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So what new pieces are people working on? Here's what my band and I are looking at:

Nardis: really like this tune. We've already performed it. Lot's of white keys in the chords, but you can easily spice it up.

Goodbye Porkpie Hat: We haven't done a slow tune in while. Found out that there are different changes for the solos. We've yet to play it as a band.

Firm Roots: Nice Cedar Walton tune. Not in the Real Book, but I was able to buy a lead sheet on line.

Question and Answer: A great Pat Metheny tune. Haven't tried it yet with the band and we'll have to see if it works as a piano trio.

I have been playing that one a bit recently. The giant steps bit in the bridge is hard but over before you know it.

Love Nardis.

Why don't you post a take of Question & Answer? Love to hear your take on it.

And I would love to hear your version of Nardis if you have recorded it Dave.
One of my favourite tunes, it seems so difficult, I especially like Jacky Terrasson's version.

jjo, was on vacation...

Band started doing Wave lately. I've started working on Con Alma.

I was going to play Nardis recently but realized I was a little rusty on the head. So it's something I'll be playing soon. It's not something that sounds good with a regular automated backing track though because of the "hits" on the head. So I'm not likely to post it as music here.

Some other things planned but not yet done are In Walked Bud, Driftin', Gloria's Step.

My list of known tunes have grown huge now though not necessarily memorized. The only issue with many are my ability to remember the head without sight-reading (which I couldn't do anyway). I need to set aside time each practice session to play a couple of heads regularly. Maybe I'll cycle through all the tunes I know. Unfortunately, having horn players takes the load off on playing heads and it's bad for practice.

Good Bye Pork Pie Hat was something we worked on here some time back. A couple of the guys have some finished versions of this (Beeboss, etc.) I've never played it on a gig. But mostly just because I can only play a single ballad typically. So new tunes never bubble up. We have enough that don't get played.

I really like the Terrason version as well. Also there is an amazing version by Helge Lien I am really into at the moment.
I haven't recorded Nardis myself and having heard those versions am not in a hurry to try.

Well if you feel like this, imagine how I feel.
At this stage, I have 2 songs to learn in my goal-list for 30 years' time: Nardis, and Comrade Conrad.

Jazzwee: I really like Goria's Step. As long as you get the hits in the second bar it's a pretty easy tune to solo on. I've got In Walked Bud on my future list. I don't know Driftin' so I'll have to look that one up.

One that I already know but somehow the band always screws up is Invitation. It's really difficult to play so I've skipped it for many gigs. I'm going to add it in at the next gig and hopefully we'll survive it.

Lately I've been playing Ceora too and aside from the head, the rest is pretty easy.

Con Alma - which I was working on this weekend is really hard to figure out. I know it can be simplified from looking at it as changing keys every half bar.

BTW jjo -- Stolen Moments is now something I play very often. Thanks for the transcription of the head on that.

Jam Tunes

This one was pretty cool. Freddie Hubbard tune. I never played it before. By the time the tune started, I was still looking for the lead sheet. I realize it sounds more like fusion than jazz...

Red Clay
https://www.box.com/s/af32a168dd66a471bf14

Invitation
https://www.box.com/s/304073afa3f7ca65f50b

sounding good JW.

I bet the drummer called Red Clay.

LOL - At least the drummer's use of dynamics was good. He went up to FFFF. Yep, he called it. Last tune and he said he was losing it on tunes like Autumn Leaves...

After hearing a version with Freddie/Herbie/Wayne I'm going to play this at my weekend gigs. I got inspired.

Thanks man.

Yo Chris,
Are you getting ready for the trip?
And ready to share a dorm room with me?
I'll let you pick out my socks every morning :-)

hehe !!!!!

How has the blues practice been going ?

Blues is going well. I'm going for a very bluesy feel. If the bass player starts playing jazz changes, I'll just adapt

Sounds like so much fun. Hopefully you and Chris will record each other's concerts at the end of the week

Such colourful language . . I'm positively shocked!

Red, Gray, Blue . . .

Well, I'll be there both weeks; first as pianist, the second week I'll be under-cover playing bass. So we'll see whom will record whom.

Btw Dave Liebman will be at the course during the second week! M

oh, that is very kool Chris !

Will Dave Liebman be taking masterclasses ?

And remember: no talking to Knotty after midnight !

Cool! I expect full DAILY reports and recordings.

Do they sort you by skill level? I was saying the Port Townsend one required an audition and they had a pianist limit.

The day starts with a theory class at 8.30 then musicianship, combo, masterclass, combo, voicings, concert, jam session. In-between classes we might get time to eat.
Not sure about writing reports though.

Yes we get sorted out.