all-levels

Tony has been asking me to do something with vibes and gongs. So, I have been working on it, but to be perfectly honest, most of it just isn't ready for prime time yet. Playing solo, as many of us are finding out in quarantine, is very tough. 35+ years of quartet playing with pianists and guitarists didn't really prepare me for this moment.

So, I'm not ready to do a whole hour of this stuff live yet, but here is a few minutes of what I am up to. I'm learning every day, especially now that I am getting to hear so many accomplished solo players do their thing.

Check out the etude. Does it help you?

You hear them? You like them? I think they are cool.

I got the tip from my student Oliver who is a piano player and moves voicings from the piano to the vibes. Oliver rocks!

Some Sunday night musical reflection on “America” with some reharmonization, modulation and constant structure chords. If anyone would like the lead sheet just let me know.

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Vibes and Strings. Recorded the string track and then played vibes over that. The strings switched from left to right half way past the clip which was not intentional. I wish I had real live strings but I can't afford it. :) An appropriate song I think for the time. Best wishes for everyone out there. Ed

Tony is challenging me to do a 3 tune mini concert every week for the next few weeks. This week I am working on Upper Manhattan Medical Group, Alice in Wonderland, and All of You. I have been thinking about how to widen my range when playing solo and separating the ranges of the accompaniment and melody. I tend to shy away from the very top register of the instrument but I think it would be beneficial for me to start using it more.

That simple. Trade choruses with me on Blue Bossa. Record it and post it here! 

Sambinary

This video examines an original samba pattern for drum set (and mallet instruments) that explores four metric perspectives and two approaches for the beat (bass drum).