I don't really have a lot to say about this, but I thought it'd be interesting to talk about comping in different situations, with a piano player/ other chord instruments, etc.
The great pianist Benny Green told me after a show that he liked my comping and that not a lot of people know when to lay out. First off, he's an incredible musicians and a very nice person, and it was really humbling to talk with him through-out the week at the camp i went to.

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Upon Babu's request I brought my camera for my first vibes little gig for Music Day on June 21st. Here are a few pictures to let you know how it went and how great is my Premier 751!

The instrument is old and was home-restored. To add it, the sprayed car painting is quite fragile. So, although the instrument is originally easily foldable, it wouldn't have been wise to do it. Thankfully I have the perfect car for this vibes (as if all had been planned!).

1st pic: Florian playing Blue Bossa with our friend Bernard on guitar and me on vocals

Here the N°5. Hope I did more or less well. Comments more than welcome...
I noticed that Tony himself gave up the stick drop in his recent posts, com'on, it's serious work !!! :o)

Hello everybody. I've been away, and I'm now laying hands on my Vanderplas for the first time in nearly two months. This TOTM is so long overdue that it should be called T.O.L.M. Before I left, I had covered all the lessons, Tony's and Behn's as well, but as I'm playing after this long break, I find myself quite unable to consciously use all the stuff that was in those lessons. I'm just "singing" something in my head and playing whatever comes out. It's the kind of jazz my late mother in law would have liked.

This is a trio of mine, recorded on my senior recital this april. We're playing my trio arrangement of a really hip John Hollenbeck tune called "After a dance or two we sit down for a pint with Gil and Tim".

Enjoy,
Paxton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8902YwCIpI

I played on a great instrument tonight in Ireland. It's a Premiere. I forget the model, but it's an incredibly portable instrument. And I think it sounds really good. What bummed me out and caused me to write this blog tonight is John told me that Premiere stopped making this instrument 6 years ago. I've played on this instrument here for the last 4 years and have fantasized about someday owning one. Easy to set up and move around. I also think it has a nice sound.

i just want to buy a new set of microphones. i already got 2 small condenser´s for vibes or drum overhead the akb2000b which sound good so far. but i´m thinking about to buy a set of rode nt5 also small condenser. on the other hand i heared by various people (like randy from the site) he records vibes with 2 large capsule condensers like the rode nt1. i already got one rode n1 but the old modell. but since they are cheap like 180€ per micro i´m thinking about buying 2 of them.

Short answer: Probably not, but if we do all the things we should be doing as players, we will impress an audience. It should be a byproduct of what we are doing, not the focus.

Somewhat more diffuse, longer answer:

Performing music, specifically jazz, is an artistic form of communication.

There is a lot in the prior sentence.

Here is a video of one song from the concert Gary did at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland on the 10th of july 2011. It's a Monk Tune(as you can probably hear) but I forgot the title. Maybe Gary or Tony can fill that in?

The line-up for this gig was:

Gary Burton - Vibes
Julian Lage - Guitar
Jorge Roeder - Bass
Antonio Sanchez - Drums

Enjoy!

TJ

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Oh and this video is private, so you can't find it on youtube. So only available here for subscribers.

Mal Sands LA Vibe Summit XVIII. Past (2010) honoree Onaje Murray, vibes, Dave Mackay, keyboard, Richard Simon, bass, Paul Kreibich, drums.