“BOOMER VIBES, Volume  2”
Now Available on Bandcamp

My latest recording, Boomer Vibes, Volume 2, has been released on Summit Records. This is the follow-up recording to 2023's Volume 1. Volume 3 will be released on Summit sometime in November or December.

Here is Summit's promo blurb for Boomer Vibes, Volume 2:

"Collier, one of the best jazz percussionists on the planet, presents an accessible, surreal program of familiar tunes from the defined ‘baby boomer’ generation.  Nearly 70 years of experience and musical influence are brought to fruition on this incredible series of Baby Boomer “VIBES"; this is VOLUME 2. Volume 2 is rich with familiar favorites from Dylan to Jagger/Richards, from McCartney/Lennon to Hank Williams, Jimmy Webb, Ray Davies. The compositions are impressions that will never be forgotten and Collier delivers his vibe-fantastic version of all!!! This is incredible material extremely well done by one of the best around!"

Boomer Vibes, Volume 2 is available at my Bandcamp website as a digital download, or physical CD.

Track list:
1. Galveston (Jimmy Webb)
2. How Can I Be Sure (Felix Cavaliere & Eddie Brigati - The Young Rascals)
3. Across The Universe (Lennon & McCartney)
4. Ring Of Fire (June Carter)
5. Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb)
6. Your Cheatin' Heart (Hank Williams)
7. Up On The Roof (Carole King & Gerry Goffin)
8. Tired Of Waiting For You (Ray Davies - The Kinks)
9. (I Can't Get No Satisfaction (Mick Jagger & Keith Richards)
10. Born To Lose (Ted Daffan)
11. Birthday (Lennon & McCartney)
12. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)

Bandcamp site: tomcollier.bandcamp.com

"BOOMER VIBES, Volume  1"
Now Available on Bandcamp

Boomer Vibes, Volume 1 is now available on Bandcamp as a physical CD or a digital download. Boomer Vibes, the first of three volumes to be issued on Summit Records over the next 18 months, is the culmination of nearly 70 years of having a microphone (or two) placed in front of my marimba or vibraphone and committing my musical performance to 78rpm phono disc, recording tape, and lastly, computer. 

Unlike all previous album projects I've recorded over the past forty years, Boomer Vibes, Volume One (and two and three) represent my first recordings of songs I didn't compose. Instead, over the past year, I recorded three albums worth of songs from the 1960's and 70's that were especially important in my life for one reason or another. This album is also my first "do it yourself" album in over ten years. I play every instrument on Boomer Vibes, Volume 1 (with two exceptions - see Bandcamp for further info)

Here is the link to Bandcamp and Boomer Vibes, Volume 1: https://tomcollier.bandcamp.com/album/boomer-vibes-volume-1

Tom Collier: Vanderplas electric vibes, acoustic vibes, marimba,  xylophone, piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, synth  bass, drums, drum programming

NEW!!!
SoundCloud Tracks

I've been going through hours and hours of studio demo tapes and live performance recordings dating back to the early 1970's. I'm digitizing the good tracks and posting a few of those recordings that might have been worthy of inclusion on an album but were left on the cutting room floor for one reason or another. Every Thursday, I'll be adding three new tracks; unreleased demos, album rejects (but good ones), and live performances recordings. Detailed info about each selection is included for each SoundCloud track.

Here's the link to my SoundCloud page: https://soundcloud.com/user-326409494

 

 "BOOMER VIBES, Volume  1"
April 2023 release on Summit Records

 Boomer Vibes, Volume One (and two and three) represent my first recordings of songs I didn't compose. Instead, over the past year, I recorded three albums worth of songs from the 1960's and 70's that were especially important in my life for one reason or another. This album is also my first "do it yourself" album in over ten years. I play every instrument on these tracks (with two exceptions) and I have to say that the multi-tracking process is much easier in 2022 with the advent of computer-based recording technology as opposed to the analog track bouncing process between tape recorders in the 1960's.

Track list:
1. Magic Fingers (Frank Zappa)
2. At Last (Harry Warren & Mack Gordon)
3. Both Sides Now (Jonu Mitchell)
4. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil)
5. People Make The World Go Round (Thom Bell & Linda Creed)
6. Just A Little Lovin' (Early In The Morning) (Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil)
7. There's Always Something There To Remind Me (Burt Bacharach & Hal David)
8. Wild Horses (Mick Jagger & Keith Richards)
9. One Fine Day (Gerry Goffin & Carole King)
10. Yes It Is (John Lennon & Paul McCartney)
11. As Tears Go By (Mick Jagger / Keith Richards / Andrew Oldham)

 

"THE COLOR OF WOOD" ALBUM RELEASE!!

On April 1st, Summit Records relased “The Color Of Wood”a jazz-based marimba album performed entirely on rosewood bars by Tom Collier. The recording features new original compositions written specifically for the marimba, several older previously ensemble-recorded originals, and a few unique arrangements of pop/jazz standards thrown in for fun. 

While marimba albums are quite common in the classical world, only a scant few jazz marimba albums have been released over the years making “The Color Of Wood” a very unique recording in the jazz canon. While many of the tracks on “The Color Of Wood” were made in one single pass, several other compositions incorporated two, three, or four overdub passes to enrich the sound and artistic intent of the music.

As Summit Records stated in the album's liner notes, "Tom Collier remains on his incredible musical journey of over six decades with “The Color of Wood”,  a powerful, musically-mesmerizing solo performance." The album is available for CD or digital download purchase (along with his other albums) at Collier's Bandcamp site:   https://tomcollier.bandcamp.com

 

January 2022 Update

Although I am currently not booking live performances at this time, I am happy to announce a new album on a new label (for me). "The Color Of Wood" will be released on Summit Records this spring. Although an official release date hasn't been formally announced, the album will be available on CD or digital download in April. As the title suggests, "The Color Of Wood" is a jazz marimba recording featuring brand new original compositions, re-imagined previously recorded originals, and a few popular and jazz standards thrown in for fun. Although marimba recordings are quite common in the classical world, "The Color Of Wood" will be one of the first exclusive jazz marimba recordings in recent years and certainly the first in many years. Since I am the only performer and the marimba is the only instrument heard on the recording, "The "Color Of Wood" could be considered a "solo" performance. However, while some of the tracks are pure single pass recordings, other tracks feature two or three marimba parts realized through overdubbing techniques.

Summit Records is a repsected and well-known internationally distributed label that started out as a classical label in the 1980's, and  expanded into the jazz arena over the past 20 years. Because of their enthusiasm for supporting my new project and their willingness to ensure great world-wide distribution and media coverage, I am very happy to join their impressive roster of jazz - and classical - artists.

A REMINDER!!
The two Kenyon Hall Video Concerts made last summer (2021) are still available for viewing (see info below). http://kenyonhall.org 

New 2021 Kenyon Hall Video Concerts

Beginning this Friday October 1st, I’ll be a member of the Jerry Frank Trio for the first time in more than 50 years. This past July, Jerry, Dan Dean, and I reunited a half century after our last “gig” and recorded a video concert at West Seattle’s Kenyon Hall as part of their upcoming October streamed concert series. Instead of playing vibes or marimba however, I hauled out my 53 year-old Rogers drum set and used sticks instead of mallets to make music. I had a blast playing drums for the first time in several years and I might be persuaded to do it again sooner than later.

The concert will become available this Friday at 7pm by linking to the Kenyon Hall Website:

http://kenyonhall.org 

If you can’t “tune-in” this Friday at 7pm, the concert video will be available thereafter on the Kenyon Hall site so you can watch it at your leisure – again and again…

On Friday October 15, a second Kenyon Hall concert video will debut on the Kenyon Hall website (same as above) featuring me on vibraphone and Seattle jazz icon pianist Marc Seales. As with the Jerry Frank Trio video, the Collier-Seales Duo concert will be accessaible anytime after its debut on the 15th at 7pm. 

Pandemic News and Update

2020 was the worst year for playing music in front of audiences in my entire 60+ years as a performing artist. The worldwide Covid 19 pandemic completely shut down all music venues and opportunities for live music performance. Especially hard hit, economically and emotionally, were many thousands of musicians not to mention everyone connected to the live music industry. Many music venues closed permanently while others had to rely on federal and state grants to at least pay their bills with the hope of reopening sometime in the future. Unfortunately, the first six months of 2021 mirrored the 2020 shutdown of live music, although there were a few performance opportunities opening up in front of limited audiences by late April and May.

However, virtual music performance opportunities became popular as musicians began streaming their own concerts via YouTube,  Zoom, Veeps, and other live video platforms. In July (2020), I participated in the Los Angeles Jazz Society Vibraphone Summit from the comfort of my living room via Zoom, and in August I recorded a solo vibraphone concert video at  West Seattle's Kenyon Hall which was streamed on YouTube. Thank goodness for "Tip Jar", software for musicians to encourage virtual audiences to conveniently make a credit card or PayPal payment for streaming a concert. For some musicians, "Tip Jar" became their only source of income for over 18 months (and the pandemic is not completely finished with us yet)!

In my case, I was able to keep busy in a couple of areas; teaching an online History of Jazz course at the University of Washington, and making solo recordings on my brand new Adams marimba in my home studio. More news will be forthcoming regarding the solo marimba recordings, although I am deciding whether to release the music on my own label in a streaming format, or move forward with physical CD's, or even vinyl. It all depends on how quickly live music comes back, or whether another wave of Covid 19 hits us again in the fall.

Last Night of Music At Grinders

The Silver Tongued Devils officially retired another music venue on December 28th as Grinder's Restaurant in Shoreline, WA officially ended its live music series. Grinders will remain open for lunch only. The loss of several important live music venues in the Seattle area over the past year was not an encouraging trend. Highway 99 Blues Club and Tula's Jazz Restaurant were two high-profile music venues who closed their doors in 2019. Ballard's Grumpy D's Coffee House received a one-year reprive from the wrecking ball in 2019, but will eventually meet its demise sometime in late 2020 or early 2021. Owner Dan Kurtz is not looking to find a new location, just like the owners of Highway 99 Blues Club and Tula's. Maybe 2020 will find new opportunities for musicians and audiences to play and hear live music. Meanwhile, please support the venues that still feature music on a regular basis!

Retirement From The UW? - hah!

I officially retired from the University of Washington School of Music in June, 2016. But soon after, I was asked to return to the School to teach the History of Jazz course for non-majors, a course I had taught since 1984. Oh, and could I also begin teaching "Cylinders To Platters", a 300-level course I developed in the 1990's but had little time to squeeze into my full-time teaching schedule. After briefly "researching" the $$$ involved (academic terminolgy for what does it pay), I gladly accepted and "signed up" for post-retirement employment. Here it is near the end of 2019 and I'm still on a post-retirement job having a great time teaching the jazz and platters courses for smart young students with bright futures ahead of them. What could be better than to show up at a world-class institution for an hour each day, walk across a park-like campus, talk about music that I love, and then go on about my private/public musical life without having to attend faculty meetings or serve on School of Music committees! I'll be doing this again at least one more year as I've been "drafted" by the School to teach jazz and platters during the 2020-21 academic year. That will make a total of 45 years at the UW: 4 years as an undergraduate student and 41 as a faculty member. Retirement? Hah...

Busy 2019 Christmas Season

December 14 thru 17 and again on December 27th, I'll be concertising with flutist Jeffrey Cohan and pianist/clarinetist Martin Lund performing unique versions of traditional and popular Christmas songs combining classical and jazz styles. Jeffrey Cohan is a world renowned classical and baroque flute soloist with extensive experience in baroque improvisation. Martin Lund is a northwest musical icon who has equal experience in classical and jazz styles. I bring my mostly jazz career with earlier classical training and performances into this pop/classical/jazz setting. More info will be added as the concert dates approach. On Saturday, December 28th, I'll be featured vibraphonist with one of the finest R&B/soul bands in the northwest, The Silver Tongued Devils at Shoreline's Grinders Italian Restaurant. The group is comprised of several nationally known musicians including bassist/vocalist Tim Scott (!Billy Preston, Dr. John, John Mayall, Jack Mack and the Heart Attack), guitarist John Hanford (longtime member of The Wailers, Monster Road Band), keyboardist Pat Hues (Neil Rush Band, City Zu), and drummer Chris Leighton (Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Ben E. King). Don't miss hearing this band in an intimate setting with first-rate Italian food! Check my calendar for venue information, music starting times, and further concert updates.

New Projects With Vocalist Valerie Rosa

The past few weeks, I've been rehearsing with renowned Seattle vocalist Valerie Rosa - just the two of us, vocals and vibraphone. We are having fun with this unusual pairing and are getting serious about debuting our duo in public. We have produced a couple of low-budget but musically well-done videos and audio recordings to help with promotion. However, I have posted the videos on my audio/video page for you to check out and maybe provide some feedback on the concept of the vocal and vibraphone duo. Keep watching this space for more details regarding performance (and recording?) opportunities. By the way, check out Seattle historian Peter Blecha's excellent article on Valerie at: https://www.historylink.org/File/20848

The Silver-Tongued Devils

If you haven't heard by now, I've been playing rhythm and blues vibes in The Silver-Tongued Devils the past couple of years and not only is it a lot of fun for me, but it is one of the best bands I've had the pleasure to perform with in my career. Adding vibraphone to a rhythm and blues band adds a unique sound to the music, although not entirely new in the scope of R&B history. Vibraphonists Johnny Otis, Lionel Hampton, and Roy Ayers, to name a few, played with or led rhythm and blues bands at various times throughout their careers. The Devils are fronted by ex-Wailers' and current Monster Road guitarist Dr. John Hanford and the band features incredible musicians including bassist/vocalist Tim Scott (The Reputations, Red House, Patti Allen), keyboardist/vocalist Pat Hues, renowned northwest saxophonists Jon Goforth or Jay Thomas (depending on their schedules), and either Chris Leighton or Ben Smith on drums (schedules permitting). Check out my calendar page for upcoming dates with the Devils. Don't miss this exciting and outstanding group of musicians!