OurielOhayon

Hot Jazz Pianist Talent: Hiromi Uehara

I was so surprised that i stopped walking in the street yesterday as i was discovering the incredibly talented Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Ueahara via a NPR jazz podcast (i recommend by the way).

I never heard about her before and i was totally blown by the level of energy and creativity of this young pianist. I went to youtube this morning to find out more about her. Check out below one of her composition, the tom and jerry show (tribute to the cartoon) and observe how she really "plays" with the piano this complex piece of music. Everything looks easy and totally under control.

I thought her territory would be more traditional-revisited (you feel the influence of Tatum/Peterson/Garner). But if you dig more you can see she knows how to explore new modern fields, like on this memorable version of summertime in duo with no one else than Chick Corea himself...

 

In addition she's very pretty and sounds very nice (you need to listen to her podcast on NPR jazz). I can only anticipate a massive success for this young artist.

I did not know really any international jazz musician until that day. I am already a great fan of Ruychi Sakamoto who is a great music film composer (mainly for Takeshi Kitano and Hayao Miyazaki cartoons) and has a strong jazz background. but Hiromi is the first true jazz artist i know coming out of this country

She's from now on at the top of my hot list of talented jazz musician to keep track of.

Technorati Tags: hiromi, jazz, piano, japan, npr, podcast

VideoCast: the shoes 3.0 (in French)

I suggested Cyprien to meet last week when i was in south of France. Cyrpien is participating in the blogakademy a sort of "pop idole"/kokhav nolad for bloggers that my friend Loic is running on his blog and for which i am a jury member.

Cyprien usually makes very cool videos and we decided to make one together. The result is below (sorry if you don't get French) but i think this is really funny (you can watch it full screen by clicking on Zoom). Sometimes it is good to make fun of yourself...

 

Podcast: my interview on the launch of the iPhone

I was interviewed by Philippe Couve from Radio France international on the historical launch of the iPhone. Historical not because of the product itself but the obsessive global interest and coverage from all media starting with blogs on this product that will only be available in the US and on ATT

The interview is in French

 

Technorati tags: iPhone, podcast, ourielohayon

I was not playing like that when i was 7

A 7 year old chinese kid playing the not really easy Fantaisie Impromptu. Actually i cannot still play that today..

Let's not forget that at this same moment about 30 million Chinese learn how to play the piano. In less than a generation most classical concert /cds will be dominated by Chinese...A pure numbers law

update: and just found that one playing a Chopin Nocturne. China's got talent

 

A podcast with Loic in Israel

It is a tradition now. Once a year we make with Loic a podcast together in Israel. There you go: during the marker comvention (in French sorry)

 

Tags: loiclemeur, israel, podcast, startup, internet

MediaFire is back but too late

For a few months, MediaFire, i thought was the best free hosting/file sharing web service was unavailable from israel. Impossible to find why and get an answer from them.

It pushed me to explore for alternatives. I discovered in the meantime DivShare. This is the rolls. don’t think twice. This is the best. In addition of free hosting and great interface you can upload files up to 200MB and get free player for your podcasts for exemple (see below with one of my previous podcast).

MediaFire is back now but too late. Sorry, you just lost a customer.

The question i am always asking myself with those services is : say you share/host files there, what happens the day most of those services will close (and they will)? could a competitive advantage be the guarantee your files will be always available EVEN if the company no longers exist?

Tags: mediafire, divshare, filesharing, free

JAZZCAST: Stefano Bollani, what a pianist!

Stefano Bollani is certainly one of my top 3 new generation jazz pianists. He’s italian (like the great but older Enrico Pieranunzi), very very very talented and very funny. I have seen him a couple of times and he s able to improvise on virtualy anything including prokofiev concerto s and traditionnal italian songs.

He’s releasing soon a new solo disc with the prestigious label ECM (producing already Keith Jarrett and others). To understand the talent of this brilliant guy see how he plays solo an old rag time like Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. It is simply astonishing (the rythm and syncoped dynamic is really AMAZING)

 

 

If you are not convinced (man if you re not at this stage, get away from jazz) then listen to his version of “Besame Mucho”

 

JAZZCAST : Tribute to Yehudit Ravitz

I remember the first modern israeli musician i was exposed to when i first to Israel more than 3 years ago was Yehudit Ravitz. I liked her style right away and remained one of my top 5 israeli singer ever since (with matti caspi i already talked about).

She has a very delicate and sophisticated style. Her compositions are very melodic and thought to record something about her for a while. It was hard to decide what to record (see here impressive collection of discs).I was initially tempted to go to her most famous songs (“the most beautiful girl in the garden”) but i chose 2 less famous titles, that are at least as nice. The fans will recognize surely

Hope you enjoy. To donwload here and there. To listen press play below.

powered by ODEO

powered by ODEO

Vlogged by Maxthon SVP, Netanel Jacobsson

I had a good experience yesterday being vlogged on Maxthon, my favourite browser.

Behind the camera my old ICQ colleague and good friend, now SVP at Maxthon, Netanel Jacobsson. He s starting a series of interviews on his great product by people he knows or happens to meet. First was Bill Thai general partner atm CRV. I think it is a great idea and a good way to bring a brand come to life and show faces behind a product. More companies should do it.

You ll discover some of my secret my computer settings in this video.

I liked it, except i realized on that video i make too many faces and that i got fatter!

Enjoy the show.

 

Click to Play

 

 

 

JAZZCAST: tribute to Keith Jarrett Carnegie Hall concert

I already said that the new Keith Jarrett solo album is a must. I have listening to it at least 50 times over the past 2 weeks. So much i even tried to replicate one of the song. Time on my hands

I of course did not manage to do so. It is a beautiful melody and ballad, with great harmonies. I could find some of those fantastic chords only Jarrett has the secret. Of course many bugs during the recording (but Jarrett makes one too on that song at 2”40)

Anyway here is the tune. To download here or play in streaming below

 

 

technorati tags: keithjarrett album jazz piano podcast