Listening Pick of the Week - Friedman-Miceli Pasic 2018

So..... 

Someone (not me) submitted this recording of David and I playing at PASIC in 2018 as a favorite cd (but it's not a CD). While it's not a traditional CD, it's a full-length performance, and I'm featured on it. I initially felt a bit awkward highlighting my own work, but I believe there's a valuable learning opportunity here.

First, playing with David Friedman is an honor. He's a true 'vibe master,' ranking among the world's top vibraphonists, alongside legends like Milt Jackson, Gary Burton, and Bobby Hutcherson. We've collaborated for ten years, performing concerts and workshops across Europe twice annually.

Second, two-vibraphone performances are notoriously challenging. Many attempts result in a cluttered sound. Even Double Image, which started with two vibes, switched to marimba and vibes because they disliked the initial sound.

The reason I chose this recording as the 'listening pick of the week' is to share the insights I gained from a decade of studying and performing with David. We developed specific techniques for playing duo. For instance, we typically face each other, strategically positioning ourselves so that when he plays low notes, I'm directly across from him playing high notes, and vice versa. We were very aware of our 'real estate' on the instrument, avoiding overlapping spaces. If I did enter his space, I'd use fewer mallets, often just one or two. We also used contrasting mallet sounds.

Duo playing, regardless of the instruments, is a demanding but rewarding endeavor. I believe our collaboration demonstrates a successful approach. We avoid clashing, we never have eight mallets in the same space at the same time, and we've refined our technique through years of practice. I learned immensely from David, especially in the art of accompaniment.

Ultimately, whether or not you like our music, I believe our duo work is a valuable example of how to approach this challenging format.