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 alike. Of a live performance in December 2006, the Chronicle Herald (Nova Scotia) wrote, “Lipner belongs to that rare category of master player that includes Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson...”
Arthur’s quest for new musical experiences in his life have taken him to Ghana for a performance with the National Dance Company of Ghana, to Norway for a concert on an ice percussion instrument he constructed, to the streets of Rio with Carnival bands and most recently to the recording studio with Tuvan throat singers ALASH. 2009 will see, among other things, a tour in Croatia and Slovenia and the release of Arthur’s sixth album as a leader.
Arthur started playing classical piano at age 6 and continued through age 14. Concurrently, he studied jazz piano beginning at age 11. His first jazz teacher was the legendary John Mehegan, who’s jazz method books were among the very first on the topic to be published. Arthur attended the Univ of Delaware as a Plant Pathology undergrad, focusing on disease resistance and genetics. He did one year in the Nutrition Dept. at the same school as a Graduate Research Student. But, after returning from a three-week tour in Central America, he started a large fire in the laboratory.
This event, along with tough classes in Organic Biochemistry and feeding studies (which included breaking the necks of 100 full-grown chickens and grinding test gerbils in a blender) helped him affirm that his true passion - and gift - was music. He went briefly to the Univ. of North Texas, then in 1984 relocated permanently to New York City.
As a bandleader Lipner has been to most of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Morocco, Malaysia, the Caribbean and throughout Western and Eastern Europe. He is one of the most in-demand mallet clinicians at universities everywhere.
In May 2007 he completed his 8th tour in Brazil, performing in Salvador (Bahia), Rio de Janeiro, and with orchestra in Sao Paolo. Brazilian music has become an integral part of Arthur’s activities in recent years. He has recorded in NYC and Rio de Janeiro with numerous artists including guitarist Nelson Faria (currently with Joao Bosco) and woodwind artist Ze Luis. His current working band is called “Arthur Lipner and Brazilian Vibes”. In 2005 Arthur premiered his concerto MALLET FANTASIA in Rio de Janeiro with the National Symphony Orchestra of Brazil (UFF).
Arthur’s newest album is due out Spring ’09. He presents his vibes and marimba in a mixture Brazilian styles, coming up with very exciting and fresh sounding percussion-based music. This cd includes guest appearances by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon and Brazilian pop star Vinicius Cantuaria.
Arthur released his fifth solo project “Modern Vibe” in July 2004. Critics raved about this very contemporary mix of R/B, Funk and Brazilian. Arthur is joined by NYC and Brazilian musicians including Nelson Faria (Joao Bosco), Joel Rosenblatt (Spyro Gyra) and David Finck (Rod Stewart). His prior album is “Portraits In World Jazz.” Percussionist Glen Velez replaced the traditional role of drumset, with Vic Juris and Fred Hersch making considerable contributions. The result is an extremely unique and adventurous view of World music from a mallet player’s perspective.
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. Also, through his company MalletWorks, he published the first-ever collection of transcribed solos by Milt Jackson, “MILT JACKSON: Transcribed Solos Of The Master.”
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. Arthur’s 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.
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 by the Conn/Selmer Company and Mike Balter Mallets as an artist/clinician, and has performed at four PAS International conventions (PASIC).
Arthur’s THE VIBES REAL BOOK (1996) is the most comprehensive guide to jazz vibes. “Jazz Mallets: IN SESSION” (2000) is the first-ever play-along book for jazz vibes and marimba. “From Lead Sheets To Hip Solos”, improvisation for all instruments, was released in 2003 by Carl Fischer Music.
View Info On Web :- www.arthurlipner.com
