Around The Piano With Tom Odell

Billy Joel has sold more than 150 million records and is ranked as one of the most popular recording artists and entertainers in the world. At the age of 70 Billy is still at the height of his career, continuously selling out back to back to shows at Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium. He joins Tom Odell at BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss his passion for the piano, an instrument that has been muse and confident for over 6 decades.

In Part 1 of this conversation they discuss Billy Joel's early classical lessons, his passion for rock ‘n' roll, early influences like Ray Charles, the singer-songwriter period of the 70's, touring during the early days and with Elton John, the creation of his hit album ‘The Stranger' and his memories of purchasing his first piano which he slept under.

Centered at the piano we hear personal nostalgic memories brought to life by Billy's immaculate piano playing. The result is a rich, personal and genuine conversation between two friends and musicians whose passion for this instrument is paramount.

Billy Joel and Tom Odell have an in-depth conversation sat at a piano at BBC Maida Vale.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

Billy Joel has sold more than 150 million records and is ranked as one of the most popular recording artists and entertainers in the world. At the age of 70 Billy is still at the height of his career, continuously selling out back to back to shows at Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium. He joins Tom Odell at BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss his passion for the piano, an instrument that has been muse and confident for over 6 decades.

In Part 2 of this conversation they discuss the process Billy goes through to compose his songs, his early days playing in a piano bar in LA, the success of his album ‘The Stranger' and following this up with the equally successful ‘52nd Street' and his key to success and greatest achievements.

Centered at the piano we hear personal nostalgic memories brought to life by Billy's immaculate piano playing. The result is a rich, personal and genuine conversation between two friends and musicians whose passion for this instrument is paramount.

Billy Joel and Tom Odell have an in-depth conversation sat at a piano at BBC Maida Vale.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

Elton John has sold more than 300 million records and is ranked as one of the most popular recording artists and entertainers in the world. He has had more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles and Billboard Charts, including seven UK number ones. Throughout his career, the piano has played a pivotal part. Elton immediately learnt to play the piano by ear and quickly developed his own unique melodic style, influenced by a wide range of styles.

Tom Odell joins him at his home in France to discuss his passion for the piano and the great artists associated with it.

In this magical conversation they delve into a plethora of amazing influences, discussing Elton's early classical lessons, his passion for rock ‘n' roll, blues, gospel, country and artists such as Aretha Franklin, Leon Russell, Nina Simone, Jerry Lee Lewis, Winifred Atwell and Bruce Hornsby. Elton also discusses why the piano is the reason for some of the best ever written songs and his memories of the best and worst pianos that he has ever played, including his distaste for white mini grand pianos. Elton also talks about why he wished he could have been a guitarist and why he never practices the piano.

This is a rich, personal and genuine conversation between two friends and musicians whose passion for this instrument is paramount.

Sir Elton John talks to Tom Odell about the role of the piano in his incredible career.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

In this first episode, Tom gives a brief history of the piano and its relevance to him, talking through the instruments history in popular music with its emergence in the 60's.

The piano, particularly from the middle 19th century, was a very social instrument. A centre-point for friends and family to gather around in Public Houses, schools and homes across the world. It is no surprise that when modern popular music burst onto the scene in the 60's with bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, it was a central instrument in composition and recording of the songs. 

Tom explores how the piano emerged in the 60's with its roots heavily grounded in jazz, blues, and gospel music, and will try to understand why so much of the piano playing during this time harked back to New Orleans. Tom learns why British bands were so heavily influenced by these early piano pieces, and he focuses on the piano greats like Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone who used were heavily influenced by the world around them.

Centred on Tom's passion for the piano we hear his personal anecdotes of dedication, celebration and affection of the timeless instrument. The result is a rich, personal narrative series fronted by one of the UK's leading young artists.

~Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a personal exploration of the piano during the 1960s.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

Billy Joel has sold more than 150 million records and is ranked as one of the most popular recording artists and entertainers in the world. At the age of 70 Billy is still at the height of his career, continuously selling out back to back to shows at Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium. He joins Tom Odell at BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss his passion for the piano, an instrument that has been muse and confident for over 6 decades.

In Part 1 of this conversation they discuss Billy Joel's early classical lessons, his passion for rock ‘n' roll, early influences like Ray Charles, the singer-songwriter period of the 70's, touring during the early days and with Elton John, the creation of his hit album ‘The Stranger' and his memories of purchasing his first piano which he slept under.

Centered at the piano we hear personal nostalgic memories brought to life by Billy's immaculate piano playing. The result is a rich, personal and genuine conversation between two friends and musicians whose passion for this instrument is paramount.

Billy Joel and Tom Odell have an in-depth conversation sat at a piano at BBC Maida Vale.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

Billy Joel has sold more than 150 million records and is ranked as one of the most popular recording artists and entertainers in the world. At the age of 70 Billy is still at the height of his career, continuously selling out back to back to shows at Madison Square Garden and Wembley Stadium. He joins Tom Odell at BBC Maida Vale studios to discuss his passion for the piano, an instrument that has been muse and confident for over 6 decades.

In Part 2 of this conversation they discuss the process Billy goes through to compose his songs, his early days playing in a piano bar in LA, the success of his album ‘The Stranger' and following this up with the equally successful ‘52nd Street' and his key to success and greatest achievements.

Centered at the piano we hear personal nostalgic memories brought to life by Billy's immaculate piano playing. The result is a rich, personal and genuine conversation between two friends and musicians whose passion for this instrument is paramount.

Billy Joel and Tom Odell have an in-depth conversation sat at a piano at BBC Maida Vale.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

Elton John has sold more than 300 million records and is ranked as one of the most popular recording artists and entertainers in the world. He has had more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles and Billboard Charts, including seven UK number ones. Throughout his career, the piano has played a pivotal part. Elton immediately learnt to play the piano by ear and quickly developed his own unique melodic style, influenced by a wide range of styles.

Tom Odell joins him at his home in France to discuss his passion for the piano and the great artists associated with it.

In this magical conversation they delve into a plethora of amazing influences, discussing Elton's early classical lessons, his passion for rock ‘n' roll, blues, gospel, country and artists such as Aretha Franklin, Leon Russell, Nina Simone, Jerry Lee Lewis, Winifred Atwell and Bruce Hornsby. Elton also discusses why the piano is the reason for some of the best ever written songs and his memories of the best and worst pianos that he has ever played, including his distaste for white mini grand pianos. Elton also talks about why he wished he could have been a guitarist and why he never practices the piano.

This is a rich, personal and genuine conversation between two friends and musicians whose passion for this instrument is paramount.

Sir Elton John talks to Tom Odell about the role of the piano in his incredible career.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

In episode 2, Tom focuses on the 70s and discusses the role the piano played in the boom of the singer songwriter era - questioning why such a large majority of songwriters played the piano. There are some obvious reasons that remain true, one of them is the fact that it's one of the few instruments where the melody can be played simultaneously with the harmony.  

Since becoming a successful musician, Tom has supported many of his heroes from this era and has watched them play their songs up close. He'll hear stories from the likes of Billy Joel, who speaks about ‘Piano Man' which is a nod to the classical waltzes of ages before, and Rick Wakeman who reminisces about playing piano with David Bowie on ‘Life on Mars'.

Tom also explores the wonderful dramatic piano playing of Roy Bittan alongside Stevie Wonder and discusses the lyrical importance of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush.

Centered on Tom's passion for the piano we hear his personal anecdotes of dedication, celebration and affection of the timeless instrument. The result is a rich, personal narrative series fronted by one of the UK's leading young artists.

~Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a personal exploration of the piano during the 1970s.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

~Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a deeply personal exploration of the piano during the 1970s featuring interviews with Elton John, Billy Joel, Rick Wakeman, Tori Amos and Andy Burrows.

In episode 2, Tom focuses on the 70s and discusses the role the piano played in the boom of the singer songwriter era – questioning why such a large majority of songwriters played the piano. There are some obvious reasons that remain true, one of them is the fact that it's one of the few instruments where the melody can be played simultaneously with the harmony.  

Since becoming a successful musician, Tom has supported many of his heroes from this era and has watched them play their songs up close. He'll hear stories from the likes of Billy Joel, who speaks about ‘Piano Man' which is a nod to the classical waltzes of ages before, and Rick Wakeman who reminisces about playing piano with David Bowie on ‘Life on Mars'.

Tom also explores the wonderful dramatic piano playing of Roy Bittan alongside Stevie Wonder and discusses the lyrical importance of Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush.

Centered on Tom's passion for the piano we hear his personal anecdotes of dedication, celebration and affection of the timeless instrument. The result is a rich, personal narrative series fronted by one of the UK's leading young artists.

~Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a personal exploration of the piano during the 1970s.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

In episode 3, Tom focuses firstly on the 80s and as technology became more advanced, and the rise of electronic music filled the western world's airwaves, was the piano going to be left behind to gather dust? No, it was just used differently - suddenly we started hearing giant reverb, and delay on piano recordings.

Tom also explores how sampling became a tool for hip-hop producers during this period, instead of using synthesisers to create a melody they were often sampling classic piano riffs and melodies, which when looped formed the basis of their songs.

The 90s brought back a resurgence of bands again, and Tom moves on to discuss the use of the piano in music by the likes of Ben Folds Five and Supergrass, and Oasis's song 'Don't Look Back in Anger'.

Centered on Tom's passion for the piano we hear his personal anecdotes of dedication, celebration and affection of the timeless instrument. The result is a rich, personal narrative series fronted by one of the UK's leading young artists.

~Around The Piano With Tom Odell; an exploration of the piano during the 1980s and 1990s.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

In episode 4, Tom focuses on the 00s and explores how the piano began being used like the guitar, often using memorable melodic arpeggio's and how artists like Adele began releasing the big ballads of recent years. Tom will also explore how artists such as Coldplay, Muse and James Blake are using the piano in innovative ways.

Tom hears stories from the likes of Tim-Rice Oxley from Keane who shares memories of going to university with Chris Martin and penning piano hits like 'Somewhere Only we Know'. Tom also speaks to Matt Bellamy from Muse about how he constructs songs on the piano before transferring this to the guitar, and producer and pianist Dan Wilson reminisces about writing 'Someone Like You' with Adele.

Tom finishes by discussing how the piano might be used in the future, undoubtedly at the forefront, as it has become apparent just how ubiquitous the instrument has been in all of our lives without us even realising it.

Centered on Tom's passion for the piano we hear his personal anecdotes of dedication, celebration and affection of the timeless instrument. The result is a rich, personal narrative series fronted by one of the UK's leading young artists.

~Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a personal exploration of the piano during the 2000s.

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in