It's been a miserable month but there's light at the end of the tunnel. Vibe gig at the rest home is put off, replaced by an organist! But the Christmas show at church is moving along. Working on a duet with guitarist John Hill on Sleigh Bells by Leroy Anderson. Got skeletal sheet music for A and B sections, and transcribed the C section from a Boston Pops performance. Built a whip. We'll trade off soloing/comping A section which keeps coming back, and I'll handle the short B and C sections.

I caught Gary and Chick last night at the Blue Note. Also with them was the Harlem String Quartet. What a heavy concert.

First of all Gary and Chick were made for each other. They play so well together. Gary's solos were really incredible. I kept admiring how fluid he is on the instrument. He comps so well with Chick also. I think for most part vibe players shouldn't comp with the piano player. Meaning most of the time i hear that I don't like it. But those guys sound so great together!

My good friend Tom Davis passed away yesterday. He was 80. Tom was a great vibes player. Many of the older members of this site may have known him. He wrote extensively for percussion ensemble, but he also published solo vibraphone material. He was an excellent teacher and mentor. I got to know Tom when I was a 4th year resident in psychiatry at the University of Iowa. I had decided to start playing again so I went to his office and knocked on the door.

The only thing I can think of that's left to talk about with comping would be comping for yourself, right?? Any more topics you guys can think of.

I figured we could squeeze one more week with comping for yourself and then wrap this up. But I was wrong last week, so if you think there are more topics let me know! Otherwise, let's move onto 'Solo Comping' and 'Comping for Yourself'. Something like that!!!

Hi VW friends,

Here is a gig video I shot by putting my iPhone next to me during the set. See what you think of this mash-up of Duke & Paul, two of my favorites.

(ps. someone else shot some good video of this gig, so maybe I will get some more to post in the future...)

Steve

Hi All,
December's show is in the rotation for the 4th and 7th. Details about times, etc., are on the bottom of this message.

This show includes two from Dana, including that little beauty "Soulflakes" with Marie. Arturo and Tyler are back once again, as are Behn and Randy.

Other vibists, in order of air time, include:
Bryan Carrott
Terry Gibbs
Jerry Tachoir
Hamp
Tito Puente
Bobby Hutcherson
Scott Peters
Cecelia Smith
Stefon Harris
Hendrick Meurkens
Tom Collier
Das Vibenbass (Justin Sorenson)
Chuck Redd
Arthur Lipner
and last but not least, Milt Jackson.

Burton killin' it. I don't know the group or album. Anyone know?

http://lnfm1.sai.msu.ru/~alla/sound/gary_burton_summertime.mp3

Here N°9. Totally fun to play. It's the Etude I prefer till now.

Here is Morten Grønvad from Danemark... smooooking!! :o)
Morten is a member here as "Mogreen". I hope he comes around more often and share with us!
If you take a lot at his hands, you might notice he's using the Mainieri Pinky grip... Never saw anyone except the master himself being at ease with it!! Wow!!

Hi vibes people, i wanted to share some music from a great bass player from the south of Chile (Concepción), I had the chance to be on his debut album, and for the session there was a lovely uniform bar Studio 49 (i presume from the mid nineties or maybe older). I've had a bit of experience with several Studio 49s before at school, yet they were very old and really beaten up. They have the best pedal ever, and the craftsmanship is, well... german. Just though i'd chime in with what matters most, the sound, so here it is: