‘If anyone was born to play the piano, it’s him’: Oliver Jones
Oliver Jones doesn’t mince words. Never has, especially when it comes to music.
“Daniel is simply brilliant,” Jones says of Daniel Clarke Bouchard, in a phone interview from his Florida retreat.
“If you had your eyes closed, you would think the person playing the piano was perhaps in his 40s or 50s. Daniel is way beyond his years. To have the technical ability — which he has — is one thing. But to bring that kind of emotion and passion is something else entirely.”
Jones believes it’s almost otherworldly watching the kid in a trancelike state and listening to him make magic at the piano. He first met Clarke Bouchard four years ago after a Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir con- cert. Clarke Bouchard and his mother, Valerie Clarke, simply wanted a picture of them with him. Clarke told Jones that he was a “hero” to her son. Jones was puzzled how he could be a hero to any 8-year-old.
“She then said her son wanted to learn to play piano like me,” Jones recalls. “Then a year later, I was teaching a class at the Orford music camp. And who shows up but Clarke Bouchard and his mother. I knew he was studying classical, but he wanted to learn jazz as well.”
Clarke Bouchard did a master class with Jones for three days. Jones then staged a concert with the students. He invited Clarke Bouchard to join in on a number they had practised.
“And he just tore down the house with some boogiewoogie and jazz,” Jones marvels. “I was stunned. But I told his mother that he had to continue with his classical studies, because that’s where his future would lie.”
Jones stayed in touch with Clarke Bouchard, and wasn’t surprised to learn that he won this year’s Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, which attracted some 600 applicants.
“It is a prestigious event, and his prize for winning: Daniel had his own concert at Carnegie Hall. That’s pretty incredible stuff. Apparently, Daniel just bowled everyone over there as well. Everywhere he plays, people fall in love with him.
“I have been looking out for him. He’s got it all. Academically he does well, too. And he’s a good hockey goalie, too. But if anyone was born to play the piano, it’s him.
“It’s almost unnatural, and to learn all of those concertos by memory at that age, that’s just unbelievable. I remember playing some of those compositions at his age, but never, never anywhere close to the perfection he brings and with such ease, both at the piano and with the audience. I never had that, and even if I live to be 100, I never will have.
“His mother never has to force him to practise like mine did, either.
“The word is quickly getting around about him. It won’t be long until the world takes notice of him.”