I just found out today is my friend Ayman's birthday.

So here's a little "Blues for Ayman"

https://greghoward.bandcamp.com/track/blues-for-ayman

Which you can learn if you have the Greg Howard Songbook... just saying...

http://www.stick.com/method/books/ghsong/

Love this tune! the bass line is great!!

This is my favorite version of Blues for Ayman.(and Blues for Ayman is one of my favorite songs) I learned the basic song a while before my shoulder surgery last October. I haven't tried it since, but only because I lost track of almost everything I was working on at that time. The book helps a lot, especially trying to visualize where some of the faster phrases fit in relation to the bass line. When I tried to play the song slower, to practice before I had the Greg's book, I didn't get too far. Once I had the book in front of me I could break up the phrases into smaller easier to chunks. Then it came together much easier.

Playing the melody line along with a steady 6/4 smoking bass line--very doable with a little repetition. Making up my own improvised solo in 6/4 at 192 bpm--never quite got there. I think it is time to give it another shot.

What year was the album "Lift" recorded? And you just now found out when your friend's birthday is? For Shame!

See ya'll in VA camp next week.

Mike

Very nice...Can you tell me...is the bass played by you or the bassman? And, if it's payed by the bassman...Do you play chords with your LH? I can hear some chords with chorus...close to an organ sound...beautiful anyways. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Mike

That was a fun version, and by the end I think I was going pretty fast to play the head, but managed to keep it all together.

We both play the bass line, Jan with a pick on a fretted bass.

The chords are on the right hand. I did a little Stick overdubbing on the CD version of this.

Here's a live version of the band from our fist gig. At the time I posted this, YouTube limited videos to 10 minutes, so I cut off the head in in order to retain the improv momentum and ending. There are some really magical moments of group improv in this track.

I can never say enough about this musician. We all have heroes, musicians which inspire us to play. Greg is on my short list.

Cheers, Brett!
Looking forward to hearing you and sharing ideas next week..