great in concerts....but still gets biggest kick out of spontaneous jam sessions
at a recent Q&A at Vanderbilt University, a student asked him if he could join Billy Joel in playing NY State of Mind. Without hesitation Billy said yes(though he waited to pick up the mic and sing until he heard the guy play the first few notes on the paino and doing it well)
Below is a vid of the impromptu performance which rocked. Brings back memories from when I was a kid during 1960's and hanging out at Cold Spring Harbor park on Long Island and seeing Billy Joel, Harry Chapin, and others periodically just start jamming unplugged. Billy's first album is the Cold Spring Harbor album, and the glass house that is the subject of one of his songs is on a hill overlooking the park. The top of the church steeple in lower left corner of the pic is that of St John's Church(church our family attended). Between the house and the church was some of the best trout fishing anywhere(at a fish hatchery, you could reach right in and grab a rainbow trout). And across 25A from the house and church was Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory(where Watson and Crick did much of their work that led to Nobel prize for the discovery of DNA structure)
Saw him play in Biloxi back in early 80s--during a peak time for him. Was without question, one of if not THE best concert I have ever seen. The band and Joel was perfect on the night--never hit a bad note whatsoever. Live concert is always the best way to judge just how good an artist or band is---and he stands at the elite level in concert.
So many great songs from him, yet so many people only know him by what was played on the radio--all the commercial stuff. So much of his best work never made airplay because it wasn't commercial enough. Which IMO, makes him that much better. The dude is talented more than most....a gifted musician, and just as good if not better writer.
This video shows his level of class as well. To just say to the kid..."ok" when asked if he could play with him, and then let the kid have at it.....wow. Would have loved to have been at Vandy that night.
Thank you for sharing this. The kid kills it. Great time, dynamics, listening, etc.
"New York State of Mind" uses that I-iii-VI-ii (or IV) V - I progression that so many great songs incorporate. Also - you think BillyJ just MIGHT have listened to some Ray Charles growing up?
Man, this is cool. I'm a big fan of anything jam, impromptu, improvisational, etc. That kid can play. For someone as big (figuratively) as Billy to just let some dude play his own song with him says a lot about his character. Thanks for sharing.
The kid was on the Today show the other morning playing the same song.
NYC needs to use him and Joel for a new marketing campaign while this iron is still hot.
__________________ "Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever."
-- Michael Corleone, "The Godfather"
Billy came to play at UF in the early 90s. I had a 3 hour block that night so I didnt go. I heard the exact same thing happened with someone in the crowd. People talked about that concert for weeks. I was so bummed to have missed it, but I was focused on my grades -- of course, I think I skipped class later in the semester for something much more uncool.
__________________
Quote:
Coach Will Muschamp:
"This was a really sexy win," a smiling Muschamp said at his postgame news conference. "In fact, I was going to come in here with my shirt off, but the players did not want me to do that. Come on, our résumé speaks for itself. You guys have covered the SEC. You've seen where we've played, who we've played and the quality of football teams we've beaten. We'll play anyone anywhere."
Billy came to play at UF in the early 90s. I had a 3 hour block that night so I didnt go. I heard the exact same thing happened with someone in the crowd. People talked about that concert for weeks. I was so bummed to have missed it, but I was focused on my grades -- of course, I think I skipped class later in the semester for something much more uncool.
Sat at a table next to him for several hours in the bar @ the 4 seasons in sf couple years back- was a complete gentlemen that night- heard they jammed for hours after we left
Sat at a table next to him for several hours in the bar @ the 4 seasons in sf couple years back- was a complete gentlemen that night- heard they jammed for hours after we left
Question---WHY would you have left in the first place??? In that scenario, I would have grown roots there and not left until after HE did, just hoping something like that would happen.
Question---WHY would you have left in the first place??? In that scenario, I would have grown roots there and not left until after HE did, just hoping something like that would happen.
Which...apparently it did happen.
And...apparently you missed!!
Flew from Atlanta to SF that day, sat for 3 hours in a driving rain watching SC/Cal game that night and by 1AM pacific time I was toast, tried to make it cause I knew he would, just couldn't.
My oldest son's wife grew up on the eastern tip of Long Island. When she was a teenager back in the late 1990's she would babysit for Christie Brinkley. Every now and then Billy Joel (Christie's ex Hubby) would pop in to visit his daughter (Alexa Ray Joel). My daughter in-law said that Joel was a real gentleman, would play with the kids, and sometimes would hang out until Christie would come home. Sometimes he would hang out with Christie and her husband. Christie and Joel (divorced since 1994) have remained good friends.
Flew from Atlanta to SF that day, sat for 3 hours in a driving rain watching SC/Cal game that night and by 1AM pacific time I was toast, tried to make it cause I knew he would, just couldn't.
You should've leaned over and told him to sing us a song, piano man.
reason Billy Joel is one of alltime greats......
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