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Topic: The Vibraphone - biggest compliment to the Hawaiian steel. |
Tod Johnson
From:
Hawaii, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 12:11 pm |
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On the right is Rudy Aquino part of the Ali'is that were Don Ho's band. Front and center is his glockenspiel. Such a huge compliment to the steel guitar. Used with Billy and Barney on 'Hawaiian Steel Magic'. He called me onstage everytime he'd see me at the bar with my mandolin at his show on Maui. I'd do a couple bluegrass numbers to get the crowd stomping their feet then right into 'Hi`ilawe' and they'd go nuts. Now Rudy and dancer wife Heidi run their own luau in the Cook Islands/Rarotonga.The guy is amazing. Can play the entire score to 'Phantom of the Opera'. A real loss to Maui's most Hawaiian Hotel, same location as the Maui steel festival in the spring.
Title edited to reflect actual instrument being discussed.
_________________
1939 Oahu Tonemaster, 1957 Rickenbacker, Melbert 8, and a cheap Rogue.
Last edited by Tod Johnson on 26 Nov 2017 1:04 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 12:43 pm
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I think you mean vibraphone!...but I'm with you, it adds a certain exotica effect for sure.
"Used with Billy and Barney on 'Hawaiian Steel Magic'"
and on so many other records!
The glockenspiel is a small set of bells, the vibraphone or vibes is a metal marimba with an electric motor working a set of revolving plates inside the resonator tubes, which gives the vibrating vibrato effect.
https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/24243/what-is-the-difference-between-a-xylophone-a-glockenspiel-marimba-a-xylorimba
It's an easy mistake to make, but pretty much all of the Hawaiian, tropical, tiki or exotica music has had vibes, not glockenspiel.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/steel-guitar-magic-hawaiian-style/id15861920
" Well-known steel guitarists Billy Hew Len and Barney Isaacs, Jr. lead a group that includes ukulele, guitar, vibraphone, bass, and drums." |
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Tod Johnson
From:
Hawaii, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 12:58 pm
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Yes you're right. Now that you mention it Rudy used to explain it as a, I thought he'd say Vibraharp on occasion to the audience, maybe it was Vibraphone though. Stick with 'Vibes' lol. Thanks. There was a jazz musician that was brought in by Blackie Gadarian for his bar in Lahaina that played the glockenspiel, probably threw me off.
_________________
1939 Oahu Tonemaster, 1957 Rickenbacker, Melbert 8, and a cheap Rogue. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 4:05 pm
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| Tod Johnson wrote: |
| Yes you're right. Now that you mention it Rudy used to explain it as a, I thought he'd say Vibraharp on occasion to the audience, maybe it was Vibraphone though. Stick with 'Vibes' lol. Thanks. There was a jazz musician that was brought in by Blackie Gadarian for his bar in Lahaina that played the glockenspiel, probably threw me off. |
It's cool!
and thanks for reminding me of the vibe sound in Hawaiian and other music. |
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Butch Pytko
From:
Orlando, Florida, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 4:43 pm
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Well, to give an example of what I'm pretty sure is a GLOCKENSPIEL in Hawaiian music, you'll find it on "Favorite Instrumentals Of The Islands", one of my all time favorite Hawaii Calls albums featuring Jules Ah See playing lead steel guitar and Barney Isaacs playing backup steel guitar. This is one in a series of Hawaii Calls albums featuring these 2 great steel players.
Listen to:
Sweet Leilani 8:40
Drifting And Dreaming 17:40
Song Of The Islands 25:58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FSkFDnPd7o
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Wally Pfeifer
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 8:02 pm Vibraphone
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 My favorite vibes player in the islands was Arthur Lyman. Whenever we went to Hawaii, we would always see him at the New Otani Beach Hotel. Jerry Byrd once told me that he and Arthur wanted to make a record together but it never happened. I think that would have been a blockbuster. I already have dozens of Arthur's LPs (plus CDs) and all kinds of Jerry's LPs (and CDs) but I can't figure a way to get them to play together.   
Jerry & Arthur both left us waaaaay toooo soon.  |
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Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 8:25 pm
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| I’ve always loved the vibes. Any other recommendations of steel and vibes? |
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Mitch Drumm
From:
Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 9:06 pm
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Vibes show up from time to time and I've always thought it was very fitting.
Check the Bonebrake Syncopators, with Jeremy Wakefield on steel and DJ Bonebrake on vibes.
Didn't some of Benny Rogers stuff have vibes?
Maybe some Tom Morrell tracks?
Doesn't Jeff Au Hoy play vibes?
Lucky Viloria with Pua Almeida and Billy Hew Len at the Moana in the 1960s:
I think this is Benny Saks with Pua's band, with Billy Hew Len and Kalakaua Aylett; also from the 1960s.
Then there is this: Pappy Godson with Joaquin Murphey.
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Tod Johnson
From:
Hawaii, USA
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Posted 26 Nov 2017 9:38 pm
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| Joe Burke wrote: |
| I’ve always loved the vibes. Any other recommendations of steel and vibes? |
I was clicking on old posts and found this currently on page 12 -
["Sweet Someone" as recorded by Jerry Byrd-nice song !]
Referenced this song that has vibes -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpicxv9b98w
From the LP -
'Byrd in Hawaii'
You might want to look into the full album to find out if there are vibes featured before I get around to it.
_________________
1939 Oahu Tonemaster, 1957 Rickenbacker, Melbert 8, and a cheap Rogue. |
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 1:12 am
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| Butch Pytko wrote: |
| Well, to give an example of what I'm pretty sure is a GLOCKENSPIEL in Hawaiian music, you'll find it on "Favorite Instrumentals Of The Islands", one of my all time favorite Hawaii Calls albums featuring Jules Ah See playing lead steel guitar and Barney Isaacs playing backup steel guitar. |
Great recording!
It sounds like a celeste (or celesta), a keyboard instrument that has a bell-like tone. Some of the chord arpeggios sound like a celeste to me, not a glockenspiel. |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 5:36 am
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This is my favorite version of Sand, by Jules Ah See. The vibes add a lovely "atmosphere".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv3B5dIdTuM
Maybe it's a perception thing, but the vibraphone sound (in Hawaiian music) feels a little more associated with the 60's exotic "tiki" culture/aesthetic than just straight Hawaiian music. Not that I'm leveling that as a criticism, mind you! It really pairs very well with steel guitar...sadly though, less practical (vibraphone players harder to come by, and less musically essential than rhythm section players on guitar/uke/bass). |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 7:52 am
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Thank you for that 3:35 of bliss Mike! |
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Andy Henriksen
From:
Michigan, USA
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David M Brown
From:
California, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 9:51 am
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| Nic Neufeld wrote: |
Maybe it's a perception thing, but the vibraphone sound (in Hawaiian music) feels a little more associated with the 60's exotic "tiki" culture/aesthetic than just straight Hawaiian music. Not that I'm leveling that as a criticism, mind you! It really pairs very well with steel guitar...sadly though, less practical (vibraphone players harder to come by, and less musically essential than rhythm section players on guitar/uke/bass). |
I think you are right, but when the tiki and Hawaiian overlap, it's pretty cool. |
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Nic Neufeld
From:
Kansas City, Missouri
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 10:15 am
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| Absolutely, you won't find me complaining. I was looking up VSTi vibraphone samples last week to see if someday I might be able to add some fake ones to my backing tracks (although I probably lack the keyboard skills to do so convincingly). |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 10:35 am
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I love vibraphone! When I took up steel, it was a choice between steel and vibes. Steel won out because a lap steel is a lot cheaper than a vibraphone.
I play marimba. I had an antique Leedy Vibraphone for a few years, but sold it because it was too fragile to move around. Someday I'll get one that's more portable.
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-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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James Kerr
From:
Scotland, UK
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 11:50 am
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Sorry to spoil the love in here, but as soon as I hear that 6 note lead in to any Hawaiian tune, Ding-Ding-Ding-dang-Donnnngggg. I hit the off button.
JK. |
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David Matzenik
From:
Cairns, on the Coral Sea
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 12:34 pm
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I love the combination of Vibes and Steel guitar. Most of my Benny Rogers records have vibes, but I have never been able to find out who was playing. I am also a big Arthur Lyman fan, like Wally. I use his "Yellow Bird" as the basis of my arrangement on steel.
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Don't go in the water after lunch. You'll get a cramp and drown. - Mother. |
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Joe Burke
From:
Toronto, Canada
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 6:50 pm
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| Benny Rogers - Hawaiian Hula Dance came up first on Spotify. Love it! I had never heard of him. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 27 Nov 2017 7:53 pm
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| The sound of the vibes in the mix always gives me a "breeze & waves under palm trees" feeling !! |
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Tod Johnson
From:
Hawaii, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2017 12:26 am
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Yeah, like it.
_________________
1939 Oahu Tonemaster, 1957 Rickenbacker, Melbert 8, and a cheap Rogue. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 28 Nov 2017 2:58 am
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I prefer vibraphone to have more percussive edge (a la Gary Burton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15IHNYq6stw) than the amorphous wash of sound used on many vintage Hawaiian recordings that use vibes - granted that it's different genre of music. The steel guitar is already a singing, sustaining type of sound so, for my personal opinion, vibes don't add a lot. I respect that your opinion may differ.
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Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 28 Nov 2017 9:06 am
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| EHX has a stomp box, the Key 9, that has a "vibes" setting. |
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Allen Hutchison
From:
Kilcoy, Qld, Australia
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