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"Take the A Train" by Billy Strayhorn

“Take the A Train” by Billy Strayhorn – warmed up today with this classic. I’m in a practice room at Berklee right next door to the hand percussion room. A little bleed through the room. Sorry about that. This may be a simple song but there are so many things that we can do with it within the framework of the form and harmony. One of my favorite versions is from the great pianist Oscar Peterson.

Tube Holder Concept

The video is showing my new tube-holder-concept. Each resonance tube is suspended individually in the holder and can thus be taken out individually. The individual tubes can be put together 3 in 1 for minimal transport volume. The tube holders can be folded with or without tubes, so that the traditional transport as a "panpipe", as a "folded panpipe" or as a single tube package are all possible.

Nickels and Dimes

I remember going to Dave Liebman's house for an all day private lesson. What a GREAT player and great human being. That was my take. At one point, I sat in a chair and he preached to me about his thoughts on music. Next, I pulled out my vibe and we played together. You can only learn so much in any lesson because 99 percent of doing anything well is all about the kind of heart you have and desire to achieve.... practice, driving 1000 miles for a lesson, risking everything to "say something" in your art and craft. That's what it's all about.