O.K., my band's finally put some performance videos on our MySpace page. We're an acoustic string and percussion group. Click in my signature to check them out.

(Paging heartbeatocean )
[Edited 8/31/07 22:15pm]

NuPwr319 said:

Awesome. Looks like great fun and sounds great. How much are you reading sheet music and/or improvising in those? I've definitely gotten the hang of improvising with my "fiddle jam" CD. Have yet to try it with a live human being however.

heartbeatocean said:

THANK YOU!

Well, the Latin piece actually has cello in it, so both Leslie and I were filling in the missing cello parts. The full arrangement of the song (with cello) will be on our upcoming CD. That was mainly in the melody--so we were reading there. Pretty much we kind of read a bit of the heads--the rest is improv (although I'm usually checking out the chord chart--I'm better at memorizing changes, but I'm not completely there yet). Same with the Beatles tune--reading the head, but improvising the rest.

Now, in the studio I tend to write out my improv--just because it makes it easier for me when we do multiple takes. Leslie is a MUCH stronger improviser (she's been playing jazz a LOT longer), so she doesn't usually write anything out. Leslie makes up a lot of the harmonies that are in our music, so she occasionally writes that stuff down so she can remember.

I am so glad that your improv is coming around! You GO!