Bb Rhythm Changes - had a great improv class this semester. It's a joy to teach when the students come to class inquisitive and motivated to learn. Throughout the semester some of the improv concepts that we worked on included Four Note Groupings (FNGs), Major 7th #5 Superimposition, Tension Resolution, Motivic Playing and Reharmonization Concepts. Yesterday the students were asking what to play on Bb rhythm changes so we selected Bird's Anthropology and applied some of the concepts that we covered in the semester.

Play this as fast as you can. It trips me up!

Enjoy !

Here's a variation on the first chord etude. Notice the different voicings used here to give the harmony some different motion.

How are you? I am thinking of selling or exchanging my M55 vibraphone with the traveler model because I travel a lot and I need a more portable instrument. It is in very good condition. If anyone is interesting in this please email me:
dimitriangelakis@gmail.com

I live in Greece.

Thanks!
Dimitris Angelakis
www.dimitrisangelakis.com

Mark Carlsen on upright bass and myself on vibes playing at Li's Asian restaurant in Haverhill, MA this past Saturday. Fun gig playing and hanging with Mark. We've been playing these kinds of duo gigs for a long time. It's always a fun night playing tunes and hanging with family and friends on the breaks. Sometimes I like these gigs more than a concert. The music is loose, you can try things and experiment/stretch. As long as we can play what we want and no one bothers us, I'm happy.

Another bit of practicing in between videoing lessons.

So, for those of you who don't know me, Ms. Magnolia is my somewhat recently acquired (and in the process of being revived) Deagan Imperial model 55C. This week she taught me a valuable lesson that I think probably could be learned by others, so I will share it.

Modern instruments are excellent. In fact, they are so good, they made me lazy.

Modern instruments have all the rattles, squeaks, weird overtones, etc engineered out of them to the highest degree possible. That is awesome. That is why they sound so good. It has an odd negative side effect.