Ed On The Web:
We just launched this new version of my website. My thanks to Jon Letsky for his expertise and hard work in getting the new site up and running. The site includes some new features including the Video section with links to all of my YouTube videos. An upcoming feature will be an interactive Shop Talk section where discussions on various topics can be posted by anyone that is interested in airing their comments, views and questions.
It may have taken awhile, but we finalized the design for my new Signature model mallet from Vic Firth. The mallet features a weighted core, three layers of latex and tightly wrapped thin yarn. I was looking to create an all purpose mallet for vibes and marimba that sounded good from playing solo to performing with a band. The mallet creates a very big sound, sounds fat and round while still retaining clarity at all dynamic levels.
The Vic Firth site also features my artist page which has been updated. The page now features videoclips from Berklee Vibe Night (group performance of "The Last Goodbye" and "The Healing" from Depth of Emotion), video excerpts from my PASIC 2006 vibraphone clinic in Austin, Texas, links to PDF downloads to some of my past Percussive Notes articles and soundclips from Depth of Emotion with saxist Dave Liebman and Key Play with pianist Kenny Werner.
The concert with Dave Liebman, Matt Wilsin and David Clark on Monday, February 2nd this past year at the University of New Hampshire was a lot of fun. The band featured Lieb on soprano and tenor, Matt Wilson on drums, David Clark on bass and myself on vibes, marimba and piano. We performed music from Depth of Emotion along with some of my new originals and a few standards. The concert was videotaped and clips from the concert are now up on YouTube. All of my YouTube clips can be directly viewed in the Videos section of the website. Free download audioclips of the concert are available in the Recordings section of the website.
German publisher Advance Music is working on the 2nd book in my series Exploration in Rhythm. The new book titled Advanced Rhythms in Improvisation is slated for a Spring release. The book addresses the use of polyrhythms and the phrasing of polyrhythms in improvisation.
I’ll be teaching at the Berklee Percussion Festival this summer. The festival will emphasize practical playing experience through a variety of performance activities, in-calss performances, ensembles and master classes.
