I had a lesson with Tony today and after the lesson we started talking about learning the tradition and how mentors are key figures in that process. I was telling him that I read an article about this issue on a magazine. The name of the article was: "Earn your keep. Jazz and the lost art of apprenticeship." and it's based on the liner notes of alto saxophonist Bobby Watson CD "From the Heart" that features his "Live & Learn" band.

Anyone that comes from a dysfunctional family (all of us??) and has had therapy, knows this. For the next few weeks, don't make any major decisions, put them off. If you could hold off until spring that's great. Whatever you do for the next several weeks... chill.

This is not the time to quit playing the vibes, or leave your wife (or husband) to pursue life as a starving vibe player!

This is Christmas time, and it's pulling a bunch of us down.

In my other life (firefighting), my Lt. or Captain often asks at the end of the shift. "Did anyone learn anything today" then we'll go down the roster and answer, stating what each of us learned that shift and how we could do it better next time.

I thought it would be interesting to post what we have learned this year by visiting www.vibesworkshop.com

Check out member Danasud. Great latin sounds!

This is from my 'Meg and the Cliftones' CD.

Buy the CD! Subscribers (Don't Have to Buy It, It's in My Online Book)

Download It Now! Subscribers (Don't Have to Buy It, It's in My Online Book)

Joe Locke, Jay Anderson, Tommy Smith and Gary Novak

Maybe Nico will talk a little about this?

Here are a bunch of lessons on licks. There's also a lot of talk about licks on this site, players have different opinions of them as you'll see if you look around.

All about playing solo!