I'm working with a great student. We are talking about trusting his ears and how to make the switch. I think that's a big thing with students. The eyes seem much safer, and in some ways they are. But for improvisational music the ears are much more fun!!
You need to make the switch and trust your ears. You need to play melodies from your eyes and forget about the music. It's hard but it's important.

Ok this is the B section to Green Dolphin Street. Can you hear it? If not play the tune on the vibes get it into your head then try again.

Fill in the chords. Study the harmony and the solo. can you see the flat 9s? all the altered notes?

Play in C and Eb (and other keys).

Record the chords and then play the line on top of the recording.

Do this in all keys. Can you see how this could really help you? Recording the chords and then playing the solo in every key! Yikes!

Put the chords in. Analyze the notes against the chords. Memorize it. Play it in at least C and Eb. try to do more keys! Work up the speed.

This way you're practicing a lot of things in the few bars that are here!

(Metronome on 2 and 4)

Here's the bridge of Green Dolphin Street. It's a shortude because I want you to master it. Play it in C and at least Eb.

Write in the changes.
Look at the notes and see where they are in the chord. i.e. #9 b5 etc.

I think this really sounds like the bridge. Can you hear that? So master just this and do something with it!

Improvising on Green Dolphin Street using the improv concept of Four Note Groupings (FNGs) which is a chapter in the just released The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Volume Two. The technique uses triads with a passing note as a means of generating lines. For major triads: 1, 2, 3 and 5. For minor triads: 1, 2, b3 and 5 or 1, b3, 4 and 5. In the clip, I'm playing the last 8 bars of the tune to set up the tune. The first chorus is a written out solo based on the Four Note Grouping concept.

At home today playing the Gershwin classic "Someone To Watch Over Me" with a steady left hand groove along with some right hand octaves. Inspired from the great pianists that excel in this style including masters like Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, George Shearing, Dave McKenna and Teddy Wilson.

This is the A Section. Put in the chords and master this. Also do it in Eb.

Hi All,
December's show is this coming Sunday, Dec 6, usual time, 8-10p eastern. This month's "Three By..." is dedicated to Dave Pike, who we lost in October. I'll play "Cheryl," "Anticipation" and my very favorite, a tune by guitarist Volker Kriegel, "Vian-De." If you have not heard this delicate piece, by all means listen to the show. It tugs at heartstrings.

aloha and happy Holidays to everyone!!!!!!

this last weekend i had the great pleasure of playing the great Arranger and Pianist Mr. Tommy James. Tommy is a wonderful cat and incredible musician. I you don't know this name or his playing you may have heard him with the duke elliington orchestra, Roy Ayers or you may have heard one of his symphonic arrangements .

I had the chance to record us on this gig in honolulu .. just a Zoom record placed on the floor in between us, then send to a friends studio to mix and sparkle it up.