I thought I was done learning Christmas tunes until this one popped into my head.
Enjoy.
Barry
I have the most amazing phone calls with Joe Locke. We've become great friends. In our last call we got into paying dues a little bit. I'll let Joe talk himself if he wants, but he has paid his dues. I can GUARANTEE you that.
I can't imagine guys like Friedman, Piper and Saindon have not paid them as well. And Big time.
My story doesn't lead to an incredible career, but I have paid my dues. I'm not sure for what, but they're all paid up I'm pretty sure!!! :-)
Here's one of my dues stories: (maybe some of the pros here can follow up with their own)
Here's one way to make your vibes light...
Add a string of Christmas lights to them!
Enjoy.
Barry
I know some of these topics we've been talking about are a little over some of your heads. Which is fine, I'd like to help get you further up the ladder, so you can understand more of that.
With that in mind, What questions do you have that might help me when making up lessons for this site. Let's stick on the more basic side of vibe playing in this topic.
What do you think?
I had a lesson with Tony today and after the lesson we started talking about learning the tradition and how mentors are key figures in that process. I was telling him that I read an article about this issue on a magazine. The name of the article was: "Earn your keep. Jazz and the lost art of apprenticeship." and it's based on the liner notes of alto saxophonist Bobby Watson CD "From the Heart" that features his "Live & Learn" band.
In my other life (firefighting), my Lt. or Captain often asks at the end of the shift. "Did anyone learn anything today" then we'll go down the roster and answer, stating what each of us learned that shift and how we could do it better next time.
I thought it would be interesting to post what we have learned this year by visiting www.vibesworkshop.com
Everyone says to avoid hitting the bars at the nodes. Well, I wanted to see what it would sound like in a musical context. Enclosed is my experiment. The idea was to play over Am on the nodes in one phrase, then answer over other changes with a more hollow tone on the middle of the bars. Playing at the nodes is neat because you can hit it hard and hear the attack of the mallet but the notes sound like they are in the distance or as if a low-pass filter is applied to the sound. Does anyone else use this technique?
A few months ago I started transcribing John Mark Piper's tune "Spring Valley Kids". I didn't get any further with the transcription but every once in a while I play a few measures of it on my vibes. I recorded my jam on that tune. After you listen to my version, listen to the Master's performance (link above). I am floored every time I listen to it.
Barry
I'm just not sure how to implement it!
I thought about get 2 choruses at a specific tempo from as many players as i can and then make a blues train.
Man, if we had 40 or 50 players each playing 2 choruses of the blues, with their info on the screen and video or a photo.
that could be a great way to get to know everybody here.
what do you vibists think.
Real quick, I never have time to write in depth reviews. But I'm listening to Tom Beckham's CD and thought I'd mention it here. It's a great CD with really great playing! You guys should check it out.
Maybe Tom will post a track here and lead sheet!