I was never much into vibraphones (and xylophones!) when it comes to jazz. I have mixed feelings about the sound of the instrument. On some albums it gives a good mystical and avant vibe to it while on others it's just plain annoying and out of place. Because of that I know a very little amount of actual musicians that are all about this instrument. Aside from the big ones (Milt Jackson and Lionel Hampton) I can't really name any others. I heard about Walt through his Sun Ra collaboration on Visions. I liked it so I decided to check out some of his solo albums. Relativity won't really blow your mind or anything but it will offer a very fine exercise in bebop and hard bop. With just a skeleton crew and vibes this album might sound a bit bare at times but I think it's good as it is. It emphasizes the instrument and creates this unique, distant and calm atmosphere.
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I didn't know what a vibraphone was, so I looked up a video of someone playing one. So THAT'S what that instrument is! I'd heard one played many times, and always assumed it was some kind of synthesizer. It just makes such a precise, electronic sort of sound.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that this one of the strangest misconceptions that I've ever heard in my life. Now that you mention it, it does kinda sound like a synth.
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