Jared Nandra and Theophilus Martins were jamming out a poppin’ boogie-woogie jam on the public piano at the Battersea Power Station mall. The two lads were really cooking up a tasty groove, but things got even spicier when Reece Potter joined the jam, adding a frenetic melody on the treble keys. The energy went up a notch when the duo performance turned into a trio, yet soon James Wallis would join the fray as well, making the jam into a piano quartet.
The group’s amazing playing, and perhaps the head-banging energy of Reece Potter, made the spontaneous performance into a viral hit on YouTube. The jam attracted 1.6 million views on Nandra’s channel, making it his second most popular video on the platform. We know The Music Man readers love to see special spontaneous performances like this, so you can check it out for yourself below.
It really is remarkable how well the four musos were able to lock in without any preparation, and they also showed quite impressive improvisation skills. During the performance, surprised shoppers at the Battersea Power Station quickly realized something special was afoot, and as a crowd gathered, several in the crowd whipped out their phones to take a video of the piano jam.
Music lovers at home were also loving the jam, and added comments such as “Amazing how they don’t know each other yet perform so well together without practice, this is the mark of a true musician” and “The third gentleman looks like he’s been waiting for this moment his whole life. I love how the music just took over his body.” It’s not the only hit piano video Jared Nandra has uploaded, as his video showcasing a swing dancing couple grooving to his playing drew 4.2 million views.
Jared Nandra is a pianist and content creator based in England. He has 79,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he shares his piano performances and arrangements. Many of his videos feature surprise guest musicians and other spontaneous elements. Nandra’s favourite style is definitely boogie-woogie, and many of his most popular uploads feature the style.
Boogie-woogie is a type of blues music that emerged from African-American communities from the 1870s onward, and eventually became popular with the wider public in the 1920s. Boogie-woogie was traditionally performed as solo piano music, which is no doubt why it’s so popular with pianists performing in public, along with its cheerful and energetic vibe. The style later expanded into group arrangements and influenced the development of rock and roll and R&B.
If you would like to hear more from this talented artist you can subscribe to their YouTube Channel for more incredible music. Follow Jared Nandra on Instagram to stay updated on his latest performances and projects.