Skip to main content

Going to see Chick play tonight

I don't know if this is such a big topic, but it's one I always find interesting when the situation occurs. I think no matter how long you have been performing, there are still moments when you can get psyched out by seeing someone you know sitting in the front row. Tonight Jonathan and I are going to Miami to see Chick and John McLaughlin and their current touring group. It promises to be a great night of music and we have tickets right up front. This is one of the few times I will be in the audience to hear Chick play.

Makoto Ozone by Gary Burton

Tifoo posted a YouTube of pianist Makoto Ozone playing Rhapsody In Blue, and I was delighted to see it. Makoto has bcome quite active as a classical pianist in the past decade, and I have never seen him playing with an orchestra till now. Coming from a jazz background, it's natural that two of his primary performance works are Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue, and Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F major. Both feature piano cadenzas written out by Gershwin, and of course played by thousands of pianists through the years.

Quick Groove Lesson (Bubblehouse by MMW)

Here is a quick and dirty lesson on "Bubblehouse" by Medeski Martin and Wood from the album "Shack-Man". Stefan had requested more beginner stuff so this is what came to mind. It was a jammy-jam type of song that was popular when I was a tween in college. It was one of the first songs I heard and said "I can play that" and just walked over to the vibes and started banging it out. I busted it it out a few times when stuck jamming with rocker guitarists/bassists who don't know any songs. "Ok just play G minor.... :)"

Beginners stuff

Dear all!

Like always I have been closely following what is going on on the site and I enjoyed many many things! Tony and all of you are doing an excellent job!

But one thing that kind of bothers me is that there is not so much material for beginners/hobbyists like me.

I am aware that I belong to a probably very small group of people who is 35, started vibes about 2 years ago, has a fulltime day job and has an average practice time of 10 minutes per day.