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My New Orange Vibes

(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

“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.

Tube Holder Concept

The video is showing my new tube-holder-concept. Each resonance tube is suspended individually in the holder and can thus be taken out individually. The individual tubes can be put together 3 in 1 for minimal transport volume. The tube holders can be folded with or without tubes, so that the traditional transport as a "panpipe", as a "folded panpipe" or as a single tube package are all possible.

Nickels and Dimes

I remember going to Dave Liebman's house for an all day private lesson. What a GREAT player and great human being. That was my take. At one point, I sat in a chair and he preached to me about his thoughts on music. Next, I pulled out my vibe and we played together. You can only learn so much in any lesson because 99 percent of doing anything well is all about the kind of heart you have and desire to achieve.... practice, driving 1000 miles for a lesson, risking everything to "say something" in your art and craft. That's what it's all about.