Hey everybody.
First post of 2011, so happy new year!
Just before Christmas, I had a letter to say I'd been offered a place to study Jazz Vibes at the Royal Academy of Music, London, from September 2011. Needless to say I replied accepting the place in seconds!
While I've had an incredible time, I'm now anxious to get home and back into my grind. I definitely miss all the work I put into the site, and especially all of you guys. Although, these days I'm certainly checking things out via an Ipad, Iphone and Macbook. So it's not that bad huh?
This is certainly paradise, hanging out practicing and reading all day. I stay up every night until about 3am just to read and check out the ocean. Add to that a couple of Dutch neighbors who like to swim naked and visually it's incredible here!
I had the great pleasure to see the Christian McBride band a couple of days ago, featuring vibist Warren Wolf. I got to know Warren casually about ten years ago when he was finishing up at Berklee, and I haven't had the chance to hear him play again until now. I knew, just from reading his name here and there that he was doing well and getting a reputation as a strong player, so I was looking forward to the performance.
I'm heading to St. Maarten. I'll check in down there. Marie's in charge so behave!
Behn is going to post some lessons while I'm gone. I'm making this like I won't see you guys for a few days, however, I have two routers with me, an Ipad a computer, an iphone, a synth, a set of vibes, a recorder. so let's see what happens.
I'm not a touristy kind of guy so between gigs I imagine I'll be practicing and hanging on the site, like usual.
Are the TOTM's helpfully? Some of you guys are quiet but I know you're off practicing them.
What's our next tune? Another standard? Modal?
Here are some ideas:
So What - tap into some modal stuff. this tune is deceptively simple.
inner Urge - More advanced difficult head.
Blues - Deceptively deceptively simple
Minor blues - dive into the minor world, it's cool, funny and easily more quickly rewarding then the major blues.
Days of Wine and Roses - pretty song with a lot of 'meat' on it.
I'll remember April - another tune that I think is part modal and part standard.
Here's What you have to do:
You have to be the first to create 15 NEW Amazon Reviews of great vibe cd's not already up on the site. If you worked hard you could do it in 2 hours (once you get the posting routine down). 15 of your favorite cds, must haves for us. Here are the rules.
The post dates must be today or after.
They must have a vibe player on them and he must solo or do something where he really stands out.
You must be a subscriber.
Forgive if I'm wrong, but wasn't it Marie's birthday yesterday!! I was away for the weekend and was expecting a big post, but...... nothing...!?
So let's all wish Marie-Noelle, our lovely host and friend a very Happy 'Little Late' Birthday!!!!!!!
TJ
to Begin .. i would just like to say that ive known tony since the he started this adventure of the vibesworkshop ... and hands down. this is the best source on the planet for any mallet percussionist beginner .. semi pro or recording artist... thank you soo much for allow us all to contribute our brains to your brainchild ... much respect ...
two years ago i posted a blog reguarding my continual problems with my right hand. just under two years ago i actually sold my vibes and reinvented myself as a b3 player keyboardist due to the extreme pain threshold ...
I just set up a new library. Remember our old one? The thing about the software we use is that we're at the mercy of the open source drupal community. The last library we had set up used a module that pulled in all the Amazon info for a product. Now we have a new module but for technical reasons we have to build back the library.
So all you jazz vibe veteran subscribers consider posting a review or 2 a week to help all the new vibes players on the site build their vibe library and learn.
We used to have a way of posting Amazon products here which made it easy to review cds! Well I've finally got it back up and running. So I invite all you guys to try it out and post your favorite vibe cd here.
To post you can go under post, or click below.
http://www.vibesworkshop.com/node/add/amazon-review