"Sophisticated Lady" by the great Duke Ellington. I've been working on this song this past week. Such a deep and beautiful composition. Some of my favorite versions are from Duke of course as well as from great pianists like Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea.

This is my first real post to this site. It's just an audio from one of the first rehearsals of a song I wrote - "Cheyenne's Waltz!"

So last summer I posted a lesson entitled "Incorporating Brubeck Ideas into your Solo Vibe Practice and Performance" where I discussed different solo vibraphone techniques I learned from practicing a reduction of Dave Brubeck's performance of Strange Meadow Lark. For those interested in the article the link is below:

https://www.vibesworkshop.com/blog-entry/incorporating-brubeck-ideas-yo…

I haven't been an active member for a long time, but I'm hoping to change that. I thought I would start with a recent video of my quartet playing "footprints" at a local club. Please also check out my website and leave me some feedback. I've never made a site before and would welcome constructive criticism.
mikekesslermusic.com

Nice surprise today having Steve Nelson come to the mallet class which Gustavo and I ran. The class was part of the Berklee Percussion Weekend. Steve played two beautiful solo pieces. Sweet and Lovely and Ellington's Sophisticated Lady. Shared some great stories about Milt and Bobby.

If you are into the Exotica genre, I think you will dig this group. Found them on Amazon Music where they have one of their albums available for free streaming.

MUSICIANS:
Brian O’Neill (Artistic Director) vibraphone, percussion, artistic director
Geni Skendo: bass flute, C flute
Jeremy Smith: hand percussion
Brad Barrett: bass
Tev Stevig: oud, tanbur, resonator guitar

Enjoy,
Barry

Hi Everyone,
Boy, did May ever get away from me. Two events kept me crazy busy, the first the graduation of my son Nick from Temple University's graduate program in music in mid-May. The second, hosting the Jost Project at our house as a CD preview party later in the month. It was a great time. Everyone enjoyed the music, the company, the food, the fine weather. Like Christmas in the summer. Time now to get back to work.