"Bard" Video

As I've blogged about earlier, I recently revised a transcription of Brad Mehldau's "Bard" from his 1999 album Elegiac Cycle. It's a deceptive piece, looking (and sounding) pretty easy, but the constant harmonic shifts add new levels of difficulty. I recorded the audio on my iPhone (using iTalk Lite), and the video was recorded on a Sony Cybershot. I know the audio doesn't sync up all the time (I wasn't playing with a click track ...), and the visual transitions are abrupt, but I figure that just gives me something more to work on with my next video. I had hoped to include a few still images, too, but I couldn't get that part to work out right. (See more at www.andreistrizek.com)
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"Perdido" Transcription

I spent a little time the other day transcribing the head of a version of Perdido, not for any specific reason other than I've liked this version for a long time and I wanted the challenge. It's posted on my Arrangements page, under the Jazz Transcriptions heading. (Or you can view the PDF here.) The arrangement is credited as being done by Duke Ellington, but was most likely arranged by Clark Terry & Jimmy Hamilton. (Read more at www.andreistrizek.com)
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New Recordings

I posted a few new recordings on my Recordings page - feel free to check them out and leave some comments (either below or you can use my Contact Me page). I recorded with Sam & Karen on Wednesday night. We made a demo CD of some showtunes to audition for Krannert Center's Krannert Uncorked series. No word on when we'll find out if we perform sometime this year or not, but I think we stand a good chance. (Visit www.andreistrizek.com/blog for more.)
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Accompanist Woes

If you know me, you know that I thoroughly enjoy accompanying people. If you know me, you also know that I enjoy accompanying people on musical theatre pieces more than any other genre. I've played for countless auditions over the past ten years, for musicals ranging in style from rock and roll to "classic" Broadway, for show choirs, etc. I've had to deal with a number of issues accompanists get used to seeing, from poorly executed auditions, strange cuts and jumps, music so crumpled that it doesn't stay on the stand, etc. Yet the thing that I find the most annoying is music that is poorly published. (Read more at www.andreistrizek.com)
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