Hey all,

So I am in Texas visiting my folks, which means I don't have a vibe with me. I used to get really bummed about this. Having to spend a week or so away from my instrument. I have since come to look at it as a forced "put yourself in a box" situation. I still have a keyboard here, so I can practice music, and it forces me to practice specific things. This week I decided to focus on comping/ voicings/ and learning tunes in other keys through the "vehicle" of chords/ voicings. I found this article (for a guitar magazine as you can tell by the tab) by my old professor.

Here's my last lesson before I start a bunch of lessons on rhythm changes. Sorry, my loop skipped once or twice during this, but I was only like a second, so I kept it.

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Joe Locke just released his brand new CD with Geoffrey Keezer and gang - Signing!

Upon his own words: "This is the CD I've wanted to make for a long time, my first for MOTEMA. It was a joy to create this music with Geoffrey Keezer, Terreon Gully & Mike Pope. They are astounding on this recording!"

On the link below you can watch a beautiful exerpt on vid, get the album in all formats, full or by title, lead sheets, etc: http://store.joelocke.com/albums/signing/

I was practicing rhythm changes today and thought my stuff sounded stale. So I put on the mallet kat made a sound I dug and now my stuff sounds hip!!! (at least to me!)

Can you hear the form? With no accompaniment you get to stretch things a bit!

When I think Rhythm Changes, I instantly think Parker. Here are some videos of Bird over the form. Note his contrasts. He does an amazing job of switching from harmonic generalization (Bb triad or blues material) to harmonic specificity (hitting chord tones of the changes). Also, as always, his phrasing is fresh and unpredictable. With Rhythm Changes everyone is chasing the bird.

Here's a solo etude on rhythm changes based upon the use of four note groupings.

Man, it's the end of the semester here. I'm working my ass off between gigs, students, classes and setting up my summer.

Musicians HAVE to think at least one season ahead. It's spring and if it isn't happening it probably won't. Get to summer. I bet the heavy cats are thinking 2 seasons or a year ahead. OK.

Anyway, let me officially announce we are working on Rhythm changes now. This is our tune of the month, officially.

So, why don't you guys blog about rhythm changes. What do you want to know? What do you think about??

Been working on this tune again over the past couple of weeks,the goal being to improve my playing overall on chords and solo. This was the one I chose after a lot of takes. I think its important to keep going back over tunes and hear if there are improvements Will let you decide.