Blog

AFter reading the amazing life stories, here is a highlight gig story of mine

I've already written about some of those times when things just don't go like you expect. And, believe me, everyone in this business has the occasional weird situation they have to get through. Without a doubt, my strangest gig was the one time I played with Ahmad Jamal and his trio. I have been a long-time fan of Ahmad's music, and I had met him informally a couple of times through the years. So, when the chance came to play a few tunes with him at a concert in France, I was delighted. The occasion was a music industry convention in Nice called MIDEM.

Here's the scoop on my two most disappointing jam experiences. As many people know, I was a big Bill Evans fan. So much so, that I sounded a lot like him when I soloed, played a lot of his tunes using his arrangements, and pretty much knew all his records backwards and forwards during my formative years as a player. I got to know Bill soon after I moved to New York in 1962. By coincidence, I ended up staying with a musician friend while looking for my own place, and my friend happened to live in the same building as Bill. My first encounters with him were pretty scary.

Now that I've had the chance to sift through a lot of the commentary on the site, I think it's time to fill in some details. I enjoyed reading the comments posted following the review of my ALONE AT LAST record, both the praise and the criticisms. Believe me, I'm my worst critic, so it doesn't bother me at all if someone doesn't like something I've done. In fact, I doubt there is any one person who would like ALL the records I've made. Even I don't like them all! (But don't even think of asking me which ones I don't like!)

Thomas James Mackay
Born in 1967, in Oakland, Nebraska, Thomas Mackay is a native of the Midwest. He started his musical studies at the early age of five in piano and percussion. Mr. Mackay has mentored under Gordon Stout and Bill Molenhof, and has performed with David Valdez, Rob Scheps, Clark Terry, Terry Haggerty, Merle Saunders, Three Leg Torso, and Martin Fiero. Mr. Mackay was a percussionist with the Casper Symphony and timpanist with the Grand Forks Symphony. His vibraphone led trios and quartets have appeared at the

If you're a member you get to hang out with some really prestigious players here. You see them online and I'm sure it's exciting when you see some of the pros online. I dig it!

If you could see what's happening on the inside of the site. The practicing, the posting, getting comments from the pros about your playing, trying etudes with other members of the site.

This is pretty cool.

I emailed Teddy tonight and invited him to the site. I hope he takes my offer to be our guest. It would be great to get his insight on this instrument!

Keep your fingers crossed.

Wow! Gary Burton is playing a few dates with Pat Metheny on the east coast and will be in Philly!

http://garyburton.com/display_tours.php

Check back here for details:
http://www.keswicktheatre.com/eventcalender/index.cgi?month=6&year=2009

Barry

I am still working on Sword of Whispers. I am internalizing it a bit more but my timing and hand independence could use some work. I was trying to keep a pulse in the left hand, using the rhythm of Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", which is syncopated like Joe's gentle intro in the lead sheet.

Hey guys, thought i would offer another tune for vibesworkshop! hope you enjoy!

www.mikepinto.net