Skip to main content

This is Exactly What I Mean

Ok, when I say the vibes are more like a guitar than a piano, this is what I mean. Check this cat out and think about this. If that was a set of vibes and the same notes came out, can you see how we could totally do that on the vibes. It would fit all the parts he's playing, the concepts, everything.

That's what I mean, as vibe players that's what I think we're going after with 4 mallets. For me the piano implies separation between the hands and the vibes are about integration between the hands.

Here is the Dilemma!

At one time i knew every MONK tune by heart. I played in a Monk band and over 2 years I had every tune down. 6 months after the band stopped playing, I knew about 1/3 and now, not really any except the ones everybody knows.

This is something we all have to face and as far as I'm concerned there's only one true answer here. Anyone know of any others?

My jazz tune list

Here I will post a list of tunes that I really know by heart. Like Tony says, if you really know a tune you've got to be able to play it through 12 keys. So that's my goal here.
I'll only post tunes that I put to the test of playing through 12 keys. So this is gonna be a hard list at first, but think it will get easier when I do this a lot. Let's see what happens.

The list will be below, will be adding the first tunes soon... I hope...

  1. tune 1...
  2. tune 2...
  3. tune 3...
  4. tune 4...
  5. tune 5...

Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Milt Jackson Solo - Alternate Take

This is the Milt solo from the alternate take of Don't Get Around Much Anymore. Check my transcription below, it's handwritten, but I think you guys will manage. If you really want a computer written transcription, post that comment here, then I'll do that.

Remember to first try to transcribe the solo yourself, you will get MUCH more out of it that way.

Midi File to Joy Spring

I kept looking at the Joy Spring solo and thinking ok, I'll work this up again and post it so you guys can hear what it sounds like. But there's something about pulling out stuff that's old and spending the time to learn it again. I want to do new stuff. So I wussed out, however here's a midi, that will help you here some of the stuff! It's attached to the lesson, the lesson is above, so you can get to it right from here.

Stella by Starlight - Tony Miceli and Tjaco Oostdijk

Here is a duet of Stella by Starlight. I did this one with Tony a few years ago.
I think my part is not that great, but you get an idea of what you can do with these duets.
I also added Tony's part for you to play along. Remember if you don't know how to put the two parts together you can upload your part and we will put it together for you. Just make sure that you count or hit your sticks along with Tony so we can synch the parts together.

Have fun on this one!

Note: the play-along is available for download below