Series 125 Dr. Marvin Smith with Master Rob Scheps

I enjoyed this playing so much because as a DUO both of these MASTERS showed how much knowledge they have about the music as they made a DUO sound like an orchestra. This is straight forward teaching and young players and old alike, will benefit from this great documentation, one of over 1250 videos that Dr. Smith has created, more than any other drummer. This beautiful teaching example by Master Rob Scheps and Master Dr. Marvin Smith will go down in the archives as one of the greatest videos in Jazz Education because of the clear, down to earth musical statements of what each player was talking about when they answered student questions. One of the most important things that young folks have to learn how to do is put their antennas up and leave them up. If you're in your own way and NOT LISTENING, then you're BULLSHITTING. First, knowing the core-center is important and Masters like MONK always said that the drummer should know the song and be able to sing it and the horn player should know the drums. "If you can't sing it, you can't swing it". Monk always said that he was a supporting player, not a stand out solo cat. Monk danced around the bandstand because he was joyful. Rob Scheps has a wonderful way of communicating truth to these young players and he does it in his own, unique way talking just as he does playing the Tenor Sax or any instrument. His clear cut approach is very understandable but you MUST LISTEN. Dr. Marvin Smith is always telling the students to listen and learn. Before you put the instrument in your hands you must have the ability to say something with it. It's not going to do the work for you. Listening to how Marvin and Rob respect each other in every song they performed is apparent in the BREATH and SPACE they give each other. They're talking and having MUSICAL CONVERSATION like breaking bread at the dinner table. I loved how both of them simplified things so that even an idiot like me can understand what they're saying. It is very important to learn by example and the example of making music as a DUO is so very great. Rob talked about playing on the streets of Boston as a solo player with nobody else and he had to play all the parts of a band through his horn. This is very important to learn. If a player can play with the chords in mind and the drummer in mind, all the harmonics developed through the song will represent the entire band or orchestra. Giving HONOR is also so very important and both Dr. Marvin Smith and Master Rob Scheps do that everytime they talk about this music and I hope that students can learn how to do this and honor them for being so nonegotistical and right TO THE POINT! The tones that both Marvin and Rob get out of their instruments are clear and deep. They both have a way of USING THE INSTRUMENT AS THE TOOL THAT IT IS. They are the music and they are placing their feelings through that tool and you are receiving those feelings by HAVING YOUR ANTENNAS RAISED UP FULL LENGTH. KEEP LISTENING AND LEARN BY LISTENING TO MASTERS. FORGET TRYING TO BE A BAD ASS MOTHER F_C_ER because there are lessons of daily life that contribute to that and along the way, your playing will change as you change because your story becomes thicker from life's experiences. Don't turn growth off because you think you have all the answers. Learning is for everyone and only your ego can get in the way, so "CHECK IT" before you open your mouth. DON'T PUT your fingers or feet in it and NEVER PUT YOUR FOOT IN YOUR MOUTH. It would be very hard to talk and communicate if you do that! LOVE ALWAYS and ALWAYS LOVE, HABIB