Warren Wolf – History of the Vibraphone

cover to History of the Vibraphone recording by Warren Wolf
John Hilderbrand Avatar

Warren Wolf pays tribute to the jazz masters of the vibraphone including Roy Ayers, Terry Gibbs, Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, Dave Samuels and Joe Locke on his new recording, appropriately titled History of the Vibraphone.

Baltimore native Warren Wolf began his musical journey at age three, studying under his father. Classically trained on the vibraphone, marimba, drums, and piano, Wolf attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and Berklee College of Music. After becoming a prominent figure in Boston’s music scene and a professor at Berklee, Wolf launched an international jazz career, notably collaborating with Christian McBride. His 2023 release Chano Pozo: Origins earned kudos, showcasing his multi-instrumental talents. With History of the Vibraphone, Wolf returns to his primary instrument, the vibraphone.

I encountered this recording while listening to random new jazz music and I heard Wolf’s nice rendition of “Spring High.” “Spring High” is a great Dave Samuels composition from Dave’s Natural Selection recording (1991, GRP Records). Samuels was Wolf’s former teacher at Berklee College of Music. “He was probably one of the most famous vibraphone players in the 1980s with the fusion jazz group Spyro Gyra” says Wolf.

I’ve spent time with History of the Vibraphone, and it has been a rewarding experience. While I’m familiar with most of the artists Wolf honors, his interpretations inspire me to dive deeper into their music. Wolf has a knack for selecting pieces that both celebrate the past and spark curiosity about the history of the vibraphone.

His band is tight, with Tim Green (saxophone), Alex Brown (piano), Vicente Archer (bass), and Carroll “CV” Dashiell III (drums). You can really hear them tear it up on Wolf’s original composition  “I See You Baby Lookin at Me.” I hope I get to experience this track live someday.

Whether you’re well-versed in vibraphone lore or just beginning to explore it, History of the Vibraphone is a joy to listen to.

 

John Hilderbrand Avatar

One response to “Warren Wolf – History of the Vibraphone”

  1. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    I haven’t gotten through the whole album yet, but really enjoy his upbeat sound. Captain Señor Mouse is lots of fun.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More Articles & Posts