all-levels

Hi all – sometimes it's intimidating to post – because there are so many GREAT musicians/vibist on this site – but I see it as motivating. Please know: I am practicing an audio software for a class that I teach and thought it would be a good idea to record my efforts on the piece by Tony Miceli titled "watermarks" only up the improv section! anyway there's obviously accuracy issues and this week I'll slow it down get into the woodshed and workout phrasing issues – but let me know what you think anyway. (Especially Tony) thanks for commenting if you have time

Had some fun yesterday in the home studio playing the classic "On the Sunnyside of the Street" on marimba and hi hats.

Put the chords in. Analyze the notes against the chords. Memorize it. Play it in at least C and Eb. try to do more keys! Work up the speed.

This way you're practicing a lot of things in the few bars that are here!

(Metronome on 2 and 4)

Here's the bridge of Green Dolphin Street. It's a shortude because I want you to master it. Play it in C and at least Eb.

Write in the changes.
Look at the notes and see where they are in the chord. i.e. #9 b5 etc.

I think this really sounds like the bridge. Can you hear that? So master just this and do something with it!

Improvising on Green Dolphin Street using the improv concept of Four Note Groupings (FNGs) which is a chapter in the just released The Complete Guide To Improvisation - Volume Two. The technique uses triads with a passing note as a means of generating lines. For major triads: 1, 2, 3 and 5. For minor triads: 1, 2, b3 and 5 or 1, b3, 4 and 5. In the clip, I'm playing the last 8 bars of the tune to set up the tune. The first chorus is a written out solo based on the Four Note Grouping concept.

At home today playing the Gershwin classic "Someone To Watch Over Me" with a steady left hand groove along with some right hand octaves. Inspired from the great pianists that excel in this style including masters like Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett, Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, George Shearing, Dave McKenna and Teddy Wilson.