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Ceora - vibes and piano

Ceora has such an optimistic, joyous melody. It was a staple in my repertoire at the hundreds of solo gigs I did at local eateries here in the world class wine country north of San Francisco.

I'm sure this tune has been a TOTM at one time or another. It's one of those that you never get tired of and again and again.

Improv Concepts on Bb Rhythm Changes (Bird's Anthropology)

Bb Rhythm Changes - had a great improv class this semester. It's a joy to teach when the students come to class inquisitive and motivated to learn. Throughout the semester some of the improv concepts that we worked on included Four Note Groupings (FNGs), Major 7th #5 Superimposition, Tension Resolution, Motivic Playing and Reharmonization Concepts. Yesterday the students were asking what to play on Bb rhythm changes so we selected Bird's Anthropology and applied some of the concepts that we covered in the semester.

Erroll Garner's Misty - Bass and Vibes

Mark Carlsen on upright bass and myself on vibes playing at Li's Asian restaurant in Haverhill, MA this past Saturday. Fun gig playing and hanging with Mark. We've been playing these kinds of duo gigs for a long time. It's always a fun night playing tunes and hanging with family and friends on the breaks. Sometimes I like these gigs more than a concert. The music is loose, you can try things and experiment/stretch. As long as we can play what we want and no one bothers us, I'm happy.

30 Second Tip - Pretend There Is An Audience

Chinese translation for Chinese students

要如何確保每天完整練到、學到東西!!!
就是假裝有觀眾在場!
像是,如果你練了一個項目兩個小時,比如blues,
在這兩個小時結束後,不管如何,你要確保自己假裝有一個小表演,所以把剛剛練的東西不能停下來的一次演完,就算有錯誤,也讓它過去。
如果你做每天這個練習,會有很大的幫助,