Good Vibes

Vibraphone players have never been as plentiful in jazz as trumpeters or saxophonists but there have been several notable ones over the years, going from Red Norvo and Milt Jackson in the past to Joel Ross and Patricia Brennan today. Here are a pair of recent albums that feature other active vibes players.

Roberto Magris
Match Point
JMood
2022

On Match Point Roberto Magris is joined by Alfredo Chacon, a vibraphonist and percussionist who is well known in the Miami area. Much of the music is set to Latin rhythms. Chacon bounces brightly alongside Magris's energetic lines on "Yours Is The Light" and Randy Weston's "Caban Bamboo Highlife" and swings melodically as he takes the lead on "The Insider" 's rolling groove. Chacon meshes well with Magris on a subdued exploration of McCoy Tyner's "Search For Peace" and the soulful strolling of "The Magic Blues" where bassist Dion Kerr and drummer Rodolfo Zuniga ride over a cool walking beat. Magris, for his part, is always playful and focused when playing with the band and also adds a charming solo stride rendition of Thelonious Monk's "Reflections" to the proceedings.

Stahls Trio
Kalltorp Sessions Volume Two
Moserobie
2022

Swedish vibraphonist Mattias Ståhl is the lead voice on this album, the second volume released from recordings his trio made in 2017 and 2018. His group has a hard, brittle sound deriving from Stahls' sharp attack and Christopher Cantillo's closely miked drums. 'Vetstugo" is a fast-paced and violent opener and "Nu Borjar Det" is a brisk, boppish jaunt that swerves through some Monkian nuances. On "I-Land Du Valsignade" Stahl's vibes settle into a muffled chug that, combined with Joe Williamson's thick bass strumming and Cantillo's percussive clatter, sound like a romping African tribal rhythm. The bass and drum tandem also dominate "Ayler-Ekberg." Here Stahl dances freely on top while the bass and drums produce a muscular pulse that punches and drives like Charlie Haden and Ed Blackwell.

On three tracks, the basic trio brings in more instruments. Trombonist Mats Aleklint adds a woozy bray to the lurching melody of "Pondus Och Swing" before it dissolves into abstraction and Stahl himself overdubs a layer of whinnying, Sidney Bechet-like soprano sax onto the jumping trio music of "Pok" Trombone and soprano both show up on "Vi Gar Till Skolan," yelping and shouting with satiric pomposity as Williamson and Cantillo go on another wild romp.

Tracks and Personnel

Match Point

Tracks: Yours Is The Light; Search For Peace; The Insider; Samba For Jade; The Magic Blues; Reflections; Caban Bamboo Highlife; Match Point.

Personnel: Roberto Magris: piano; Alfredo Chacon: vibraphone, congas; Dion Kerr: bass; Rodolfo Zuniga: drums.

Kalltorp Sessions Volume Two

Tracks: Vetstugo; Pondus Och Swing; Guldkort; Nu Borjar Det; I-Land Du Valsignade; Vi Gar Till Skolan -Alt Take; Ayler-Ekberg; Pok.

Personnel: Mattias Stahl: vibraphone, soprano saxophone (6,8); Joe Williamson: bass; Christopher Cantillo: drums; Mats Aleklint: trombone (2,6).

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