Mike Pinto is a 3 mallet player. He was doing some really cool things today on Blue Bossa with the 3 mallets. A sort of parallel 5th thing that was totally cool.

Check it out here.

I spent a few days with James Whiting, definitely an up and coming vibe player. James is a hard worker and picks up things fast! We had 2 great lessons here in Philadelphia, and he was at the vibe hang today also.

I asked James to play something so I could introduce him on the site.

So check him out!

Yili is from China and plays in the Ganzouh Symphony. She's a great percussionist and the orchestra sent her here to widen her skills, which is totally cool! She's a great percussionist already and one that is very open minded!

She's studying with Don Liuzzi (timp), Marc Dicciani and myself and has been here for almost 3 months.

Check her out playing the Friedman Dampening and Pedaling Etude No. 10.

The cool thing about this etude is that the pedal is down the whole time.

Begging, Borrowing and Stealing. Things vibe players must do to play the instrument!

Hi everybody! Here goes another Joe Locke piece. Don't worry it is going to be the last one for a while... I totaly love the version of Terzani on "Sticks and Strings" - We tried our own interpretation with two contrasting solo parts...
Have fun listening.
http://www.holgerdenckmann.com

(Tune by Geoffrey Keezer)

Hi everybody! As most of us I got a crush on the Joe Locke repertoire!!!! Tulipa is my favourite tune from the fantastic "Live in Seattle" record. At the Jazz Baltica festival in 2007 I asked Geoffrey Keezer to send me the music - he did! Enjoy or interpretation of this wonderful tune!

Beautiful Friendship Part 2. Analyzing the Harmony. Each section of the tune is identical!! Amazing!

Ella is the best! Check her solos and her intro here. The band is happening also.

Sounds like her voice is a little tired. But check this out. You talk about ears!!!!