ARTHUR LIPNER

Arthur Lipner has emerged as one of the leading vibes and marimba voices in jazz today. As such he is one of the few musicians carrying the message of jazz mallets into the 21st century. Arthur’s live performances and recorded projects convey an exuberant drive of creativity and depth. His travels around the globe as a jazz musician and percussionist have delighted audiences and critics worldwide.

Lipner's bookings as a bandleader have taken him to most of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Morocco, Malaysia, the Caribbean and throughout Europe.

Arthur recently completed his third tour in Brazil where he performed and taught in Brasilia, Rio, Campinas and at the Lima Jazz Festival. Brazilian music has become an integral part of Arthur’s activities in recent years. He has recorded two cd’s with woodwind artist Ze Luis. He recorded in Rio de Janeiro with guitarist Nelson Faria (currently with Joao Bosco) for Faria’s 2002 release. Arthur is preparing a collection of Brazilian music arranged for solo marimba.

Arthur has just finished recording his fifth solo project “Street Vibe,” along with a DVD of his current working band, to be released April ‘04. His prior album is “Portraits In World Jazz.” This mostly-acoustic album features Arthur on vibes and marimba joined by percussionist Glen Velez, bassist Harvie Swartz, guitarist Vic Juris, pianist Fred Hersch and others. Repertoire is a mix of Lipner originals along with Autumn Serenade (DeRose), Vincent (Don McLean) and Couple’s Choice (Youssou ‘N Dour). A remarkable recording, PORTRAITS combines jazz and percussion in a rhythmic and compositional adventure of unparalleled magnitude.

Lipner's first solo project, "IN ANY LANGUAGE," was released in 1991 by Palo Alto Jazz. In 1992, JVC Tokyo released this album in Japan as part of their "Music Of The Mother Earth" series. The 1993 cd "ART OF THE DUO: Liquide Stones," on the German label ENJA-Tutu records, was recorded with guitarist Jack DeSalvo. Next came the 1994 band project "THE MAGIC CONTINUES...", with Joel Rosenblatt, Bob Mintzer and others. Released in 1998, 1999 and 2003 were cd’s Arthur produced for the publishing company MalletWorks Music.

Over fifty of Arthur’s compositions have been released on recordings. His music has been used on radio, film and tv soundtracks in such places as Finland, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, and England. His compositions have been recorded twenty times by various groups. He recently completed “Hybridisation, ” a twenty-minute concerto for mallet soloist with Chamber Orchestra or Wind Ensemble.

His appearances as a NYC session player has led to tracks for everything from Bluegrass to Brazilian to Christmas albums, the tv shows "Sesame Street," "Designing Women," Bill Cosby's "It's A Different World," Japanese tv, a French film score, and dozens of radio and tv commercials.
His steel drums can currently be heard on the General Electric tv commercial “Wind Energy.”

Arthur has presented over 300 workshops throughout the world, with invitations to teach at some of the most prestigious universities in the USA and Europe including The Juilliard School (NYC) and Sweelink Conservatory (Amsterdam). He has been on the Faculty of The Brabants Conservatory in Tilburg, Holland, Drummers Collective (NYC), State Univ. of NY (Purchase) and Univ. of Bridgeport (CT). He is sponsored in by the Conn/Selmer Company and Mike Balter Mallets as an artist/clinician, and has performed at three PASIC conventions.

His text THE VIBES REAL BOOK (1996) is the most comprehensive guide to jazz vibraphone ever written. “Jazz Mallets: IN SESSION” (2000) is the first-ever play-along folio for jazz vibes and marimba. His new improvisation play-along “From Lead Sheets To Hip Solos” for all instruments was released January ‘03 by Carl Fischer Music.

Arthur is currently serving his second term on the Percussive Arts Society Board of Directors, and is a Contributing Editor for the PAS magazine “Percussive Notes.” All Lipner compositions, arrangements and recordings are available through MalletWorks Music (www.malletworks.com).