ED SAINDON

                                              VIBES, PIANO, MARIMBA & DRUMS

Coming from the "four mallet school", Ed Saindon has developed and continues to refine a pianistic approach to mallet playing which involves a consistent utilization of all four mallets along with a variety of dampening techniques. Saindon has absorbed and transferred the influences from the piano lineage that stretches from Fats Waller and Art Tatum up to the present. Originally a drummer, he began playing the vibraphone and piano while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston from 1972-1976.

As a concert artist and clinician, Saindon has traveled throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. He has played and or recorded with Dave Liebman, Kenny Werner, Ken Peplowski, Warren Vache, Mick Goodrick, Fred Hersch, Peter Erskine, John Scofield, Jeff Hamilton, Adam Macowicz, Dick Sudhalter, Ed Thigpen, George Masso, Dan Barrett, Louie Bellson, Herb Pomeroy, Dick Johnson, Howard Alden, Dave McKenna, Chuck Hedges, Marvin Stamm, Michael Moore and others.

In addition to performing, Saindon's other passion is music education. He is a Professor at Berklee where he has been teaching since 1976 and is also active as a clinician sponsored by Yamaha and Vic Firth. As an author, his book Berklee Practice Method: Vibraphone has been published by Berklee Press and German publisher Advance Music recently issued his new book Exploration in Rhythm, Volume 1, Rhythmic Phrasing in Improvisation.

In addition to writing books, Saindon has authored many articles on music education, jazz theory and improvisation. His articles have appeared in many publications including Down Beat, Percussivive Notes (Percussive Arts Society magazine) and Percussioner International. He is currently the vibraphone and jazz mallet editor for the Percussive Arts Society.

Saindon is active as a composer for his own recordings. His last  two recordings as a leader, Key Play with Kenny Werner and Depth of Emotion with Dave Liebman, have featured his compositions.

PERFORMANCES

The following list is a sampling of Ed Saindon's past performances:

• A concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston which was titled “Four by Four”. The concert was a tribute to vibists Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson and Cal Tjader and featured vibists Gary Burton, Dave Samuels, Victor Mendoza and Ed Saindon.



• A Duke Ellington Concert Series sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution.



• The Traditional Jazz Series at University of New Hampshire in Durham with guitarist Howard Alden and former Norvo bassist Steve Novosel in a tribute to the Red Norvo Trio.



• The Elkhart, Indiana Jazz Festival with Marvin Stamm, Ken Peplowski, Jeff Hamilton, George Masso, Chuck Hedges, Ken Peplowski and Michael Moore.



• A world premiere orchestral performance (including drummers Louie Bellson and Peter Erskine) in Tennessee which was named top Critic’s Choice by Down Beat magazine.



• Concerts in Italian theatres located in the hilltowns of Pennabilli and Saint Angelo in Vado, Italy



• A sold out Benny Goodman tribute at The Blue Note in NYC



• A performance in Carmel, CA at the Sunset Center with vibist Dave Pike called “Mallet Magic”.

 
• Concert in Tokyo with a quartet which included drummer Tommy Campbell.
   
• Concerts at The International Flute Convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Manchester, England with flautist Matt Marvuglio.

 
• Duo concert with Natalie Dietrich in Zurich, Switzerland
(footage of this concert on YouTube).
 
• Concert with Mick Goodrick and Herb Pomeroy at David Friend Recital Hall at Berklee College of Music (footage of this concert on YouTube).
  
  
  
  
   

RECORDINGS

CLINICS

• “…the Berklee professor conjures airy, swinging Tin Pan Alley melodies with the practiced technique and exquisite touch of a world-class musician”.
  -Frank John Hadley, Jazziz
   
• "Ed Saindon and Kenny Werner complement each other so well that at times it becomes difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins". -JazzReview.com
   
• "an original approach to the vibraphone...Saindon has adapted and developed his self-styled pianistic approach". -Down Beat
   
• "elegant, pianistic, four mallet vibist" -All Music Guide
   
• "a marvelous technician" -CD Review
  
  
• “Saindon is a real artist. His choice of material is classic”.
  -Jeff Bradley, Denver Post
   
• "A master of the four mallet technique". -Jazz Times
  
  
• “A master technician capable of swinging like crazy at any tempo...an outstanding solo performance". -David Badham, The Jazz Journal (England)
  
  
• “With Saindon we get an outstanding interpreter who adds his own inventiveness and has developed a personal, individual sound”.
  -Dick Neeld, Coda (Canada)
  
  
• “Virtuosic playing…music that swings”.
  -Penguin Guide to Jazz
   
• “over the years, Saindon has developed his "piano style" vibraphone technique...a wonderful tribute to the potential of the vibraphone" -Percussive Notes