OK, I don't know if this is the way in blogging to make a sequel. But here is my 2nd post on shipsong.

I've done a session 'freewheeling'. playing around the things in my head, no rules. Just let it come. Lot of useless stuff, a few intersting things. And that was my goal in this excercise. Get ideas while playing.
I'm still strugling in getting the chords more interesting, for the moment I'm not getting further then doing the same thing on a different octave.
I'll attache my freewheeling. If you feel like it....It's about 10 minutes.

A very simple lesson (In theory). Learn the melody. Play it with the rests. Remember the rests count as much as the notes.

I never get tired of listening to this....such soulful playing. Dig the groove!

Rusty

Jazz vibraphone workshop in Paris with David Friedman and Philippe Macé. April 5st-7

Program :
April 5th from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, meeting with students with Philippe Macé,
April 6th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm with David Friedman and Philippe Macé,
April 7th from 10:30 am to 12:30 am and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm with David Friedman and Philippe Macé.

April 6 at 3:00 pm Master Class with Emmanuel Séjourné (vibraphone/marimba),

Municipal Conservatory of 11th district Charles Munch 7 rue Duranti, 75011 - Paris.
Metro : stations Pere Lachaise or Voltaire.

Registration by email: conservatoire11@paris.fr
According to level (minimum 3rd cycle conservatory or good amateur musician, knowledge of tones and harmonics basics is required).
A list of tunes to prepare passed to the inscription. Free registration.
Opportunity to attend the meetings as an auditor.

Saturday, April 6th - 20:00 Concert "Duet in Mirror", Peter Weniger (saxophone) / David Friedman (vibraphone), Éric Barret (saxophone) / Philippe Macé (vibraphone).
Free admissions, Auditorium 7 rue Duranti, 75011 - Paris. Metro : Père Lachaise or Voltaire.

Ok, I finally got the courage to video myself practicing. This is my attempt to play over the changes to "The Best Things in Life are Free" with my usual band-in a box partner. I'm still working up a good version of the head and some comping chords, so maybe it will all come together later. I found that it is funny to watch myself groan at the bad notes, but also discovered a learning tool that I hadn't taken advantage of. This garage is where my vibes live, they've never left this space since I bought them 12 years ago.

Here's a nice exercise to work on that will help with articulation while comping. Pdf is attached, pay careful attention to the markings.

This is from a McCoy Tyner record called "A Night of Ballads and Blues." It's an awesome trio recording from 1963 on the Impulse label. He did a few trio records for Impulse, and they're my favorite piano trio recordings!

Imagine this, in 1963, he was playing in Trane's quartet and still doing recordings like this. Amazing versatility.

Ok, I have what I'll consider my first solo gig coming up. I've done a few before, but I did them because I needed the money and didn't a you know what about them. One was in a clothes store playing Christmas music. I was soooo broke. So I did it and hated every second of it. The others were a couple cocktail parties or worse Barmitzvah's. Sorry to my jewish buddy vibe players, but I HATE Barmitzvah's. A room full of kids high on soda running around like fools is not fun when you're an adult. I know it's fun for them. Ok, I digress.

Hello, I've just joined and I hope these forums are still alive.

Can you please give me an opinion on Vancore vibes from Netherlands and in particular their lower end model PSV 2001? It's a three octave set with a fixed 45 mm bar width. You can see the pics and specs here:
http://www.vancore.nl/3670/html/concert_malletinstruments_psvibraphones…

I can only order a set withot first trying it so your hands-on experience would be very helpful.

Skype lessons are great. I learned a lot from the last one we did with Tony. I heard him playing a lick over a a half diminished chord and after I practised it in 12 keys I thought good idea to do free improvisation etude using this lick!

Enjoy
Dimitris