I've been loving the lessons that Behn has been posting about the tune.   I have been playing it for a while and, in fact, have been using it for some of my most recent experiments.   Yes to everything that Behn has been saying! We all have to practice and there are a lot of different productive ways to do it.  Here a few thoughts about how I practice a tune like this.

The Arrival of Victor Feldman

Track 1 Serpent’s Tooth

Victor plays vibes. Early Miles Davis tune.

Track 2 Waltz 

Chopin waltz that starts with piano, then vibes and back to piano. The track reminds me of MJQ.

Track 3 Chasing Shadows 

A Victor Feldman original. Has a bebop feel. Played on piano.

Track 4  Flamingo 

Nice ballad played on vibes. Tim Collins did a video on this tune.

Track 5 S’posin’

Blue Bossa melody and chords.

Open closed minor 7th chords keys of ab, b and f.

Check out the attached PDF!

David Friedman’s dampening etude #2.

David Friedman dampening etude 1.

Preface dampening exercises from David Friedman’s Vibraphone Technique book.

Recorded before we e-mailed. I’ll record all of the lessons, it’s good practice and review.

Mike Mainieri Wanderlust 

Track 1 Bullet Train 

Lots of percussion at the opening. Really cool. Tune is super difficult but, as is the case with the entire album, played effortlessly so it doesn’t sound difficult. To me, it sounds like there’s a marimba overdub on the head. Great track.

Track 2 Bamboo 

Some type of acoustic guitar opens the track. Flute and marimba play the head. Mainieri plays a great marimba solo. Another great track.

Track 3 Flying Colors