by Jimmy Van Heusen

More from a series of solos I recorded in early August with an old design of leather mallets. Working on a new mallet design that I'm hoping to share with the world.

Pretty cool!

Improvising with Upper Structure Triads on “Have You Met Miss Jones” – I was working with a few of the students today on utilizing Upper Structure Triads along with one passing/approach note. The extra note can add more possibilities in creating lines as well as adding interesting notes and additional color. For example, the Db triad (with the b6), sounds the 9 and #9 over the Gb Maj 7th chord in the bridge. Most often using only the three notes of the triad can be very limiting. I uploaded the lead sheet along with the USTs that we were using today.

Check out Dewey Square. It's a Parker tune. It's an AABA tune where there's no melody on the bridge, so you have to solo. I did a chord melody on the A Sections. You figure out something for the bridge. I can help if you are stuck. I played it and talked about it here.

This is the 'style' of playing you are into right?

I love it and don't play like this. A lot of notes as well but doesn't matter to me!!! I like listening to all the mallets and how they are intertwined. the rhythms between the hands etc.

This gets pretty busy. I bet David Friedman doesn't like it. (Do you?) I dig it! I don't think they are stepping on each other toes. I just think it's busy!

two versions of Jobim's Wave. Been working on this with Tony over the last few weeks so I'm posting two versions with comping Improv 3rds and 7ths some arpeggios and some straight improv trying make some nice melodies. I find comping can be tricky as in putting the chords in the right areas over solos. Dynamics are also important so thats another part I'm working on Would like to hear some feedback its been a while since I've posted

Thanks John

Here's another interesting bebop technique related to the chromatic and diatonic approach that I use a lot to embellish simple fragment of scales and arpeggios.
You'll sound immediately jazzy!!
Hope you enjoy.

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for more info: www.giovanniperin.com

Here's an attempt at Tony's H1CH thing. I'm not sure if it's a technically a chord melody because I break up the melody and chords most of the time.