastic video!!! This is one of the most important topics for guitar/piano that as you said is rarely talked about!! I agree with almost everything pointed out here. I would also like to add that if you are playing some more modernish approach to your tone (guitar with alot of effects like reverb and delay and such) a beautiful sound is doing synth like effects on the guitar while the piano does "normal" comping and such. I think that if the two players know each other and listen to each other the sonic possibilities of the 2 instruments together are endless!
This was terrific!
I watched the performance by you and Aimee on her channel before watching this video. While watching, I was thinking to myself about how great the communication and listening was between you two. It made me smile to see that this video is all about communication.
Wes and Wynton could play at the same time and it was brilliant because they listened 🎵
Woow! Now i see how you apply the things that your teach us at your curse, the jazz guitar roadmap 😃😁
Great video Jens and Aimee!
Thank you James!
wow. two absolute legends!!
Let me add to all the glowing compliments on this video. Excellent concept, even better execution.
Thank you 🙂
Man i love this! Your both incredibly talented, its also amazing to hear your combined spontaneous thoughts.
Thank you Chris!
Thanks to both of you! Indeed two great teachers but together,.. this is special!
Glad you like the video 🙂
Yes!
It’s pretty awesome listening to two of my favourite RUclips personalities talking about my favourite subject. Thanks for all the talking points. It’s great you guys got together.
Glad you like it 🙂
Jens and Aimee - I really enjoyed being a fly on the wall listening to your “difficult conversation”.😊
Glad to hear that 🙂
Excellent!
I would love to have been a fly on that wall! Two awesome talents, talking shop! I'm a fan of both.
Thanks for the great discussion of comping…so helpful. Please try and do more of these discussions with other musicians.. really great
great conversation! I'm a guitar player and always take a back seat to the keys, I actually really like to focus in on the bass with shell voicings, I love the Freddy Green sound, so fun - toss in a punch or fill every once in a while - the soloist kind of picks the weird harmony stuff, the pianist can pick up on that a little better - I've learned all my chords with NO Fifths!
Luv the crossover with you two.
Thank you
Thank you for your support! I am glad you like the video! 😎
That's really an amazing conversation and very helpful!!
Very interesting ... will have to replay - thanks Jens and Aimee
Two of my favorite musicians together.....wonderful video!!!
Glad you enjoyed it
I like to listen to the Nat King Cole Trio and Diana Krall's tribute to them to be reminded that Guitar and Piano really can live together in harmony (pun intended).
Fantastic and very useful conversation, Amy and Jens!
Looking forward to more of these!
And lovely playing!
That was a fascinating conversation. Thanks to both of you for sharing this!
_Fantastic_ .
P.S.:
I have watched Aimee's videos and I believe I'm subscribed to her channel.
But if I'm not, I will correct that by subscribing!
Outstanding! Many thanks!!
You’re both amazing!
Thank you for this crossover and the useful information
Glad you like it 🙂
I really enjoyed this video, Jens. Great insights. I second the suggestion for similar videos with other instrumentalists.
Glad to hear that!
Thx Jim Hall & Bill Evans?! Jens &: Aimee, you two my favorite RUclips buddies!
Glad you like the video! 🙂
Great playing there Jens. You really should post more performances because you are damn good.
Thank you 🙂
Very informative and fun to watch!
Glad you like the video! 🙂
This is a great collaboration. It is cool to play with other musicians that stay out of each other's way. Also, I was so happy to get a picture with you this year at NAMM Jens. It is a great experience, and artists like yourself are so kind to us fans. 😃🙏
Oh, great to see two of my heroes/heroines together!!
This is so glorious!
Glad you like it 🙂
This is so great we need more of this
Hey folks, in case you haven't seen it, there are more complete musical examples from these sessions over on Aimee's channel, released on the same day as this video.
Thanks Adam! I imagine that since I mention it in the video, link to it in the pinned comment, in a card in the video and in the video description they should have a fair chance of seeing it, but I appreciate the effort 🙂
On the same day!? Gotta check this out!!
Dream team!
What an awesome sound 😎
Thank you Christian!
Nice conversation !
I’ve just had coffee. This is sooo good!
Glad you like it 🙂
Yes, so true!
Instant like - I'm a huge fan.
Glad you enjoyed it
Oh, this was so great. I'm getting back to playing after a long time and Jens you've been more help that I can describe. And even though she's a keyboardist, so has Aimee. I follow you both closely and am enriched because of it. Seeing a video with you both is like some kind of alignment of the planets!
Thank you Dean! That is really great to hear! 🙂
Nice solo at 5:00 - Jens has a great tone and melodic sound
Thank you! 🙂
This is awesome! A very inspiring conversation and some great examples. Thank you Jens and Aimee for taking us inside and sharing some useful and practical aspects on comping and supporting,
Glad it was helpful Niels! 🙂
I think this is really useful for a lot of people that are just starting to get into playing jazz with other people, or coming from rock like myself where I’m used to being the guitar player in a trio - I had to play pretty much all the time. It lays out the situation and approaches you can take really well. Great video!
What a great video! Thank you!
Glad you like it!
👍🏻 wow you guys are so intelligent, just blows my mind .
Great sir ❤.
Small session but very deep
Great content there!!! So interesting to see how to interacts with others. Great vibe aswell. Keep’em comong maestro! ❤
Glad you like the video! 🙂
This was fantastic!!