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A tale of a piano player

I gig a couple nights a week with a quartet loosely modeled after the great MJQ. However, the piano play of the group plays nothing like the great John Lewis. His playing is erratic, he is all over the harmony, melody, and the bass. During my solos he often plays "counter melodies" that disrupt my thinking and my lines. At times I'll pause in order to leave some space and he fills it. If I start of slow, with whole or half notes, he fills up the space with some kind of scalar run. It seems odd to me and I'm thinking that this isn't what the music is supposed to sound like.

Pure Spirit by Ed Saindon (Vic Firth Podcast)

Hey guys,

Vic Firth put up another clip of mine on their Podcast Page. This is a trio version of my original composition Pure Spirit. Matt Wilson is on drums and David Clark is on bass. Here's the link: http://www.vicfirth.com/podcasts/concert.php

There is also a nice clip of marimbist Pius Cheung also on the same podcast page.

The lead sheet of Pure Spirit can be downloaded from my website.

Best,

Ed

Estate Solo Vibes by BarryK 5/19/10

I am still playing Estate. Here are a couple of solo versions (1 chorus each). I'd like to get your opinions on the feel of each. I have been working on trying to keep better time, without relying on BIAB. Is the pulse OK, too much, too forced? The second version (attached file) has a more obvious rhythm. That one, I used softer mallets (Balter 12R). The clicks are the handles hitting each other.

Barry