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So What - Play Along with Me

Play the head along with me.

Then we trade 8s. Remember it's AABA Dmin Dmin Ebmin Dmin
I'll start off the 8s. That means you are only soloing in Dmin. However you have to comp for me when it goes to Ebmin7. So work on your chords and solo in Dminor.

I can put up a version where you solo first that means you will solo in both Dmin and Ebmin

Get it?

Play along, record it and post it!

I kept my solo simple. Maybe you can transcribe some of my 8s? Do some ear training?

Who's Funny Valentine! For Our Vibes Bootcamp This Weekend (May 16-17)

This weekend is our VW Bootcamp.

David is working in his class on the My Funny Valentine. He put up a version and so did Hauke so I wanted to do one as well.

I have not played the tune in a long time but I thought I could bang it out. I couldn't. I had to remember the parts and assemble it again. Hence my comment in the beginning, which I decided to leave in.

Don't any of us who record have comments like this or worse on some of our recordings?

This Interests Me -V

I'm always looking to see and hear how people play in different situations and whether it holds my attnetion.

David Patrios is a great mallet player. Just look how he plays in this duo!

He's on a .... is it a Balifon? Or do I just call it a marimba? I don't know.

But he makes great melodies.

This just reminds me what we need to make music. We don't need 4 mallets going on all the time. For most of us that's a good think. We need strong melodies with chords interspersed!

For Taiwan Students -V

Transcribe my solo.
1st chorus - quarter note solo
2nd chorus - simple solo

Play my solo, then do yours.
Your first chorus needs to be quarter notes
Second chorus, simple and swinging.

I've attached a file with only brushes. You can use the to play along with.

"Blue Bossa" from practice session

Clip from a practice session playing the classic Joe Henderson song. Playing with a "stream of consciousness" approach. Seeing what develops and working with motives, varied sounds (articulation, dynamics, accents, ghost notes, deadstrokes) and techniques as they come into play. This is one of the ways that I practice. I always enjoy playing songs this way and seeing where the music leads me along with taking some chances. For me, it's not about perfection but more about the process that's important.