This was recorded at a recent studio session. Needless to say the two Dana's were promptly sacked!

This is a funny one.

Just a side note.

I talk with Mike about once a week, and I tell you he's a great guy and a very kind soul. There are many Mike Balter stories about great acts of kindness. I feel really lucky to know him and hang out with him.

And Mike is a serious player, and has worked with all the best stage acts in the world.

Thought I'd post one of many invitation takes. Including the ones I trashed I've probably done about 200 takes.

If a few people sign up. I'll get online monday and talk about 'Have You Met Miss Jones' for an hour.

Sign Up by leaving a comment here that you'll attend.

Well, when I make up these lessons, they usually leave me with a lot to practice.

I've been playing probably a few hundred versions of Invitation over the last few weeks. It's a difficult tune to play solo. And I'm busting my ass on it, big time!!! It's really inspiring to know that while I'm practicing all these other guys are practicing also. I know when I'm practicing in the evening that Barryk is over at his place doing the same thing! That's pretty cool.

I was listening to Pandora.com and heard Bobby Hutcherson play "My Foolish Heart". Nice. I went right to Amazon and downloaded it. I practiced it over the past couple of nights and recorded it. Still needs work, but I felt like posting anyway.

I would have liked to have taken it slower but when BIAB rendered the Real Tracks slower, it didn't sound very good, so I left it nears its optimum tempo.

I also tried it with Tremolo, but for whatever reason, I couldn't get the sound I wanted, so I turned it off for this recording.

In this section we will study and play a tune every week.

In some cases we will have a duet verion to record with or everybody will record a solo version or even a version with aebersold or band in a box. In fact everything is possible. As long as you study the tune and record something.

I hope this is gonna be helpful for a lot of you guys!

TJ

I'm finished with those drum gigs. The drums are back in their cases, and I won't take them out again unless absolutely necessary. I must concentrate on the vibes. I'm only 68. it's not too late. Here's my morning assignment : I Remember You, with my faithful accompanists, the Band In a Box "real tracks".

No Vibes, but I have never heard anything like this before...