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Ok.
Just out of interest I thought I’d introduce this little exercise.
What to you is the Bruce Hornsby sound that makes him so unique.
To me it’s the combination of folky/jazzy riffs and the piano with the synth pad in behind it. That’s what immediately made me listen and really love what what going on.
What do you find in Bruces music that makes it so special?
Is it the piano, is it the synth? is it the live band (personally I think they’re nuts not to push this more, search you tube for bruce hornsby and you’ll get a lot of older stuff which doesn’t show bruce at his best IMO).
There’s a lot in Bruces stuff,- but you always know it’s Bruce.. why?. discuss
Kind regards
Dave Rich
daverich wrote:Ok.Just out of interest I thought I’d introduce this little exercise.
What to you is the Bruce Hornsby sound that makes him so unique.
To me it’s the combination of folky/jazzy riffs and the piano with the synth pad in behind it. That’s what immediately made me listen and really love what what going on.
What do you find in Bruces music that makes it so special?
Is it the piano, is it the synth? is it the live band (personally I think they’re nuts not to push this more, search you tube for bruce hornsby and you’ll get a lot of older stuff which doesn’t show bruce at his best IMO).
There’s a lot in Bruces stuff,- but you always know it’s Bruce.. why?. discuss
Kind regards
Dave Rich
To me, it’s a combination of the piano and the lyrics. It’s hard to put it into words, but my best stab at it would be to say that you can tell from both that he’s put a lot of thought into them, has something to say, and says it very eloquently. In many respects, that it even more true with the instrumental work than with the vocal work, although the lyrics are intensely thought-provoking and honest, too. Maybe that’s it — he plays a very honest piano where what he’s playing comes from a special place inside of him and speaks directly to me.
Thanks, Dave… that is one of the hardest things to put into words. I know I did a hideous job of it, but that may be the best I can do without further prodding.
Rich Diakun
yeah his lyrics are always pretty unique to him,- I find he uses alot of filling out words which sit strangely on english ears,-
like,-
“Maybe we would like him so” – in sneaking up on boo.
he’s also very fond of adjectives – “so curious, so secretly” – in the road not taken,- they dont really convey much extra to the tale,- but they do add a certain Hornsbiness to the song..
Of course then there’s a fair smattering of local landmarks mentioned,- I wonder what the total is of his whole catalogue…..?
Kind regards
Dave Rich
daverich wrote:yeah his lyrics are always pretty unique to him,- I find he uses alot of filling out words which sit strangely on english ears,-like,-
“Maybe we would like him so” – in sneaking up on boo.
he’s also very fond of adjectives – “so curious, so secretly” – in the road not taken,- they dont really convey much extra to the tale,- but they do add a certain Hornsbiness to the song..
Of course then there’s a fair smattering of local landmarks mentioned,- I wonder what the total is of his whole catalogue…..?
Kind regards
Dave Rich
Dave,
You got me to thinking…..
I keep reading about how there are Beatles Landmarks tours in London and Liverpool. I wonder if we could come up with a lit of Bruce Hornsby Landmarks in this area that would make for a fun tour. I need to do further research to find out exactly where this “roadside trailer” is that Bruce so affectionately referred to in “Down The Road Tonight.”
Rich
daverich wrote:What to you is the Bruce Hornsby sound that makes him so unique. To me it’s the combination of folky/jazzy riffs and the piano with the synth pad in behind it. That’s what immediately made me listen and really love what what going on.I can easily sum it up in three words…..two hand independence!
As far as your other comment, Bruce calls JT “the best keyboardist in the band”!
😆David Day
Lake Lanier, GAI think you all are right! I would add two more things to this list:
1. The way Bruce voices chords. (I’ve heard him give and demonstrate this answer during interviews and it makes sense to me).
2. The Hornsby “musical touch.” This produces a certain sound (full, flowing…). I’m not sure if it’s made because Bruce doesn’t strike the notes in certain chords all at once or is it an effect he gets by using the pedals? It could be another form of voicing chords. I really hear this phenomenon during the first few measures on the original album version of “The Way It Is,” before the bass kicks in.
Can the musicians out there help me define item #2? Or at least tell me if I’m having auditory hallucinations…
Jackie
treah wrote:This produces a certain sound (full, flowing…). I’m not sure if it’s made because Bruce doesn’t strike the notes in certain chords all at once or is it an effect he gets by using the pedals? It could be another form of voicing chords. Can the musicians out there help me or at least tell me if I’m having auditory hallucinations…No need to worry! 😆 MVF has auditory hallucinations all the time! 😆 😆 😆
Maybe it can be summed up by what Bruce has said before…..”Why play only one note when you can play many”? (I hope I got that right, but you get the picture.)
Maybe the keyboard players can “chime in” here.
Speaking of “going to the Daves”, where has DaveR been? Another great keyboardist! Hope MVF didn’t scare him away! 😆 😆 😆
David Day
Lake Lanier, GADavid Day wrote:treah wrote:This produces a certain sound (full, flowing…). I’m not sure if it’s made because Bruce doesn’t strike the notes in certain chords all at once or is it an effect he gets by using the pedals? It could be another form of voicing chords. Can the musicians out there help me or at least tell me if I’m having auditory hallucinations…No need to worry! 😆 MVF has auditory hallucinations all the time! 😆 😆 😆
Maybe it can be summed up by what Bruce has said before…..”Why play only one note when you can play many”? (I hope I got that right, but you get the picture.)
Maybe the keyboard players can “chime in” here.
Speaking of “going to the Daves”, where has DaveR been? Another great keyboardist! Hope MVF didn’t scare him away! 😆 😆 😆
David Day
Lake Lanier, GAThat reminds me of a joke.
Whats the difference between Jazz guitarists and Rock guitarists?
Rock guitarists play three chords to thousands of people.
Kind regards
Dave Rich
I think that Bruce’s unique sound is related to the complexity of the music. As much as I love Bruce’s keyboard work, the depth of the chords from the other “Noisemakers” and the way they are all interwoven together so skillfully really make it special. The live show recordings that I have heard, and the short part of one show I saw live (rained out) really drive home how talented Bruce is at melting things together so seamlessly. And it’s even more remarkable with his “on the fly” set list system!
Heath
Greetings “Board” members! It’s been a while…
I think you all are right. Here’s something from my listening angle:
The month or so ago, I heard a song on the radio (WNCW) the was playing one of Charlie Haden’s new releases. I didn’t even know Bruce was guest pianist on that particular song, but I stopped what I was doing, turned up the volume, and thought, “Wow, that piano sounds like Bruce!” I quick-searched the playlist, and found it was so. It wasn’t Bruce’s band, or even his voice, but you tell me how a piano can “sound” like Bruce??
In my very unqualified opinion, I believe Bruce’s “piano-sound” comes from 1) very assured/confident/firm as well as exposed melodic lines, 2) definitely the 2-handed independence (you go, David D!) 3) a very “Bruce’d” style of counterpoint, syncopation, with consistently unmuddied voicings, and 4) very clever and fluid flourishes that remove any doubt that you’re listening to Bruce’s signature in the music, that is not dependent on the band. That’s why you can hear his piano in the Dead or Ricky’s music…heck, even Lowe’s commercials!
Ok, enough of me. What do the rest of you think/hear/visualize?
Todd
yeah you hit it on the nail todd.
How can just a piano sound like bruce. I mean,- guitarists use their own tone, generally by having a certain guitar, pickups, cabs- whatever, but with piano it’s just a piano,- so all that makes the difference is the actual notes being played.
Could you pick out someones Xylophone style for instance??
Kind regards
Dave Rich
I think that Bruce demonstrates the beauty and the emotive brilliance of his style in this interview:
😆
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