Hey all. I'm on my way to New Orleans for the week-end to help out with auditions at the Thelonious Monk Institute, so most likely I won't be hanging out much here at the VW. I'll leave you with a Red Norvo story.

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

i found a couple of the original lead sheets to two ballads ive composed years ago... dont have a recording of them yet .. i definately here a quartet ala .. milt jackson

much respect and jah bless

T

[Gary attached this onto one of his posts. I'm posting it and putting it in the Vibe Players Image Gallery - Tony Miceli]

This is from a Cruise Gary did.

We've been studying Ed Saindons tune 'Life's Blessing' for a few weeks now. Here's a simple chord melody arrangement of the tune to check out. (It's attached below)

I've left it very simple, you can add some rhythm where needed as well as listen to the other versions on the site and get ideas.

For me a tune like this is a study in chord voicings. This is a very un-standard (meaning not like a Gershwin tune) tune. Only a couple ii Vs, the harmony moving in other ways. So it's a chance to work on chord voicings in a slightly different setting.

I just had a great talk with Teddy Charles. He's not computer literate at all, but we're trying to figure out how to get him on the site. He has a secretary that comes over, so maybe I can work with her. He's in Long Island, maybe I can get up there at some point.

Just wanted to let you all know that Teddy wants to come on board and hang with us.

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.

So, we the red-headed stepchildren of the rhythm section have our battles- how to get your gear to the jam session without a car, how to be heard over Oaf the Viking Drummer without pickups and a Marshall 4x12, and how to take the compliment "boy, you can sure play that xylophone" for the 10,000th time with grace. My question is:

How do you comp for a soloist in a large group when you're not the only chordal instruement? Taking your marbles and going home is an option, but isn't there a more community way of doing it?

Sorry but I thought the foreigners would love this!

Here's my second version of Ed's Tune. My plan was to:

1. Work on the head and post it.
2. Work on the head and solo section and post it.
3. Write a mallet arrangement of the head. (with Ed's Permission)
4. Do a video of the tune

1 and 2 are done.

I must have played this tune a couple hundred times now.

I'm sure this tune is different from Ed's original intent of the tune. I'm excited to hear his version to see what was in his head. I can hear the version with the band, but I think his solo version will be different... and I'm sure great.