Skip to main content

Being Accountable

So I said I'd start to be accountable and post video of things I"m working on. This is a start. Starting reading through this yesterday. Harder than it looked! So many nuances with time, phrasing, pedaling, etc. So, a work in progress! I did analyze it as Tony recommended. Posted an image of the page here too.

"When I Fall In Love"

"When I Fall In Love" - My private students and I were working on solo vibe playing concepts last week as applied to ballads. In addition to working on solo playing techniques, we were discussing ways of sounding colors of the chord via the use of counterpoint, chord voicings or with the lines when filling in between phrases or improvising.

You must believe in Spring

I've always loved this tune but never learned it because I thought it was so difficult, especially after hearing so many gorgeous versions by Bill Evans. It's not only about playing the chords, but moreover about CONNECTING them and phrasing the melody; always a tremendous challenge on the vibes! So, I started working on it about a month ago, never satisfied with the way I was playing it. (I'm still not, by the way!)
So, here's a work in progress. Comments from the community are welcome!

"Misty" by Errol Garner - Solo Vibraphone

There was a period when I listened a lot to the great pianist Errol Garner. I loved Errol's sense of unpredictability, playfulness and overall adventure in his playing. Also, I loved his sense of relaxed and swinging time. His left hand kept the steady four to the bar pulse while the right hand was a little bit behind the beat. Here's my nod to Errol with his signature composition "Misty".