Do you know what a Mini concert is? (A concert here at VW where you play at least 2 songs without stopping and recording them and present them to us) Kind of feels like you're doing a concert.

I love this stuff. Finding ways to play for each other. I hope many of you will post Feb 25th for Mini Concert day.

My favorite and frustrating part is preparing for the recording.

Who do I play 2 songs by myself without stopping? That's the question I ask.

Here is Donna Lee. A Quick and Dirty Audio Duet. I played both parts. You can listen.

Your job is you accompany me and use rootless voicings. Download the Accompany me track. Use Garage Band or whatever to record your part. put them together and make an mp3 file and post it!

I can help! (Time permitting)

I've also included a PDF with some rootless voicing examples.

My student Dan Neville turned me on to 'The Mastersounds' the west coast MJQ started by Buddy Montgomery. My student who is a Californian said this to me. They do sound like a version of MJQ and maybe in a way a more aggressive and experimental version? Of course MJQ is great because of Bags and he is the best. But Bobby is SMOOOKIN'!!!!!!

Ashamed to say I didn't know of this. GREAT group! I do have Buddy CDs but no Mastersounds until now.

Just came across some video with Buddy's son? Relative? Not sure. But the video is interesting!!! He talks about the Mastersounds.

I think this is an interesting Buddy Montgomery recording for a couple of reasons. (Scroll down for the video)

First it's swinging!!!!!!!

Next Buddy is using soft mallets. The problem with soft mallets is they make noise on the instrument. I think because they are softer so you hit them louder. On this recording you hear lots of instrument noise.

The decision on what mallets to use is ALWAYS your decision. But it's nice to know the pros and cons when recording.

Guys, I can't wait feb 25th. Recorded that, one shot, this afternoon. Basically my routine. I do that practically every week, in a practice routine.
Hope you enjoy.

Clip just released on the Vic Firth YouTube channel.

Anybody, just curious. Anyone have anything to add? i have more lessons going up.

I wonder what you're thoughts are????

In a lesson this morning, the focus was on solo vibe playing for the song "When You Wish Upon A Star". After the lesson, my student suggested that I record a quick version which illustrated some of the things addressed in the lesson. Here's a quick version that I just recorded on the phone playing one chorus of the melody only.