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OK... when I first told Tony about this, I realized immediately that I have kept this hidden for years because, frankly, I am embarrassed at the way I wrote it. It was 30+ years ago and I had more than just a little youthful attitude. It sucks in that way. Here's the deal though... if anyone out here can benefit from what I started then I should put it out here and trust those of you who know me to understand that a kid younger than my own children are now wrote this.

Just a quick tip when working on tunes. This sort of gets you into the zone of the tune. It's a good warm up to ensure that you know the changes of the tune.

Here's the Cherokee etude. It's sooo hard, I'm burnt out on it! I give up.

I wanted to play a bass line over a head. You can't do it over a solo really, but over a head I thought it was possible. I think it's a technique that can be interspersed in a tune or solo. I don't think anyone should strive to play a baseline through a whole tune.

My goal for this year is to learn to play scales and modes.

i was talking to a friend of me who plays in an orchestra which had a concert with evelyn glenni shortley. he told me that shes using the pedal with her left foot if shes playing in the high registers. sometimes if i play there i got problems with my stand also...i just want to know what you guys think of this?

At the end of my last lesson with Tony, he gave me two Bill Evans CD's to check out. One of them is Bill Evans' "Alone". Tony said that he learned to play solo vibes from this record.

As soon as a got home I checked it out. First of all, I'm a big fan of Bill Evans. (is hard not to be, right?)so I knew that whatever I was going to listen it was going to be beautiful, emotional and magical.

Hi all!

Yesterday I've been at Porgy&Bess (www.porgy.at) - the most important jazzclub here in Vienna where Bosko Petrovic Trio (vib, git , bass)played. These guys blew me away! Maybe someone of you have seen Bosko - he is 74 years old and from Croatia. He plays with two mallets - the huge ones like Milt Jackson and uses a timpani gip. Bosko has also composed many jazz tunes. The last few tunes of the gig he featured a boy of about 12 years named Vid Jamnik from Slowenia who studied with Bosko for several years and now plays like a killer.

The most obvious Valentines Day tune is "My Funny Valentine". Are there others?

I put the changes into Band-in-a-Box and had fun with "My Funny Valentine". I'll probably do another take though.

How about posting your version or another Valentines Day tune? I know you want to!

Barry