Advanced

Body and Soul (comp. J. W. Green) Vibraphone Solo Arrangement and Reharm. by Franz Bauer

🎵 Harmony Without Chords – Pt. 9: Adding Enclosures and Chromaticism

In Part 9, we take harmonic implication a step further by incorporating enclosures and chromatic passing tones into our line construction. Applied here to the chord progression of Minority by Gigi Gryce, this exercise demonstrates how carefully placed chromatic notes can add tension, sophistication, and forward motion while still clearly outlining the harmony.

🚨 Playing in 3/4 – Pt. 10: Tune Study – “Little B’s Poem” (Advanced Comping)

Part 10 builds on the previous comping chorus by introducing more syncopated rhythms, tighter voice-leading, and additional chord-tone alterations throughout the form. This chorus is designed to feel more conversational and interactive, giving you tools to comp with texture, color, and forward motion while staying grounded in the 3/4 feel of “Little B’s Poem.”

There is no such thing as a great musician without GREAT time.

'Andrea's Piece' for Solo Vibraphone was composed in April 2025 by Franz Bauer. 

I'm working on Monk's Pannonica, which was written for Pannonica de Koenigswarter. Monk spent the last 10 years in the upstairs of her Apartment in New York. 

This is a great tune. I've been working on it for a little bit now. Ballads are great because you can use the pedal more and your sound can be 'wetter'.

Here are two versions of the tune. Of course a Monk version and then a Chick Corea version. He does it a little quicker.

Also is attached is an etude and an mp3 of the etude. I did the etude on my malletkat. I think I have a good vibe sound!

Check out this video. I hope all this makes sense to you guys and that you can start using some of these ideas. Any questions post them here! If a couple people wanted a class on it, I would gladly do it. Let's say minimum 3 people post here that they want a lesson on this and I'll do it. We will set up a zoom time.

Click here for the etude and play along tracks

Can you play this? With a metronome, make it swing and play the rhythyms? Go as slow as you want to!!!! But once you get it down, work on the speed. Also, IMHO, don't use it as a reading exercise. Memorize it. Can you play it in another key? 

I'll give a free lesson to anyone who can play it (memorized) in another key. And you'll have to play it at the lesson as well! :-)