all-levels

The toolkit are all the things I think you need to know to play a tune.

When I think about it. These are things any good pro can do. So if you can't do it, think about that. Get these skills together and you move a little closer to some great player, to whom all this is second nature.

You need to know how to transcribe other peoples solos. Here is a simple solo for you to transcribe.

• Transcribe it. Memorize it, maybe don't write it down.
• Play it with Ireal in different keys
• Play the chords and the solo even if rubato

In the linked video, I noticed the very different sound development due to the different playing styles of Oliver and Tony.

Oliver uses the dampimg significantly less than Tony. The damper bar also seems to press harder against the bars. His tone is therefore extremely percussive, but also dry and with almost no sonority.

In contrast, Tony gives the tones more opportunity to develop sonority by adjusting the damper pedal almost constantly while playing.

https://youtu.be/AjW0oJD_zys

"A Treasured Moment" - an original that I recorded with strings first and then with vibraphone played over the strings track. I'm a huge fan of the great film composers like Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, Hans Zimmer and many others. I love how the film music enhances the mood and feelings in the films. I wrote this composition with that in mind and as the inspiration.

"Skylark", a classic ballad by the great composer Hoagy Carmichael. One of my favorite ballads with wonderful versions from a long list of vocalists and instrumentalists. Composed by Carmichael in 1941 with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

"Satin Doll" by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn while experimenting with the combination of solo vibraphone and hi hats. Always fun playing these classics in the style of my favorite pianists who are masters in this "older style" of playing which embraces such devices/techniques as a "four to the bar feel", octaves in the right hand, block chords,... Some of those pianists include Art Tatum, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, Teddy Wilson, Dave McKenna, Errol Garner, Ralph Sutton and Dick Hyman.

See the attached PDF for notation