I enjoyed the pleasure of interviewing him in his home in Brooklyn a few years before his death. A marvelous and gracious person and extremely talented musician who bridged many decades of American music.
He, like so many of the Great early, jazz and blues pioneers, is sadly a lost as the greats of the once called Negro League of baseball. Listen to this genius
The New Orleans impressario Al Rose wrote a book titled I Remember Jazz that featured short sketches and stories of 50 or so of the old timers. Blake and Rose were best friends and the whole book is terrific. I think Amazon sells it.
Dear Kankan nou, It is wonderful to hear this again! It sounds like it comes from the two-LP album you show a photo of above, "The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake." Does it come from that album? I have been trying to find a CD format of that double-LP album for years. It's a hugely enjoyable set, but to my knowledge it has never been released on CDs, though I can't imagine why given what a pleasure the set is! I was in e-mail contact with composer William Bolcom about the album and wondered if he might know if the set was ever released on CDs. He replied that it had and that he actually had it in CD format. That was/is strange to me because I've never found a CD format of that album available for sale anywhere! So I'm betting that an "audio expert" friend of Dr. Bolcom's just "burned a couple CDs" of the LPs for him and gave them to him, and Dr. Bolcom was just unaware that the CDs were not actually commercially produced. Though I couldn't say! In any case I dearly wish that "The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake" would be released on CDs--it's a tremendously enjoyable chunk of music making by Eubie Blake, and also with his friend and music partner Noble Sissle, who sings (marvelously) various of the songs on the double-album set. I can only hope that Columbia Records--or whatever Columbia Records turned into--will come to their senses and realize what a treasure that double album is and "remaster" it and release it on CDs. I'd be the first customer!! I use to sing along with Eubie and Noble while taking a shower. I made a cassette tape of the two albums by putting a microphone next to the phonograph I had back then, and so I could listen to the albums through that cassette tape I made, putting the recorder on the bathroom counter while I showered. So many wonderful song to sing along with! "It was allllll yourrrrrrr fault. "Love Will Find a Way," for example. What a beautiful song! Anyway, thanks so much for putting up "Memories of You." It's a welcome treat!
All the black people wanted to study classical because they thought it would 'raise their status'. They neglected their own art form and had this inferiority complex where anything that was 'white' was superior. Of course, in the end it was the Europeans themselves who first learned to appreciate jazz and the black styles, to their surprise (Waller and Tatum preferred playing for European audiences).
Debate as to what is old. This is from a vinyl LP from 1969 not a 78 from the era when he wrote it. The lp could be warped slighty or there may have been a turntable ssue in the dubbing for this medium.
Terry Waldo transcribed "Memories of You," and if you contact him through his website I imagine he would be glad to tell you how you can get the music. Here is the link to his website: www.terrywaldo.com/index.php And speaking of Terry Waldo, he also transcribed a number of Eubie Blake's rags, and they are great fun to play! (Or, in my case, attempt to play.) Mr. Waldo's "Sincerely--Eubie Blake" is the name of that collection of piano rags. Although the book is no longer published, I'm sure you can get a copy of that volume by just checking online or contacting Mr. Waldo through his website.
You can find an excellent transcription by Terry Waldo of Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" in the book "Play Like a Pro 72 Piano Arrangements With the Professional Touch." The book is unfortunately out of print, but it's a fantastic book and I highly recommend it to you! I imagine you can find it at a big used bookstore. If not, you can get through "WorldCat," which helps you to locate the nearest library to you that has the book. Hopefully Mr. Waldo can help you if you get in touch with him through his website though. I hope you can get that book though--it is well worth having!
And such a beautiful dog was with them
Privileged to have heard Eubie he embodded musical history Thank You
I enjoyed the pleasure of interviewing him in his home in Brooklyn a few years before his death. A marvelous and gracious person and extremely talented musician who bridged many decades of American music.
Lucky you
Thank you! Great pictures!
He, like so many of the Great early, jazz and blues pioneers, is sadly a lost as the greats of the once called Negro League of baseball. Listen to this genius
This is so incredibly romantic - without any sentimentality. I wish I could play like that at least once in my life.
Who says you can't? (MrJimmienoone)
me too
What an amazing sound,
much respect for Mr Blake.
Music is timeless, it will outlive us all.
C'est vraiment génial! Eubie est aussi bon dans le jazz que dans le ragtime.
The New Orleans impressario Al Rose wrote a book titled I Remember Jazz that featured short sketches and stories of 50 or so of the old timers. Blake and Rose were best friends and the whole book is terrific. I think Amazon sells it.
He was one of the piano giants of the 20. century.
WOW!
Legend!
Beautiful...
Pure and Sweet
wonderful
definitely some Gershwin & Ravel in there!
marvelous......
Dear Kankan nou,
It is wonderful to hear this again! It sounds like it comes from the two-LP album you show a photo of above, "The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake." Does it come from that album? I have been trying to find a CD format of that double-LP album for years. It's a hugely enjoyable set, but to my knowledge it has never been released on CDs, though I can't imagine why given what a pleasure the set is! I was in e-mail contact with composer William Bolcom about the album and wondered if he might know if the set was ever released on CDs. He replied that it had and that he actually had it in CD format. That was/is strange to me because I've never found a CD format of that album available for sale anywhere! So I'm betting that an "audio expert" friend of Dr. Bolcom's just "burned a couple CDs" of the LPs for him and gave them to him, and Dr. Bolcom was just unaware that the CDs were not actually commercially produced. Though I couldn't say! In any case I dearly wish that "The Eighty-Six Years of Eubie Blake" would be released on CDs--it's a tremendously enjoyable chunk of music making by Eubie Blake, and also with his friend and music partner Noble Sissle, who sings (marvelously) various of the songs on the double-album set. I can only hope that Columbia Records--or whatever Columbia Records turned into--will come to their senses and realize what a treasure that double album is and "remaster" it and release it on CDs. I'd be the first customer!! I use to sing along with Eubie and Noble while taking a shower. I made a cassette tape of the two albums by putting a microphone next to the phonograph I had back then, and so I could listen to the albums through that cassette tape I made, putting the recorder on the bathroom counter while I showered. So many wonderful song to sing along with! "It was allllll yourrrrrrr fault. "Love Will Find a Way," for example. What a beautiful song!
Anyway, thanks so much for putting up "Memories of You." It's a welcome treat!
Pretty amazing if you think about it :)
thank god i found it
100000 Times t
His mother wanted him to play classical piano at home.
Fats Waller and Art Tatum started with classical. I believe Thelonius Monk even attended Julliard.
All the black people wanted to study classical because they thought it would 'raise their status'. They neglected their own art form and had this inferiority complex where anything that was 'white' was superior. Of course, in the end it was the Europeans themselves who first learned to appreciate jazz and the black styles, to their surprise (Waller and Tatum preferred playing for European audiences).
How does he "bend" the piano at 0:20 !!??
that's because of the recording, it often do that with old recordings
oww ok, I thought I could learn something new about the piano. Thanks!
Debate as to what is old. This is from a vinyl LP from 1969 not a 78 from the era when he wrote it. The lp could be warped slighty or there may have been a turntable ssue in the dubbing for this medium.
Anyone knows where can I find the sheet music?
Terry Waldo transcribed "Memories of You," and if you contact him through his website I imagine he would be glad to tell you how you can get the music. Here is the link to his website: www.terrywaldo.com/index.php
And speaking of Terry Waldo, he also transcribed a number of Eubie Blake's rags, and they are great fun to play! (Or, in my case, attempt to play.) Mr. Waldo's "Sincerely--Eubie Blake" is the name of that collection of piano rags. Although the book is no longer published, I'm sure you can get a copy of that volume by just checking online or contacting Mr. Waldo through his website.
You can find an excellent transcription by Terry Waldo of Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" in the book "Play Like a Pro 72 Piano Arrangements With the Professional Touch." The book is unfortunately out of print, but it's a fantastic book and I highly recommend it to you! I imagine you can find it at a big used bookstore. If not, you can get through "WorldCat," which helps you to locate the nearest library to you that has the book. Hopefully Mr. Waldo can help you if you get in touch with him through his website though. I hope you can get that book though--it is well worth having!
rhap'ping (in blue)