You need to know your scales and each scale or mode should have a sound you recognize.
Here is a whole section for each mode of the major scale!

Study it hard so you can recognize these scales.

Go here for the series:
Modes of the Major Scale

Here's another classic from the same session in Palermo, Sicily as Poor Butterfly, which I posted a week or so ago, with Monty Alexander, Ray Brown and Grady Tate. Pay particular attention to the dynamic range within each phrase of Milt's playing both in the head and his solo. Not only is the articulation of each note clear and specific, but there is a flowing rhythm created by mixing dry and "wet" (pedaled) notes. Therein lies a lesson for all of us. Enjoy, and Happy New Year to all.

A lovely song that works great as in so many ways.

My student Dan Neville is an amazing student. He works his butt off. I'm really happy and proud to be working with him.

Check out here how he's working on a tune:
https://www.vibesworkshop.com/blog-entry/little-suede-shoes-all-keys/vi…

I really enjoyed working on this piece out of the Mallet Dampening book. I think there's more I could do to polish the transitions between phrases, but I wanted to post this anyways to show where I'm at with it.

Hi All,
As I write this I'm listening to Kevin Mahogany and "Just My Imagination," from his Pride & Joy album. Just Mahogany and the piano (James Weidman). I'll be playing it on my February show in his memory.

Vibraphone Masterclass – Left Hand Accompaniment on “Poor Butterfly: Here are some of my thoughts and techniques for left hand comping on this great song from 1916. Hard to believe this song was written that long ago. I’m more or less playing in a four to the bar feel ala pianists like Errol Garner, George Shearing, Art Tatum, Dave McKenna and Teddy Wilson. I really enjoy playing in this style and playing tunes like this.

Just what it says! Dan and myself doing Little Suede Shoes.

I also put the parts on here if you want to try playing.

The metronome mark is 60 bpm. you should be able to line it up in a sequencing program. i actually used 120. Dan sent me the original file with a bpm of 60. it lines up great.

This is my solo vibraphone arrangement of a beautiful Christmas Carol. The harmony is from the English composer Harold Darke's 1911 setting. It presents a few technical challenges with slide and double stop dampening. I am still working on it myself as I stay out of the bleak midwinter in Minnesota. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!