I saw a workshop with Joe Lovano in my neighborhood last week and something he said kinda stuck with me. It was a little question and answer session between the sets and someone had asked about this apartment that Kenny Werner had in Brooklyn (I think this was in the 80's)that they used to hang at. It was surrounded on all sides by a vacant lot, so they would hang and play all night long. What this reminded me of seems really simple, but crucial; they used to play ALL THE TIME.

Hi all,

Here's a lick to work on. Sometimes, I like to use double stickings and paradiddle type rudiment patterns in lines to create a different effect. Notice that the left hand stays on the accidentals. Also, another way to practice is to heavily accent the right hand; it creates a polyrhythmic kind of effect. Because the lick is just used over a 4 note cell, it's very versatile with changes. You could use this pattern over Cm, Fm, Bbm, Dbmaj, Ebmaj, Abmaj,etc!! Pretty much anything with those 4 notes in it. Try messing with it and enjoy!

Behn

Does anyone own or know someone who owns a first generation Yamaha YV3400 vibraphone? I'm looking for a picture of the original cross bar/pedal that folded in half. Thanks!

Here's a track from "EARMIX" wih Daniel Humair, Drums. Marvin Stamm, trumpet and Sebastian Boisseau, bass.
I kind of forgot about this project, probably because I wasn't crazy about the results. The whole album was more or less free, with a minimum of structure. Sometimes that can lead to exciting results if the musicians know each other well and are sensitive listeners. We'd never played before as a band and were together two days in a studio in the south of France.. I'm not convinced about everything on this album but here's one tune. See what you think...

Man am I excited! First Joe Locke then Terry Gibbs, NOW GARY! Detroit doesn't get many big name vibists coming to town so every chance I get to see one of the greats I don't pass it up.

I had the opportunity to meet Joe when he played with his Milt Jackson tribute band. Unfortunately I didn't meet Terry but I sure hope I can meet Gary just to say hi and maybe get a pic with him.

http://www.detroitjazzfest.com/11lineup.html

hi,

this was the best "one take" of that song i could do before my holidays.still some wrong notes but i would call that my final version.thank god i´m no calssical musician where i have to play always EXACTLY what´s written. it´s tricky if play a acceptable solo, i suck somewehere in the head and vice versa.

On my last visit to the Royal Academy of Music in London, some of the students had prepared things for me which they'd acquired or learned from Vibes Workshop (2 of the students did a duo arrangement of "Sword of Whispers, including Dana Sudborough's solo transcription).
Because VW is such a valuable source of information & inspiration, Neil Percy (Head of Percussion), the students and I just wanted to say.....

I recorded Fried Ban. this morning, did about about ten takes until I got one that sounded OK to me, and when I finished, I realized that all the time my two mics had been above the drum set, where I put them yesterday. So the vibes sound like they were playing in the bathroom. I'll try again tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll post what I've got. Cheers !