A couple more practice recordings to share:

Tune Up by Miles Davis, practice no. 4

First time reading through the tune Triste by Antonio Carlos Jobim (about a 10 minute practice, before I had listened to the original recording)

Here is one of the original recordings of Triste (click here to view on Imeem) or use the player below:

Triste – Antonio Carlos Jobim

I made a video of myself performing the song Tune Up by Miles Davis.

Feel free to watch on Youtube by clicking here, or use the player below. It was the first take, and I think that some of the ideas I came up with are pretty interesting.

Also check out Daniel Muniz (guitar) performing Tune Up with Jacob Teichroew (tenor saxophone) and Petros Klampanis (bass) in this excellent Youtube video. (player also included below).

I practiced for about 45 minutes on learning the song “Tune Up” by Miles Davis. This is my second practice learning the song and I seem to have got it pretty much in my head.

One part that I am finding tricky is soloing over the first 2-5-1 progression (Emi7, A7, DMaj7). I am not used to having a major 2-5-1 right at the beginning of the tune (they usually come at the ends of phrases). It’s almost like it resolves too quickly. So I am experimenting with playing some extensions and dissonant harmonies on top of the DMaj7 to make it more interesting. I still haven’t figured out what I really want to do with the first DMaj7. But it’s quite fun nevertheless!

I am also still trying to strengthen my right hand, which I worked on by playing the Bb major scale at various speeds.

Click here to download my practice recording of Tune Up in Midi format.

I did about a 45 minute practice tonight, learning the tune “Tune Up” by Miles Davis. It is a deceptively simple tune that seems like it will be great to solo over once I really learn it. I finished the practice by playing some scales. Finally I am getting some of the strength back in my fingers – it is really encouraging!

Click here to download my practice of Miles Davis’s Tune Up and technique in Midi format.

Since it is in Midi format, the sound quality will depend on what kind of music synthesizer your computer has. The one that comes with Quicktime works, but isn’t the best. If you have a Yamaha DIsklavier piano or a Roland, try playing the midi file though your actual piano!