Jazz Kat

I can't believe this. I just saw this, and I was stunned! The original Ramsey Lewis Trio will always be one of my top favorite groups in the world! This cat swung his ass off! Rest in peace! I'm going to have to play some Lewis Trio albums in his honor. (as if I wouldn't of in the first place...) Sheldon, where are you seeing Red?

Time for a new group name. Tromboneissimo.

I've seen them a while ago. They're very nice. Locke is such a great vibraphonist. I almost went to go see him at this hotel called the Kitano. Joe Labarbera was on drums. My friend was supposed to go with me, but he cancelled. (he also had the car)

I never had a real vibraphone until recently. But when I was real little, I had this bell kit, and progressively as I got older, I moved up in quality of instruments. Xylophone, student marimba, etc. I would listen and play back on those piece of shit instruments, and when I went to music stores to play the real thing, it came natural to me, and many people were surprised at what I could play. I'm no ego-maniac, believe me. It's just when someone makes a comment like 7/4 did, (like he and many others on this board do often) that implies, that the vibraphone is a new thing to me, it just gets me upset. Because I've been so close to the instrument for about 90% of my life. It's personal. I'm sorry for "shouting" but it just got me mad, and quite frankily, I'm fed up with the stupid ass, meaningless negative comments directed at me.

And how long have you been playing the vibes? Since I was about three years old, so fuck off!!! I have been playing mallet instruments for the majority of what you would call a short life. It has been very much a part of my life up till this point. It was just until recently I decided to put myself out there and focus on the vibes full time, after about 10 or so years of playing drums.

I was leaning more toward an organist's physical relationship with his/her instrument. But you are right. It's not the instrument. It's the musician.

As much as I love Burton and his playing, I've never really gotten into the four mallet thing. I can do it, though not perfect. But I was always brought up listening and watching players like Milt Jackson, Cal Tjader, and Julius Wechter who always used only two mallets. Now it's how I feel most comfortable in. I guess many could see this as a weakness, but I get around pretty good without using four mallets. (I only use four mallets to comp on ocassion.) I like to think of my style as right in the middle of Milt Jackson and Burton. I use two mallets and have a strong blues influence, like Jackson, but I encorporate a lot of Burton's rhythm and comping techniques in my playing at the same time. Seems like most vibists today are emulating Burton the most, and not other vibraphonists like Jackson, Terry Gibbs, Victor Feldman, Eddie Costa, etc. I suppose when I get to college, someone is going to make me work on the four mallet technique, which will be beneficial to me, no doubt, but I just wish there was a choice you could make and stick with without being looked at as cheating, or one dimensional. (in reference to four mallet playing)

Good sausages! Especially the maple flavored,

It's funny, how the organ is such a part of an organist's self. I'm guessing most organists had only one b-3 that they used. Unlike say maybe a guitarist, or a horn player that might go through a lot of instruments in their lifetime. On a similar note, there's this place on Long Island that has Scott Lafaro's bass. My friend has seen it.

My dad started me on Herb Alpert, and some jazz when I was real little. He then introduced me to Dave Brubeck, Ramsey Lewis, Chuck Mangione, Pete Jolly, and Vince Guaraldi. He wasn't a big jazz fan, but knew those artists from the radio when he was a kid. I then expanded my jazz listening from those artists. The music did all the rest.

I think his first albums were straight ahead, then started going more toward country music? What does Genuine Tong Funeral sound like?

This album is very interesting. I did finally buy this album. Actually, I think it's pretty good.

There's been some topics that have related to Burton, but not a thread devoted to all his music. I would just like to start that, I have not always been a Gary Burton fan. This goes to about 7 or 8 years ago when I didn't like fusion, or anything that wasn't on the Blue Note label. I heard a late 80's album, and didn't like it. I first got into Burton when the New Generation album came out in 2004. After hearing that, I bought Passengers from ECM. (I now think it's my favorite album of all time) The Whopper is such a great tune! Anyway, I also bought Country Roads, which I am converting to CD right now. It's really a great album. I also have Like Minds which I think is at least one of the top ten best albums of all time. Metheny, Burton, and Haynes are my favorites on their instruments. My next Burton album is going to be The New Quartet. I also think I'm going to look into some of his earlier stuff.

This is an awesome tune composed by Chick Corea and recorded by Gary Burton on the 1970's ECM release called Passengers. I was wondering if Corea ever recorded this. I did a search on I Tunes, and couldn't find anything.

That's a good point, but I was thinking more of the lines of other people playing the tune. For instance, at jam sessions.. I play this tune a lot with a lot of different people.

Damn, I'm on that list! Where do I go to get my money!!!!!! Also, Jimmy Smith is there.

About what? His playing, or his albums? Huh? What? Has Chuck hijacked your account? This isn't the first time my posts have been compared to CNs. Let's see how you feel in 10 to 20 years.

Yeah I did, but the show is so far away. I was wondering how I find out about other record shows, possibly ones that are coming up sooner.

About what? His playing, or his albums?

That looks interesting. How do you find out about upcoming record shows. I've never been to one.