There's a lot to learn from Johnny Smith and apply to the vibes. He's old school and whether you like his style is irrelevant. Just check out his chordal playing. It's pretty cool. For us we'd think 'closed voicings' with him.

This is just a taste. If you dig him, check out his music and think chord melody!

BTW - I love him.

The great tenor saxophonist Donny McCaslin sitting in with the Electric trio from a show earlier this year. Donny was in the house and I made him come up and play. So burnin!
Also Ari Hoenig on drums, Sam Minaie on bass and myself on Malletkat.

Recently I entered a poetry contest asking what one thing I would change in the world. Here's my entry; I think you'll all appreciate it!

http://www.powerpoetry.org/poems/vibra-what#.U0gJSYnmTF4.facebook

I play the vibraphone.

The xylophone?

The vibraphone.

The vibra-what?

The vibraphone.

Not the xylophone?

The vibraphone!

These are the words I tend to say more than the notes I get to play

Each night while standing on a stage making music by ear or chords on a page

On a page glued into that one big book, between Y and W where we look

THIS IS IN PROGRESS, MORE INFO IS COMING

July 28th-August 2rd, 2014

Click here to register

8 am until midnight, ALL VIBES, ALL DAY!
Dave Samuels, Tony Miceli, Mario Diciutis, Behn Gillece, Christos Rafalides

We will have a busy summer this year spread some vibraphone love!

Summer Workshops!

Click For Ireland!

12th edition of "Italy Percussion Competition" for Marimba, Vibraphone, Timpani, Snare Drum, Drum set & Composition, will be held from 23 to 28 september at the
Congress Center "Serena Majestic" in Montesilvano / Pescara (Italy) in a beautiful location near the sea.
Information for Rules, Juries, Repertoire list: www.italypas.it - Deadline for application 31 May 2014
info: Antonio Santangelo - italypas@hotmail.it

I came up with this definition of what a professional vibe player is. I was hanging with Harvey Price.

What do you guys think?

Plays in time
Can comp competently and solo as well
Knows about 50 tunes (which means they know tunes) chords and melody and chord melody
Plays a solo that can hold interest

I was trying to keep it simple and general. Any thoughts?