GARY BURTON answers all of your questions...

[@AdamTanPercussion]

This is definitely a very special episode for me... once again thank you so much to Gary for spending a Friday morning chatting to us and answering our questions in so much detail! Links to all the videos mentioned are in the description, and the timestamps for the interview are below: 3:59 Interview introduction 4:21 Gary's new hobbies and skills since retirement 7:11 Clair Omar Musser (winning a competition at the age of 6) 15:15 The story of Gary's signature mallets over the years 20:00 What is your approach to mallet choice? 22:26 Favourite places to visit around the world 25:47 Gary explains why he didn't create Burton grip 26:32 Gary's autobiography and how it came about 28:26 Why did you shave your mustache? 29:28 How do you play so accurately? 31:05 How do you approach improvisation? 35:19 How do you improve mallet technique? 43:38 What was it like to lose your perfect pitch? 46:54 To what extent is creative freedom allowed when interpreting music for arrangement? 51:38 Leading and arranging for the Gary Burton Quartet 55:35 Is there anyone that you wish you could have played with but didn't get the chance to? 58:40 Who are your favourite up and coming vibraphonists? 1:01:01 Gary's microphone setup for live and studio settings 1:04:25 What is your approach to writing a composition? 1:10:56 Why haven't you written a method book about Burton grip? 1:13:10 What do you see in the future of the vibraphone? And yes, if this video gets enough likes we will do a PART 2 with more of your questions for Gary! Thanks for watching and make sure you leave a comment down below saying thanks to Gary - he's going to be reading this comments section!

[@foobrr1]

hey Adam! nice video! its also me christian yates from school. nice vid

[@cvlvibes]

Thank you!!!!!! This is awesome!

[@ronzovibes19]

Studied with Gary his first year at Berklee I grew up playing vibes with saxophonist Joe Lovano. I was a 2 mallet be - bop player Gary not only taught me 4 mallets- but he allowed me to practice on his vibes and rehearse my band in his office when he was done teaching for the day. When I couldn't afford 4 new mallets- Gary gave me a set of his 4 mallets. I actually still have the mallets Gary gave me locked up in my safe . I grew up in a tough environment. I wasn't use to the genuine kindness and the above and beyond call of duty inspiration that Gary gracefully shared with a punk 18 year old kid from Cleveland Ohio . From that point forward I have spent my life attempting to pass forward the kindness that Gary had shared with myself. I couldn't afford to finish Berklee after 2 years. I moved back to Cleveland. Much to my surprise Gary mailed me an encouraging hand written letter . I still have the letter . Gary is not only a genius and the greatest vibraphonist in history and beyond- he is one of the kindest human beings on the planet . I have carried my Tuesday 10:30 lessons with Gary in my heart since 1971. God bless Gary Burton. I am 70 years old and still playing the vibes.

[@tedallenwolff]

Ron! This is Ted Wolff. We were both vibe students at Berklee and hung out some together. Joe used to sit in with my roommate's trio with your drummer friend (was his name Carmen?) from Cleveland. Like you, Gary's warm encouragement and advice stayed with me throughout my life. I had to retire in 2016 because of some hand issues, but my years at Berklee really helped to shape me as a musician and a human being.

[@tedallenwolff]

I first saw Gary's group in the 1960s at the Trident in Sausalito, a small town just north of S.F. CA. I was underage but could attend the Sunday afternoon gig. I still have one beloved set of the original Bill Marimba Good Vibes mallets too! I don't play anymore but the guidance and support I received from my lessons with Gary will be with me always. This interview was just wonderful.

[@martyschnurr1681]

Great interview with Gary. I'm not a musician, studied audio engineering in college from 1974--1978, and listening to him since 1972. Really enjoyed this. He is great!

[@gold_vibe]

Gary, we so love you!

[@NaokoTakada]

Gary!!!!! Wow!! Thank you , Adam.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Thanks for watching Naoko! He's awesome :)))

[@sethedmonds5996]

I love your soloist mallet series! I can’t seem where to purchase more, any tips?

[@DeeboComing]

@Naoko Takada I absolutely LOVE your arrangement of Debussy's Arabesque. I played it during my undergrad years and it's still one of my favorite pieces of marimba literature. Thank you. 🖤🙏🏾

[@clonebin0]

1hour of pure wisdom

[@jacobbritton7359]

Never got to see Gary in concert. I've been playing vibes for 7 years now thanks to him. I love this interview!

[@arpercussions7015]

Thank you Gary Burton for taking the time to share all these great stories and thank you Adam for this great contribution to the percussion world.

[@wprtube]

Thank you Gary!!

[@julianrulo5175]

Concuerdo con Gary Burton cuando se refiere a los compositores de hoy en día que tratan al instrumento olvidando su belleza en el toque. Creo que quienes tocamos el vibes y ademas somos compositores podremos llegar a cambiar esa idea. Te felicito Adam por tremenda increible entrevista.

[@therobertrusselltrio]

This interview is so good! Brilliant, priceless wisdom! Thank you

[@EliPorter456]

Q's for Gary Burton: What's your thoughts on the electronic mallet instruments (ex. MalletKat, MalletStation, XyloSynth,etc.) How would you approach comping differently on the vibes on the piano? Gary Burton is a pretty big inspiration for me so thanks so much for this!

[@asiatischekampfschlange8990]

Could you do a video about the most challenging (hardest) marimba solos?

[@AdamTanPercussion]

I've been thinking of doing one like this (a tier list of repertoire)! Thanks for suggesting :)

[@filippkarandeev139]

Adam Tan probably Frozen in Time should be there ) And of course Loops II

[@michaeldolesepercussion]

It’s been an absolute pleasure to learn about the experiences and life of such a prolific player in the percussion community, thank you so much!!

[@AdamTanPercussion]

He's definitely one of the greatest! Thanks for watching :)

[@JackBuzzMusicZone]

Thanks Adam, this interview with Master Burton was a great idea!

[@jaynainsync]

Thanks ADAM! I've heard Gary live for years..and met him as well...but this interview had such a lovely "vibe" (no pun intended) so much like a conversation between friends. And you allowing him to share with space to listen was so unlike other interviewers. Great job!

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Thanks for watching Jayna! Gary mentioned it was nice to just chat about all kinds of things and not just 'jazz questions'. I'm glad I could ask him what he cooks hahaha

[@ashpitti6797]

Omg, you actually did it. Two highly respected percussionists on the same video. im so happy I just realized my Front Ensemble auditions are in two days and now im panicking

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Don't panic! You'll be great!!

[@thressia8312]

Thank you so much Adam for this video! PART 2 PLEASE!!!!

[@timbenz4890]

Just watching this now...thank you so much Adam Tan. This is amazing. So glad that Gary is well and still enthusiastic about sharing his wisdom and perspective after retirement. As a player and evangelist of the vibes myself, he is way too modest about his accomplishments. I loved some of the detail that I did not know about. The two sit-ins with Bill Evans (one of my other top heroes) that didn't have the right "time feel"? Crazy, I had no idea, but to hear him say it totally makes sense. I mean, who can sit in with Bill Evans? Also didn't know that Mike Balter was making his Vic Firth model mallets! I've never played those mallets, but now I'm tempted. Thanks again for doing this. I love that Gary went out on top by his own standards and wish him all the best in enjoying life. He truly deserves it. Luckily I got the chance to see him play once with Pat Metheny in 2006 at Ravinia. It was unbelievable. Cheers.

[@massimolonardi7886]

Chiarissimo, grazie!

[@beyekind12another]

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview. I would also enjoy a technical book about techniques, everything he employed or discovered about his instrument and how he developed such an amazing body of work. It could be done as an ebook versus printing. I hope he considers passing along this remaining wealth of knowledge to musicians who have not had the opportunity to learn directly from him.

[@Astavolamusic]

👊🎧👂💯

[@UPdan]

There is no way Gary can stay away from music . That mind will never allow it.

[@cerdmist]

What an amaizing video! Thanks so much for posting it, amazing!

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Thanks for watching man!

[@chancecaprarola932]

oh wow

[@SophiaSuante]

Don't ever tell Gary I switched to Steven's after my freshman year of HS 😂 For me, Burton can give more power and doesn't injure the hands as much. I got contracted at a drum corps that still uses Burton for vibraphone, so I decided to go Burton since January! Even though I know the man didn't technically invent the grip, he coined it and his name will live on! Also if I could ever reask my question, I would ask if he ever felt like vibes never was fully accepted as a jazz instrument. Even at a jazz music school, a lot of people say "vibraphones aren't jazz".

[@russell.holland]

Thanks for this! Not sure if it's too late to ask but I do have a question. I see there's a similar question below about the vibes specifically but I wondered if Gary really doesn't fiddle around with music at all, like even on piano or something at home? I heard elsewhere that he decided to retire because he could feel he was no longer able to play to the standard he was before. If that means he no longer performs publicly, I could understand that, but it's hard for me to imagine that he would just completely put music behind him. His playing is so beautiful and full of emotion, and always comes across perfectly clearly in its phrasing. His personal feeling for music and its expressive possibilities which we hear in his playing make it hard for me to believe that he would not be attached to it and be able to simply give it up. I guess really the question is what is his relationship with music now that he has stopped performing---does he really no longer play instruments at all, does he still spend time listening, what does it mean to him to have spent his life doing this and to no longer do it, etc. I would love to hear his thoughts on this.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

I think he mentioned he still plays, but yeah it's hard to play 'for fun' when you have been doing it your whole life as a job I guess. I feel that way about marimba sometimes too, so can't imagine what it'd be like to be playing vibes for so many years.

[@tarikdosdogru7389]

thanks for this Video...please ask him next time if he still owns his vibraphon. if yes is i dissambled in his garage? and did he never played any note on it in those 3 years? What is he missing most as he retired...thanks in advance

[@AdamTanPercussion]

I believe Gary sold his vibraphone to a student! So he has been vibraphone-less for the last 3 years, and seems like he's happy to just enjoy life now :)

[@tarikdosdogru7389]

@@AdamTanPercussion wow thanks for that info...that´s a tough one for me :)

[@glenn4220]

He sold his vibraphone to a student? I am sitting here in shock, and sadness. Just doesn't seem right.

[@mr_torle]

Can you do this again with other percussionists/composers like Koshinski, Séjourné, Burritt?

[@lukasaldrian3307]

studied with vid in austria \m/

[@cannolivibraphone]

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE

[@cashews1016]

Adam trying not to be embarrassingly excited while talking to Gary...

[@felipjah]

Who came here after Adam Neely's Video on perfect pitch?

[@theyoungdrummer7]

What advice would you give to a young person that wants to be a percussionist? BURTONNN GANGGG

[@SophiaSuante]

What have I done to create such a culture? 😂