Vibraphone

Randy Sutin sent me this. The melody is soooo beautiful!

I've transferred the Livestream video of a concert I played with the MetroWest Jazz Project at the Sunset Jazz series at the Hopkinton Center for the Arts to YouTube. It's mostly original material from our CD, "Phrygid Aire".

We have some punny titles -- maybe you can get a groan or two:

Phrygid Aire -- the main theme is in Phrygian mode.
Just a Tad -- in the style of Tad Dameron.
No Electric Bill-- 'cause the meter's broken (a blues in 4/5/4/3).
Starry Skies -- in memory of Doug's wife, an astrophysicist.
Septa Nova -- a bossa nova in seven. 'Septa' is Latin for seven.

Hi Everyone,

It's about that time to wrap up the TOTMs we've been working on (Ornithology and Peace). Please post ANYTHING you have on these tunes! It can be just the melody, a chord melody, a version with a play along, etc. Since some of you have probably worked so hard on your TOTMs, this is a great way to document your hard work. So attach your versions to this post, or any of the lesson posts for feedback, etc.

This summer for the third time, I spent a week at the University of Delaware for the summer vibraphone workshop. As usual, it was a great experience and completely worth it. If you're on the fence about going to a workshop, consider this my attempt to win you over. Here are a few reasons why I loved this year:

Hi Everyone,
Hope you listened to the August show and heard Tony's album debut with the title track "Can't Find My Way Home." I plan to be at their Sept 20 gig in South Jersey and hoping maybe to get a piece into Jersey Jazz about it. What can I say but all good stuff!

Hello Vw,

I'm working on the Totm "Ornithology", and I want to play a bassline on all the tune.

I can easily do that on piano, and I struggle all the time trying to do it on vibes.
I can't take distance (intellectualy) with the instrument, and I can't think in advance.
It's so frustrating... so practice, practice again... but I don't see real improvments

*drama*
Why ???
What do I need to do, that I'm clearly missing in my practical approach ?

;o)

Please can you share your experience/ exercices/ thoughts on this question.

Cheers

Ok, I think I've seen a lot of vibe players, talked to them and listened to them. I have a huge stack of CDs, I watch video all the time and do workshops for many vibe players around the world now. That's cool because that was my goal. A selfish goal but one with some giving in it as well!

Here you go Stefan. Autumn Leaves voicings. You have to do some of the work. I think I got the form and all that right. You need to label the chords and then label the alterations. Finally I think you need to memorize this. Just play it from memory. Also know with each chord you hit, what the root is. Keep this going in your mind. You need to become aware of what's happening. You get it?

I'll be Livestreaming my MetroWest Jazz Project gig from Sunset Jazz at the Hopkinton Center for the arts on Saturday, 10-Aug, from 7:00 to 8:30PM EDT. We'll be playing most of the tunes from our CD "Phrydig Aire" (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/metrowestjazzproject).