www.vibesworkshop.com welcomes Joe Locke. Joe says hello and gives some thoughts on his playing.
We lost arguably the most soulful player on the instrument 10 years ago today. But look at all great influence he's had on everyone who works these bars. I read and listen to all the players here who site his great influence on their music.
This is my Ballad For Milt - it's happy, and it's sad - i wrote and recorded it shortly after i heard the news.
When I transcribe Parker I think about Bach. I'm telling you they're the same people.
I'm falling asleep here at the computer, but I wanted to start transcribing his solo off of the tune Merry Go Round. That woke me up for a bit.
I just love lines that move harmony in themselves, and Bird is the master. I'm a real Parker fan. I've been putting on headphones when I go to sleep and listening to him.
I spent the last 2 weeks and will the next 2 weeks, learning a ton of tunes for gigs. But these gigs are big bands or really written out originals.
This has been hard. Reading is not my forte. I can read a lead sheet, but following a big band chart is not something I've done a lot in my life. I think when you play tunes a lot, you just get in this listening vibe and use that side of your brain.
I think I've talked about this before, but I've had to read a ton these days.
What do you guys use as sight reading material? I got plenty of Bach.
Joe Locke ‘Force of Four’
Live at the Kitano Hotel
October 16, 2009
October 17, 2009
2 sets: 8pm / 10pm
66 Park Avenue
at 38th Street
New York, NY 10016
Reservations:
phone: 212-885-7119
email: jazz@kitano.com
Check this out!!
Feb, 6th and 7th. Workshop at VanderPlas Studio with DAVID FRIEDMAN AND myself.
Then in July (still waiting for the dates) a 4 day workshop in Ireland with me (Ireland is very affordable, this will be our most inexpensive workshop by far).
Guys!
Our last newbie's name is "Achakon", from Spain. I made a little search, and I came across some great vids with a guy named Alfredo Chacon. I'm not yet sure it's him, but this guy is smoking!
A few links for you:
- Cruceta Flamenco: a spanish band mixing flamenco and hip hop, AND including vibes in an "honorable" role. This reminds me sooo much the band "Jaleo" my vibist friend Norbert used to play in: I love this music!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceZfW34X6WM
- Same guy, on the drum with hip hop dance, and really good music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zdIcOQeoZc
I have had some requests since the last lesson to show how to apply the ideas from lesson 1 to different chord sequences. This part of the lesson deals exclusively with taking a single rhythm (the first from lesson 1) and applying it over various tunes with different voicings. Watching it again, I feel like I played these patterns a lit bit on the fast side for cha cha so slow them down ;)
Today I was running an errand at lunch that took me off of my normal beaten path and past Alan Dawson's old neighborhood in Lexington, MA. That started some reminiscing that I thought would be good to share.