For those of you unfamiliar with the world of tuned percussion, it comes in many fine sizes, shapes and creeds. At the top of this varied and dynamic family tree are undoubtedly the fabulous foursome I've mentioned above but I'd like to take a paragraph or two to indulge you in a few facts about my friend (and soon to be yours) the Vibraphone.
In it's simplest form, the vibraphone is a selection of tuned metal keys each sitting over their own individual resonant tube. Each tube or resonator has it's own flappy valve which is powered by a motor to give the instrument it's distinctive vibrato sound. The instrument has a dampening pedal, similar to that found on a piano, which allows the player full control over the notes sustain.
You're either reading this as a keen instrumentalist/percussionist with a certain level of knowledge or as a complete novice, so if any of that was complete indecipherable gobbledygook, then please forgive me. Allow me to break down the anatomy of the instrument with a pleasing diagram...
But it has found it's home and made it's bed like nowhere else in the Jazz world
The overall beauty of the wonderful instrument can be demonstrated when played in a full band or orchestra just as well if not better than it can when played as a solo instrument. It can be light and jovial as displayed in the famous 'Vision On' theme tune or beautiful and haunting like the music of Masayoshi Fujita.
There are many different manufacturers of vibraphones all with their own unique take on the instrument with variations on notes, frames, size, etc. Here are some of the gems available at the moment.
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