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Donna Lee by Tommy Vig

I've raved about Tommy Vig to Tony several years ago and Tony wasn't familiar with him. Here's Tommy and a jazz group from Budapest, Hungary. Tommy is a native of Budapest, but he was in LA for many years as an in-demand studio percussionist, jazz drummer and vibist. This group peforms "Donna Lee," featuring Tommy on the Mallet-Kat. Tommy is also a world class composer/arranger and in Las Vegas had his own big band with a Neophonic Orchestra instrumentation. As a matter of fact, he composed "Four Pieces for Neophonic Orchestra" for Stan Kenton's LA Neophonic Orchestra.

Improv Techniques

There are a few teaching and practice techniques that I have questioned for years, and I wonder what other folks here at the site would have to say. I am primarily self-taught as a vibist and somewhat self-taught as an improviser. Therefore, I developed my approach to practicing and learning pretty much on instinct: whatever felt right, whatever seemed to be the most natural, became my way of doing things.

Ruth Underwood - Zappa's early mallet player

Here's an interesting interview of Ruth Underwood, the early Zappa mallet player (with Zappa's son too). I love the passionate way she speaks of the music, the composer and the development of the instrument to large bands and "loud modern" music. Btw, I didn't know Zappa was originally a percusionnist! And not more that Chester Thompson had worked with him!
Enjoy!
- M
PS: more on Youtube from this link.