Vibraphone

Vince Lardere, a great local alto player came to University of the Arts and did a workshop on the bebop scale that the students LOVED. So I asked Vince to come over so I can video the workshop. This was great stuff. So maybe we should start a little series on 'Lines and Licks'.

Thanks John. This is AMAZING. Licks and phrases are language and great musicians speak the language. IMHO

Hi,

Just shooted a version of my solo Naima.. It's still somehow a practice tape but I thought it would be maybe good enough to be shared.
Please tell me what you think!! Thanks.

Cheers,

Nico

It's been a miserable month but there's light at the end of the tunnel. Vibe gig at the rest home is put off, replaced by an organist! But the Christmas show at church is moving along. Working on a duet with guitarist John Hill on Sleigh Bells by Leroy Anderson. Got skeletal sheet music for A and B sections, and transcribed the C section from a Boston Pops performance. Built a whip. We'll trade off soloing/comping A section which keeps coming back, and I'll handle the short B and C sections.

I caught Gary and Chick last night at the Blue Note. Also with them was the Harlem String Quartet. What a heavy concert.

First of all Gary and Chick were made for each other. They play so well together. Gary's solos were really incredible. I kept admiring how fluid he is on the instrument. He comps so well with Chick also. I think for most part vibe players shouldn't comp with the piano player. Meaning most of the time i hear that I don't like it. But those guys sound so great together!

The only thing I can think of that's left to talk about with comping would be comping for yourself, right?? Any more topics you guys can think of.

I figured we could squeeze one more week with comping for yourself and then wrap this up. But I was wrong last week, so if you think there are more topics let me know! Otherwise, let's move onto 'Solo Comping' and 'Comping for Yourself'. Something like that!!!

Hi VW friends,

Here is a gig video I shot by putting my iPhone next to me during the set. See what you think of this mash-up of Duke & Paul, two of my favorites.

(ps. someone else shot some good video of this gig, so maybe I will get some more to post in the future...)

Steve