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AT LONG LAST I CAN MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I HAVE LONGED FOR.

In regards to my cancer situation. I have had the cryotherapy and then had complications. I have had infections and now only have one left to clear up. The additional operation I was expecting to have, has been ruled out because the medication and rest therapy is working and working well.

By February 1st, I plan to begin my regimen of restarting my practice and retraining of my vibraphone skills, hopefully including some vids. In seven months, I hope to have regained most of my abilities in playing the vibes.

(I've added audio and video performances of Bluesette above)

Below is a lesson plan to help you study this tune. Post some recordings here. Remember, recording yourself is a great way to work on perfecting the lessons below. Don't underestimate the power of recording and posting your work here. It's crucial to your success.

Here are some ideas for the tune Bluesette and how to study it.

Beginners:

• Memorize the melody.
• Practice root position voicings of the chords. Play them in time.
• Work up a chord tone solo

Here’s a technique I use called “hammers” – it’s a guitar embellishment technique that works nice on the vibe, giving a sort of note bending effect.

Early Gary Burton records such as “country roads” show him using this “sound”- that’s how I learned of it

It’s one of those “sounds” you use sparingly. The audio here is pretty lo-fi but you’ll get the idea

Part 1 shows the technique
Part 2 shows the technique used over Blackbird, and Bluesette

Hi all!

I got mail today - Tony sent me his CD's!

Vibesworkshop and Tony rock!

Cheers Stefan

Stefan Gets Tony's CDS

Hello everyone,

It may have taken awhile, but we recently finalized the design for my new signature model mallet from Vic Firth.

So I was asked to play for Obama's inauguration party. Ok, cool, I'm a big Obama fan, of course I'd do it. In a second. One catch. None of the entertainment is getting paid, according to the person that wanted to hire us.

I'm still cool, I would do it. I'd feel like I was doing my part. Make sense? Still I'm kind of pissed. You mean bailout for the banks, for the auto industry for the real estate market.... but musicians play for free.

Hi everybody, I bet you're all familiar with this video of Gary Burton playing F blues. It's on YouTube, as well as on the Vic Firth site. I tried my ear at transcribing the first chorus, and turned it into a Band-Box file. It's great stuff. It shows how Gary approaches every chord in the progression from the 7th chord a half-step (or step) below or above. He does this consistantly thoughout his solo. Perhaps some of would like to take a look at this transcription. Many of you, I am sure, will be able to play it as a kind of etude. For me, it's much too hard.

Tony, I liked your gig story. I have one from almost 40 years back, when I was young and foolish. Once I had just become the proud owner of a sailing boat, and thought I could sail, not drive, to a gig. The gig location didn't look too far away, on the map. I thought it was feasible if I got an early start. But never trust the sea. Through the morning there was no wind at all, and I was making no headway. All of a sudden, in the early afternoon, a storm came from out of nowhere and hit bad. Panic on board.

Hey all at vibesworkshop,

I guess you probably noticed that I haven't been posting a lot lately...

well the thing is a litle too complicated to really get into but it comes down to this:

-I have been struggling with a landlord that wants to buy us out of our current home for about 6 years now...
- my father in law has been living with me and my girlfriend for a year
- we finally have a new home and also my father in law
- our new home is crappy and needs tons of work