Advanced

I love the tune Recado Bossa Nova. My fav part is the Eb to A. What a cool sound. 

I wrote a very detailed (for me) etude with sticking. So you can really see how I think of things. I try to take a very minimalist approach to the vibes (most of the time). 

Notice how the harmony works and there is not a lot of chords. I think this works as a solo piece which means you don't need a lot of notes and chords for a solo piece. 

Hello everyone at vibesworkshop!

I've been working on my marimba skills. 'Carlos' is a composition of mine, which i played with many different musicians. I always wondered what it would sound like on the marimba...here it is! Greetings from Berlin, Franz

Etude No. 33 from my book "Vibraphone Virtuosity Series - Intermediate Progressive Etude, Multi-stylistic

2&4 Mallet studies for Solo Vibes". The most comprehensive vibraphone jazz book, ever written; exclusively

distributed by School for Musical Performance Publications. Order your copy today at -

KingKovins@gmail.com 

I wrote this tune after seeing the majestic, mysterious tomb of the Romantic French poet, François-René de Chateaubriand.

Under a large cross, it is the only tomb on a petite isle just off the beach at St. Malo, France.

A striking vista unfolds around it.

This samba was done with our University of Colorado Boulder Jazz Faculty in Grusin Aud. on campus.

I. Adagio

II. Allegro

III. Adagio ma non tanto

IV. Allegro This recording is uploaded in honor of the brilliant hearing of Bob McCormick, Tampa, FLA.

The sonata, originally for violin and clavier, offers so many possibilities for expressive rubato it's a cornucopia of interpretive riches.

Mutsumi Moteki, piano

Recorded at the University of Colorado Boulder

Blues Etude #21 Improv Vibraphone Solo

From my book "Vibraphone Virtuosity: Intermediate Progressive Etudes" by David Kovins

Here's another one of my etudes. A great tune 'The Touch Of Your Lips'.

It's the head and then one chorus of some four mallet stuff. 

Your Job is to put the changes in, study the music and write in all the alterations. I.E. if it's Bb7 look at the music. Am I playing a b9 well know it's Bb7b9

You should be able to play it by yourself and make it swing.

From my book: "The Vibraphone Virtuosity Series - Advanced Progressive Etudes - Multi-Stylistic 2 & 4 

Mallet Studies For Solo Vibes

From my CD: Vibe from N.Y.

David Kovins: Vibraphone and Drums

Nicki Parrott: Double Bass

I slow down my solo so you can see how I use 4 mallets and comp and play. I say in the video that the most important thing to me are the lines, more important than the comping. IMHO