News & Updates — vibraphone

Happy birthday to Louie Ramirez, one of the great figures in salsa as a producer, arranger, vibraphone player, percussionist, composer and mentor to many. He's been called "the Quincy Jones of salsa" for the diversity of his work and because he worked with many of the biggest names in salsa including Johnny Pacheco, Charlie Palmieri, Joe Cuba, Tito Rodriguez, Willie Colón, Jimmy Sabater, Hector Lavoe, Fania All Stars,Tipica 73, Sonora Ponceña, Ray Barretto, Sabu Martinez, Ralfi Pagan and many more. If rare grooves of funky salsa and boogaloo is what you want then surely you'll find him working on deep...

The recently departed Bobby Hutcherson was one of the great vibraphone (as well as marimba) players in jazz. His music could look forward or look back and he cut some Latin and soul-jazz records as well. He sometimes would use the four-mallet technique, especially when there was no piano. His '60s & early '70s albums remain my favorite material. Bobby grew up in the Los Angeles area, started playing some piano as a child but was inspired to play vibes after hearing a Milt Jackson record. He knew Dexter Gordon and Eric Dolphy from around L.A. He briefly studied with...