One of my professors is assigning a lot of transcriptions (not just jazz; it's a class on various world musics) and suggested we buy the Transcribe! software program. Has anyone used this? Is it worth spending money on as opposed to using…
Hello Vibeworkshoppers. After several years of hard work, I'm very please to announce the release of my second album, "Gotham."
This is the product of the long term development of a group I've been leading here in NYC for the last 3 years…
The bebop language for me devotes constant attention. I would like to bring up the topic and see what ideas, concepts each of us have.
MY current study has me re evaluating where i play my lines with in the changes and more over where…
Hi All,
Please check out and consider pledging to my Kickstarter campaign for my upcoming recording project in New York City in December.
The album is comprised of original material and featuring some of the best players on the scene…
I've posted this simple exercise before. I'm reposting for a different reason.
I think doing this scale exercise fast and well means a shift in your thinking. Everyone has trouble doing it at first. At first we look at the bottom note of…
I am using the first 4 bars of Mockingbird Hill as an exercise in the arpeggios of a I-IV-V sequence which can extend right around the keys in the circle of 4ths. The V chord is dominant 7, while I and IV are the majors.
Hi folks,
I wanted to take a compositional approach to the TOTM this time. I find it can be insightful to compose a melody over a tune you're working on. For this one, I was trying to keep it simple- stay with a few basic rhythmic themes…
I had ordered the Peter Gunn CD by the Harmonie Ensemble of New York and was more than pleased! This is a fitting tribute to the originator of TV crime jazz, and, according to Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, "The high priest of Hollywood cool…
Last fall i had the honor to take some lessons with jazz Pianist Pat Moran. Pat was a Prominet female voice in the 50's era of jazz during the early bill evan era. Pat had a famous trio with Bassist Scott Lafaro. Pat lives about 3 miles…
Tony's description (and playing) of the "Batman Blues" finally got the idea of F7|F7|F7|F7|Bb7| etc. across to me. However, now everything I try to play in FBlues mode sounds like Batman, and absolutely nothing sounds like folks in the…
Hey everyone!
I've landed quite a few gigs this year, and the fact that they keep coming made me realize there's a lesson here for newish vibes players. When I joined VWS I wasn't brave enough to do what I am now, so I'm writing this for…
Exciting day for me today. I was officially added to the faculty of the Hawaii youth percussion ensemble, in Honolulu, Hawaii. I had a chance to work with these kids back in February and they are truely amazing ... my duties with the…
This jpg is a manuscript of an exercise I have been doing daily for a while now. I think its kinda cool they way the shape of the scale wraps around which in turn really twist the scale into other ideas ...
the basic idea came from a…
I was fooling around with a major montuno and put a melody to it while keeping the pattern going. I went to the piano to work some things out and my daughter rushes in saying, "What's that"? All proud of myself I said it was a song I…