"Fortune Smiles" - one of my favorite songs from Keith Jarrett. I'm a huge fan of his playing and compositions. This song was recorded on one of my favorite recordings released in 1971 and titled "Gary Burton and Keith Jarrett"
I've been enjoying playing through this etude. First, I posted a slow and clear version, and then a faster version. I think the piece sounds better at a faster pace, because it gives the lines more cohesion. However, t's still a work in progress. I think if I play with it for another week or two it should feel a lot more comfortable and fluid.
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Solo Vibraphone on "Angel Eyes" - I worked on solo playing a lot with Gary Burton when I was a studying with him in the 70s at Berklee. The lessons with Gary were mind opening and very challenging. I was very fortunate to be there at the school in the 70s studying with Gary and as well as so many other great teachers including Alan Dawson. Entering as a drummer and then switching to vibes (and piano) was a very good move for me. The lessons with Gary were split with vibes and piano. I'm still working at it after all these years and still love it.
"Come Rain or Come Shine" by Harold Arlen - Trying to get in some shedding after a little hiatus away from the vibes. Getting back into it with a classic standard by Arlen who wrote so many great songs from the early 30's through the 50s.
Alternate solo vibraphone version of the classic "Angel Eyes" using some improv and voicing concepts from The Complete Guide to Improvisation and Voicing Concepts for the Jazz Vibist. Fun and challenging for me to work on these concepts. It's one thing writing about the concepts and it's another to get them down where they are fluid, spontaneous and natural.
I had a good lesson with David Friedman at the Philadelphia workshop. We focused entirely on pedaling. David pointed out that my sound was very 'dry'. I had never really noticed it, but now I hear it every time I listen to a recording of myself.
I've attached two different practice tapes working on pedaling over "How Deep is the Ocean?" and "You Don't Know What Love Is". I'm playing with the metronome and playing mostly single notes rather than chords.
Critical feedback welcome.
“A Time for Love” composed by Johnny Mandel – one of the great ballads by a wonderful composer. Legendary pianist Bill Evans plays a superb version of this song.
A few thoughts on solo playing as featured on this clip:
