Killer band. I want to gig with 4 percussionists!

Here's a very very quick lesson. Just winding up the night here. Was practicing for a while working out some stuff.

The point of this lesson: Don't think twice about figuring out ways to start a solo, or some things you might try and play in a solo, or work out some things.

I had trouble getting into a solo tonight so I figured out a way into it. Even if the way is not clear to you, the point is still there. It's cool to work out stuff.

So I'm transcribing some MJQ. I remember (I think) Gary Burton talked about them not being good readers. Ok. I'm taking down the tune 'Don't Stop This Train'. It's a sort of fugue. Well I've found 2 mistakes and I think they cut out a John Lewis bad note. I don't know, maybe I'm totally wrong here.

But I'm thinking what happened on this recording? Didn't they want to fix the mistakes? Was it late in the band's career and they didn't care? Were they fighting? Did they have only one hour left of studio time and they had to get this down. Didn't they practice the tune at home.

I've been emailing with magicescalator and talking with him. We were talking about how he came to the instrument and more. So I thought we'd do a Who Is so you guys could meet him.

magicescalator, just add a new comment here and tell about yourself. If you're shy, Marie will give you some encouragement. She's our host!

I've been working on this tune for a couple days. Last night I had a chance to play it on a gig. I decided to go ahead to record and then post it to see what kind of feedback y'all might send my direction. I hope you all dig it!

See if you can cop this

Cop It!

Dana and I have been talking about chordal playing. Listen to this. See if you can listen to it and see that conceptually the way Bill Evans is playing would totally lend itself to the vibes. Man he's got 10 fingers but he's not using all of them, he's just using a few of them. But he makes sure his line is cool and then adds.