I spent the night playing through the first chorus of his solo. This is a very serious etude that would challenge most of us on the site, I think!
I spent part of tonight playing Bird's first chorus on the tune Merry Go Round which is a rhythm changes with a Sears and Roebuck Bridge. S and R Bridge is (key of Bb) F-7 Bb7 Eb Eb C7 C7 C-7 F7. That's what Larry Mckenna always calls it and said that was the name. I dig that name.
Every once in a while I blog about what's happening deep inside of the site. I know there are a lot of members out there that are working hard, some don't live near teachers, or other players. I want them to know how much is going on here.
If you go to 'Recent Activity' you'll probably see all the posts and comments. A lot of this stuff is learning, critiquing and studying. We've really made a community of vibe players on the inside that is growing and is helping many players become better vibe players.
Finding time to listen to cds is pretty rough any more. Tonight though I'm trying to get in a couple cuts of some buddies cds. One of which is James Shipps cd.
I think you guys would dig it. I guess it's all or mostly Irish tunes? Jim's a great percussionist and vibe player and his girlfriend, Jo Lawry is a heavy singer.
Just wanted to post a couple sentences about the cd.
When I transcribe Parker I think about Bach. I'm telling you they're the same people.
I'm falling asleep here at the computer, but I wanted to start transcribing his solo off of the tune Merry Go Round. That woke me up for a bit.
I just love lines that move harmony in themselves, and Bird is the master. I'm a real Parker fan. I've been putting on headphones when I go to sleep and listening to him.
I spent the last 2 weeks and will the next 2 weeks, learning a ton of tunes for gigs. But these gigs are big bands or really written out originals.
This has been hard. Reading is not my forte. I can read a lead sheet, but following a big band chart is not something I've done a lot in my life. I think when you play tunes a lot, you just get in this listening vibe and use that side of your brain.
I think I've talked about this before, but I've had to read a ton these days.
What do you guys use as sight reading material? I got plenty of Bach.
Check this out!!
Feb, 6th and 7th. Workshop at VanderPlas Studio with DAVID FRIEDMAN AND myself.
Then in July (still waiting for the dates) a 4 day workshop in Ireland with me (Ireland is very affordable, this will be our most inexpensive workshop by far).
ACE OF CAKES
Hi All,
There's been a great discussion on a thread started by Steve Shapiro on the future of the music business (see check this out). I've been enjoying that quite a bit, but I'm worried that it's a bit too esoteric for most of the people here. So I'd like to start another thread about concrete steps working musicians can take in the new environment to optimize their chances of making a decent living.
Today I was running an errand at lunch that took me off of my normal beaten path and past Alan Dawson's old neighborhood in Lexington, MA. That started some reminiscing that I thought would be good to share.