Good vibraphone music?
October 25, 2005 4:32 PM Subscribe
Suggestions for good vibraphone-based jazz?
I checked out the Wiki entry, which mentioned a number of more famous players. But I think I'll need a bit more direction if I'm going to pick up a few CDs of the good stuff. I find I like 60's and 70's era jazz styles, if that helps narrow your suggestions down.
I checked out the Wiki entry, which mentioned a number of more famous players. But I think I'll need a bit more direction if I'm going to pick up a few CDs of the good stuff. I find I like 60's and 70's era jazz styles, if that helps narrow your suggestions down.
I've only got one work with vibes: Bags and Trane. Mainly because of my interest in Coltrane, but its good stuff.
posted by tetsuo at 4:48 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by tetsuo at 4:48 PM on October 25, 2005
Yes, I forgot to mention Modern Jazz Quartet -- Milt Jackson on vibes -- very tasty stuff. I happen to know that Milt is one of Gary Burton's favorite vibes players.
posted by Edward King at 4:54 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by Edward King at 4:54 PM on October 25, 2005
Second the Bags (a/k/a Milt Jackson) nomination; see also "Bags' Groove," a Miles Davis album featuring Milt Jackson. One of my favorites.
posted by rkent at 4:55 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by rkent at 4:55 PM on October 25, 2005
Bobby Hutcherson (Dialogue is the classic, Stick Up! also excellent). Earlier players: Lionel Hampton of course, also Red Norvo (get the trio with Tal Farlow and Charles Mingus). Bags (Milt Jackson) is best in the context of the MJQ.
posted by languagehat at 5:31 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by languagehat at 5:31 PM on October 25, 2005
How about Roy Ayers?
http://hem.passagen.se/daveo/roy_english.htm
posted by pantufla at 5:55 PM on October 25, 2005
http://hem.passagen.se/daveo/roy_english.htm
posted by pantufla at 5:55 PM on October 25, 2005
Milt Jackson's Sunflower features Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter and an awesome perfomance by Freddie Hubbard. It's been in my CD alarm clock for over a year now, and one of the only albums I've bought twice.
I saw Bobby Hutcherson play with Herbie for the first time since their Bluenote days at the Montreal Jazz fest and it was just awesome.
Another option is to get Charlie Hunter's Return of the Candyman featuring Pound For Pound on vibes.
posted by furtive at 6:09 PM on October 25, 2005
I saw Bobby Hutcherson play with Herbie for the first time since their Bluenote days at the Montreal Jazz fest and it was just awesome.
Another option is to get Charlie Hunter's Return of the Candyman featuring Pound For Pound on vibes.
posted by furtive at 6:09 PM on October 25, 2005
Train Above the City, by Felt. Their only "jazz" instrumental album, but I adore it. Pleasant cocktail hour jazz. Recommended.
posted by theperfectcrime at 6:21 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by theperfectcrime at 6:21 PM on October 25, 2005
For more contemporary music, Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra features a vibist, forgot her name, but I played with them a month ago or so. She was very good. They do some Dolphy tunes and a jazzy version of Jim O'Rourke's "Eureka" with vocals in French sung by Kahimi Karie.
This band is super highly regarded right now; I'm not totally on that boat, but I see why people feel that way: possibly the first "new" development in jazz in quite some time, and it doesn't sound sucky.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:26 PM on October 25, 2005
This band is super highly regarded right now; I'm not totally on that boat, but I see why people feel that way: possibly the first "new" development in jazz in quite some time, and it doesn't sound sucky.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:26 PM on October 25, 2005
Response by poster: Thanks all, I feel properly schooled. And I gotta say, that Felt recommendation was totally unexpected!
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:42 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:42 PM on October 25, 2005
Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch is an album that should be in everyone's collection. It's one of the classics. Bobby Hutcherson is playing vibes on that.
One of my favourite vibes based albums is Terry Gibbs' Take It From Me, on Impulse! Records from 1964. Terry's not as well known as some vibists, but it's an absolutely wonderful record. Cool, light-hearted, hip, breezy, fun.
Dave Pike is worth checking out, too - he's not necessarily regarded as a serious jazz heavyweight, but he's recorded some cool, swinging stuff. He also plays marimba.
posted by nylon at 6:50 PM on October 25, 2005
One of my favourite vibes based albums is Terry Gibbs' Take It From Me, on Impulse! Records from 1964. Terry's not as well known as some vibists, but it's an absolutely wonderful record. Cool, light-hearted, hip, breezy, fun.
Dave Pike is worth checking out, too - he's not necessarily regarded as a serious jazz heavyweight, but he's recorded some cool, swinging stuff. He also plays marimba.
posted by nylon at 6:50 PM on October 25, 2005
Response by poster: Oh, and rkent, I'm an Emusic subscriber so your recommendation is doubly appreciated. I was hoping some of this would be available there.
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:15 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by schoolgirl report at 7:15 PM on October 25, 2005
I'll enthusiastically second the Lionel Hampton recommendation. I saw him a bit on the Ken Burns' Jazz series with Benny Goodman. He was flat out amazing.
posted by toastchee at 7:23 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by toastchee at 7:23 PM on October 25, 2005
I was under the impression that Lionel Hampton was the vibraphonist of record for the 20th century. I saw him once, but was too young to appreciate it.
Then there's the Violent Femmes' Gone Daddy Gone, although that misses the "jazz" element you were looking for.
posted by Alt F4 at 7:43 PM on October 25, 2005
Then there's the Violent Femmes' Gone Daddy Gone, although that misses the "jazz" element you were looking for.
posted by Alt F4 at 7:43 PM on October 25, 2005
I HIGHLY recommend anything by Gary Burton. I saw his Generations band a few months back and they're phenomenal. The new album is totally great too.
posted by baphomet at 9:06 PM on October 25, 2005
posted by baphomet at 9:06 PM on October 25, 2005
Like Minds: Gary Burton/Chick Corea/Pat Metheny/R. Haynes
Very, very good.
posted by davebush at 9:21 PM on October 25, 2005
Very, very good.
posted by davebush at 9:21 PM on October 25, 2005
The Claudia Quintet is a jazz-derived band with vibes, drumkit, accordion, clarinet and bass; very good.
posted by kenko at 12:32 AM on October 26, 2005
posted by kenko at 12:32 AM on October 26, 2005
If you're looking for modern (but still acoustic and mainstream) jazz, Dave Holland has been playing with vibraphonist Steve Nelson for a while now. He's pretty awesome. Holland's Extended Play: Live at Birdland has some especially great vibe playing as well as being an all-around great album.
posted by boltman at 12:40 AM on October 26, 2005
posted by boltman at 12:40 AM on October 26, 2005
Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch is an album that should be in everyone's collection. It's one of the classics. Bobby Hutcherson is playing vibes on that.
I should have thought of that myself. Heartily seconded.
posted by languagehat at 6:25 AM on October 26, 2005
I should have thought of that myself. Heartily seconded.
posted by languagehat at 6:25 AM on October 26, 2005
Well, this is quite a good review of vibes over the years, but i do have a few to add.
Red Norvo
one of my favorites is Music to listen to Red Norvo By, one of the most hilarious hanging prepositions in the history of jazz recordings
for a more modern tip, garage a trois' vibes player Mike Dillon is amazing.
A little known fact is that Tito Puente began his career on the vibes.
posted by markovitch at 9:02 AM on October 26, 2005
Red Norvo
one of my favorites is Music to listen to Red Norvo By, one of the most hilarious hanging prepositions in the history of jazz recordings
for a more modern tip, garage a trois' vibes player Mike Dillon is amazing.
A little known fact is that Tito Puente began his career on the vibes.
posted by markovitch at 9:02 AM on October 26, 2005
Don Cherry's Brown Rice.
posted by klangklangston at 9:18 AM on October 26, 2005
posted by klangklangston at 9:18 AM on October 26, 2005
I'm a big vibes fan. Here are some good albums from a few heavy hitters:
Lionel Hampton - I'm really into his work with small swing groups lately, especially the Benny Goodman quartet.
Milt Jackson - Besides Bags and Trane, check out his work on Miles Davis' Bags' Groove and Modern Jazz Giants.
Cal Tjader - There are a lot of collaborations with Latin percussion heavyweights like Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria. It's a good place to start.
Bobby Hutcherson - I like him as a leader on albums like Dialogue, Stick-Up and Total Eclipse, but he's also present on as a sideman on a lot of classic sixties Blue Note material.
Walt Dickerson - He gets overshadowed by Hutcherson, but he's very much worth hearing. If you can find it, try Impressions of a Patch of Blue.
And, last but not least, you might enjoy Steven Bernstein's Diaspora Hollywood, which features vibes playing from former X drummer D.J. Bonebrake.
posted by box at 9:58 AM on October 26, 2005 [1 favorite]
Lionel Hampton - I'm really into his work with small swing groups lately, especially the Benny Goodman quartet.
Milt Jackson - Besides Bags and Trane, check out his work on Miles Davis' Bags' Groove and Modern Jazz Giants.
Cal Tjader - There are a lot of collaborations with Latin percussion heavyweights like Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria. It's a good place to start.
Bobby Hutcherson - I like him as a leader on albums like Dialogue, Stick-Up and Total Eclipse, but he's also present on as a sideman on a lot of classic sixties Blue Note material.
Walt Dickerson - He gets overshadowed by Hutcherson, but he's very much worth hearing. If you can find it, try Impressions of a Patch of Blue.
And, last but not least, you might enjoy Steven Bernstein's Diaspora Hollywood, which features vibes playing from former X drummer D.J. Bonebrake.
posted by box at 9:58 AM on October 26, 2005 [1 favorite]
Percussionist Evelyn Glennie does lots of very good marimba work, but occasionally uses the vibes as well.
posted by Vidiot at 9:41 PM on October 27, 2005
posted by Vidiot at 9:41 PM on October 27, 2005
Let me second (or third) Like Minds: Gary Burton/Chick Corea/Pat Metheny/R. Haynes
posted by furtive at 5:13 AM on October 28, 2005
posted by furtive at 5:13 AM on October 28, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Edward King at 4:44 PM on October 25, 2005