Sy is a Philadelphia trumpet player. He also ran a music program at a local college and has player all around for years. For some strange reason he, like Marie fell in love with the vibes and he bought a set and takes lessons with me.

I put him on the Mallet Kat today and I played vibes. His musicianship is great he's only held back by his chops which are getting better and better.

We were talking about moving the vibes around and I showed him the Mallet Kat. The new model is extremely light!

Here's our version of Black Orpheus

Here's another etude based on the chords from the tune 'All the Things You Are'. First chorus are chords with alterations, 2nd and 3rd are single line improv.

I have the pdf, and a track with only bass and drums. The drums are just a loop I threw in. If people don't dig the drums, I'll make a track with just bass.

An older record of Gary's called "Country Roads and Other Places" included a beautiful piece titled "Ravel Prelude". It is actually an excerpt from a larger work by Ravel. Gary recorded the piece as a piano/vibes duet. After hearing it, and a gorgeous version of "My Foolish Heart" (also on the record), I was hooked. I recorded this version about 10 years ago. I worked up an acceptable piano part and then overdubbed the melody on marimba. See if you can find Gary's original recording. It is the definitive performance!

I just saw this on YouTube and it reminded me of my interest in learning and hearing other classical tunes for the vibes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmGgSUBldAs
(As a side note, notice he picks up a 5th mallet at 4:18).

I totally dug Gustavo's Partita video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMfiNbqrzYE

Gustavo, was that a literal transcription or did you have to modify the original to fit the vibes?

I'm glad this site isn't called JazzVibesWorkshop and maybe other folks would also like to work on classical pieces with me.

Yes Tony, excellent idea, we all wonder here...

But who is Harry Sheppard?

Hi All,

I play regularly with a few drummers who can't read music, one most of the time and a couple of others on a fairly regular fill-in basis. I've been trying to get us to do some more formal arrangements of tunes -- nothing terribly complicated, just some accent points and rhythm breaks, added interludes and the like, although I'd like to get more complicated. I've been having trouble communicating these things to the drummers though.

Check out this beautiful restored Deagan 510. Restored by none other than Nico Vanderplas.

Hi Gary,

Do you know if the book that you wrote, "A Musician's Guide to the Road" is still available? It's an excellent book and valuable reading for vibists and musicians in general in learning how to deal with travelling and being on the road when touring. I have the book from many years ago. It's also fun reading since there are many interesting stories from your experiences being on the road all of these years.

Some late night thoughs about practicing, and time and not time.

Post any questions for Mario (Alternate Mode) below.