Solo vibraphone version of a new composition titled "Someone Close". The lead sheet can be downloaded here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JRJ_f-K74wDDxL2y1gl1w-Uw5ZCW-N0_/view?…
First, this is a short sample of some rough practice time. Be aware. Just being accountable and looking for any feedback as to whether I'm on the right track. I do feel like this is helping.
One of the hardest things for me, personally, as I develop as an improviser, is "hearing" lines inside of the chord structure that AREN'T the actual chord tones, OR similarly....hearing lines that don't follow a diatonic pattern, e.g. up/down the scale. I realize this is probably very common at my early stage of learning, but it's non the less a bit frustrating...
By Richard Rodgers, and featuring new leather mallets.
Hey Everyone,
Check out Good Vibes, August edition, at my website, www.gloriajazz.com. Players from Red Norvo to Joel Ross.
Featured album for June and July has been Anthony Smith's Songs From a Lighter Planet. Have you heard it yet?
Keep cool,
gloria
"It Could Happen to You" - Fun working with vibist Lucas Amorim yesterday on this classic with a focus on playing lines along with left hand accompaniment. Lucas is an excellent vibist who studied with Gustavo and I while enrolled at Berklee here in Boston. A real pleasure to have as a student. Here's a few minutes of what we were working on.
An original tune titled Cream Pie. Slightly inspired by Dexter Gordon's tune Cheese Cake. Joe Zarr - Soprano, Joe Karwacki - Bass, Damian Allis - Drums and Matthew Rockwell Sokolic - randomly hitting some metal!
I've been spending a little time each day with Ed's book 1. The early info on passing tones is great. I figured for accountability's sake, I would just record a short segment of my practice this morning...
Clearly one of MY biggest issues as I work on becoming an improviser is creating pleasing melodies and lines that have a momentum to them - and that are interesting to listen to. The great players make this look so easy, right? In fact, almost everyone ELSE I listen to makes it look easy. haha.
I'm a week behind because I was out of town last week and didn't figure it was worthwhile to post a video of me playing on the towel. (see pic attached).
I put together a few different lessons here and then in the end, tried a little "play along" to bring some of the concepts together. It's a work in progress. haha. Meaning, this is all a little rough (understatement?) but that's what practicing is all about, right? :)
The lesson(s): A few of Behn's blues lessons. (Thanks Behn!) 3rds and 7ths, dominant lines, etc...I explain it all in the video.
Sometimes ya gotta just open the book and play whatever tune turns up. So that's what I did. No practicing, just play.
I've always loved this tune as a ballad. I'd never read through it before this (and it sorta sounds like it! haha). I did try to bring in some of what I've been working on recently though...
This is for you, Tony. Thank you for ALL you do for the us here at Vibesworkshop! You're the best...
To get it to this point I practiced longer than I thought I'd have to. I still messed up a little bit, and I'd like to take it twice as fast. Also working on pedaling... At this stage I'm happy if I don't smear the notes or sound staccato, and play with some phrasing. In the video I notice that I'm using my left arm too much.