Don’t Explain – Solo Jazz Piano Video Performance
July 11, 2015
Hey everybody!
I wanted to share a quick video performance I just made of the great jazz standard ‘Don’t Explain’.
This tune was written and made famous by the late great Billie Holiday.
In my opinion she is an extremely underrated songwriter and should absolutely be in the same conversation with other great jazz writers.
I’ve always loved Billie’s singing and music so much and I wanted to pay tribute to her through this recording. 🙂
In a few days I’ll add a whole piano lesson to this site on how to play many of the reharmonization techniques I used in this recording.
Be sure to keep checking the site. (If you’re a subscriber to this site already you’ll receive a private email of the lesson.)
If you’re not a subscriber already you can subscribe on the top left of this site for free.
Update: The lesson has been released. Here is the lesson where I show you some of the reharmonization techniques.
In the meantime I hope you enjoy the performance 🙂
If you liked this performance please leave a comment below or share it on Facebook or Twitter. 🙂
Holy wow. Love it Steve. Can’t wait to learn some of those chords.
I’m flattered Dan. I’ll post the reharm lesson soon.
Thanks Dan!
Very tastefully done I enjoyed it very much
Thanks for your kind words Raymond 🙂
Very nice of you to say Raymond 🙂
Sweet! I’m ready to learn that one!
Follow up lesson will be coming very soon!
Very nice Steve. subtle and lyrical. However, I have never liked “rubato” type endings, however well done. Other than that, great stuff, thank you.
lol thanks Rico.
Good one Steve… Very relaxing song and what an honor having a great teacher and friend like you …. gracias amigo
De nada amigo!
Very nice, Steve. Thanks
Thanks Antonio!
Very nice one
Appreciate that Gradowski!
yes i like that and waiting for lessons:).thank you!!!
I will be posting the lesson very very soon David. Thanks!!
Absolutely my pleasure Bill. This is one of her best tunes in my opinion 🙂
Loved it Steve. Thanks. Is there any way we can get the sheet music for it?
Graeme Davies
Excellent piano playing. However, the audio track sounds shallow and tinny. May I suggest that you hook up a better quality mic to your video camera’s mic input jack. Or, use a high quality portable recorder such as the ZOOM H4n. Other than that, everything on you website, especially your lessons are top notch. Thank you for your helpful instructions.
Hi North Island. Thanks for the feedback. I usually record with a higher quality microphone but this was a very quick spur of the moment recording 🙂 Thanks!
Bravo…One of my favorates. I used to listen to that song on an old cassette tape of Billie Holiday when I was hammering the caulking in between the planks of this old boat I used to devote my self to. I loved that old boat like Billie loved her flames…It was just me and her and everything was forgiven…
Good to see you roll one out for us Steve. Thanks eh.
Rob (NZ) .
Hi Steve! Do you have a lesson on dont explain?
Beautiful!
Thank you Jan. Very kind!
great site…happy to have found it
would you suggest a good piano book for jazz music?
Thank you! There are some excellent fake books that I recommend in the resources section. I update that page somewhat regularly too as I find new things.
Hi Steve. This was devine. I especially appreciate the view and being able to watch your hands float so effortlessly over the keys. I have a long way to go….nice to have the inspiration.
Thanks Donna. Fun day of teaching. Glad you found it inspiring 🙂 Chords are fun for sure 🙂