Blog

Now that I've had the chance to sift through a lot of the commentary on the site, I think it's time to fill in some details. I enjoyed reading the comments posted following the review of my ALONE AT LAST record, both the praise and the criticisms. Believe me, I'm my worst critic, so it doesn't bother me at all if someone doesn't like something I've done. In fact, I doubt there is any one person who would like ALL the records I've made. Even I don't like them all! (But don't even think of asking me which ones I don't like!)

Thomas James Mackay
Born in 1967, in Oakland, Nebraska, Thomas Mackay is a native of the Midwest. He started his musical studies at the early age of five in piano and percussion. Mr. Mackay has mentored under Gordon Stout and Bill Molenhof, and has performed with David Valdez, Rob Scheps, Clark Terry, Terry Haggerty, Merle Saunders, Three Leg Torso, and Martin Fiero. Mr. Mackay was a percussionist with the Casper Symphony and timpanist with the Grand Forks Symphony. His vibraphone led trios and quartets have appeared at the

If you're a member you get to hang out with some really prestigious players here. You see them online and I'm sure it's exciting when you see some of the pros online. I dig it!

If you could see what's happening on the inside of the site. The practicing, the posting, getting comments from the pros about your playing, trying etudes with other members of the site.

This is pretty cool.

I emailed Teddy tonight and invited him to the site. I hope he takes my offer to be our guest. It would be great to get his insight on this instrument!

Keep your fingers crossed.

Wow! Gary Burton is playing a few dates with Pat Metheny on the east coast and will be in Philly!

http://garyburton.com/display_tours.php

Check back here for details:
http://www.keswicktheatre.com/eventcalender/index.cgi?month=6&year=2009

Barry

I am still working on Sword of Whispers. I am internalizing it a bit more but my timing and hand independence could use some work. I was trying to keep a pulse in the left hand, using the rhythm of Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", which is syncopated like Joe's gentle intro in the lead sheet.

Hey guys, thought i would offer another tune for vibesworkshop! hope you enjoy!

www.mikepinto.net

I started working on a solo version of "Spring is Here". I am finding it very difficult. I can't think of much to make it sound interesting or good. Any ideas?

I am arpeggiating with mallet 1 2 3 and melody in 4. I am also using drop 2 voicings on the ascending lines. Nothing cohesive yet. Just working on ideas.

It's originally a ballad. What do you think of making it a Bossa Nova or other style?

Ok, I know Barry is a sentimentalist. So I'm going to try and crank out a drop 2 arrangement of 'Oh, Danny Boy'.

Then we should all work on that, solo on it and post it for Jon Daly and Ireland.

Maybe then we need to have a vibe hang with Pints. Although In my house I might have to do Non Alcoholic beer, but I'll still act drunk if you want.

Hopefully tonight I can crank Out Danny Boy in Finale.

Anyway let's see what kind of arrangements we come up with.

I exchanged a couple nice emails with Gary Burton. He was suprised to see his video of Chega. I would imagine that that would be pretty heavy if you didn't know it existed and saw it after all this years. That's the 60's?

I'm a Gary fan from way back. When I first heard Chega, I almost cried and died. I had never thought it was possible to do that on the instrument. I'm not alone am I?