A kind of independence exercise in 9 that I turned into a mini tune/interlude for my CD "Cubist." Also features African balafon and Indian tabla, with Randy Roos on guitars.

(From my Facebook post)

Spent one incredible day at the Malletech factory. First to be an endorser and be able to sit at a table and talk about changes to the instrument. It’s also amazing to go into a room and see your ideas being implemented. If that’s not enough then I go in a room and see all the amazing things Malletech has in Development. The future for metal and wood bangers is really good! What a truly innovative company!

Vibe players spent years with instruments that were never changed even when change was needed. We have entered a new universe!

“Take the A Train” by Billy Strayhorn – warmed up today with this classic. I’m in a practice room at Berklee right next door to the hand percussion room. A little bleed through the room. Sorry about that. This may be a simple song but there are so many things that we can do with it within the framework of the form and harmony. One of my favorite versions is from the great pianist Oscar Peterson.

Benny Golson, Philly native sax player, composer and arranger was in town for Penn States annual jazz festival 10 days ago. Benny wrote many classics including Killer Joe, Whisper Not, and I Remember Clifford. At 90 years of age, he still played great sax solos and told rambling stories about how he came to write each song. It was great inspiration for guys in our band, several of whom are in their nineties, to see Benny still going strong. His work is all over YouTube, including Lionel Hampton introducing Benny’s rendition of I Remember Clifford.

This is an exercise on minor pentatonics through the tune I am working on I just did one chorus of improv I have used some Bergonzi licks over the tune as well as some comping hope you like it

"Loro" by Egberto Gismonti - A great (and somewhat tricky!) song by the superb Brazilian guitarist/pianist. I played this one many years ago and dug it up from the files recently. A very unique and beautiful composition.

Hi folks,
Happy to present my new record, "Sense of Place" featuring Jon Cowherd, Drew Gress, Johnathan Blake, and myself on vibes. https://destinyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/sense-of-place