Western New York, you are in for a real treat come October 16th! Ray J Bennett will be playing his vibraphone at the Lighthouse Cafe at Lockport Alliance Church, 555 Davison Rd., in Lockport, at 7pm that night, followed by more pop-jazz music from Uptown, the pop-jazz trio, featuring Mark Weber on vocals. This will be the most relaxing night of music you’ve experienced in a longtime! Click here for more details about the Lighthouse Cafe.
If you aren’t too sure what a vibraphone sounds like, it’s like a cross between the xylophone and church bells. Some say it’s a “heavenly sound.” Ray J Bennett is one of the few vibraphone players in Western New York– it’s a rare instrument you don’t see often!
Bennett, a native of Buffalo, studied for over 10 years with John Rowland, former Principal Percussionist with the Buffalo Philharmonic. Ray received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the Crane School of Music where, as a student of James Petercsak, he was awarded the Prestigious Certificate of Performance and Certificate of Merit. Ray has performed with many Western New York groups including The Buffalo Philharmonic, The Amherst Saxophone Quartet, Buffalo Swing and currently The Chapel at Crosspoint Praise Band and his own group, Authentic Vibe. He has performed with nationally acclaimed artists Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, and the Temptations.
You’ve got to come see him, or more importantly, HEAR him play the vibes at the Lighthouse Cafe– it’s going to be a beautiful night of music!
We here at BuffaloChristian.com love the sounds of the vibes, and thought we’d ask Ray to complete our Q&A, okay?
Q- What are some of the songs you’ll be playing at the Lighthouse Cafe?
A- People Get Ready (my greatest hit), What a Friend We Have In Jesus, Wayfaring Stranger, America, Native Son, Skyward Bound, Joy, Armondo’s Rhumba, Praise, Ab C’mon (Love Jesus), and more…
Q- Most people aren’t too familiar with vibes. How would you describe vibes to people who’ve never heard them?
A- The vibes are part of the percussion keyboard family. The metal bars are set up like a piano, only struck with yarn mallets. The marimba and xylophone are also part of this keyboard family but the bars are wood.
Q- How did you get interested in playing vibes, as it’s not the most popular instrument?
A- My parents took me to a Lionel Hampton concert when I was little–7 or 8. Hampton was Benny Goodman’s star vibe player. I begged my dad for lessons and studied with John Rowland of the BPO for the next ten years. I continued studies at The Crane School of Music @ SUNY Potsdam and got my Bachelor’s of Music degree.
Q- Tell us about your role in The Chapel’s Praise Band and what you think of that group.
A- Playing vibes and percussion with the Chapel Praise Band is a blessing and all about worshiping the God who made us. I am so thankful that God allows me to play. Sometimes I have written charts; other times I ad-lib (improvise). We rehearse every Wednesday and Sunday morning–early.
Q- Describe a typical gig that Authentic Vibe does.
A- There is no typical AuThEnTiC ViBe gig. First, AuThEnTiC ViBe has 3 versions- solo vibes (at the Lighthouse Cafe), piano/vibe duo, and quartet. We play houses of worship, jazz festivals, clubs, bars, weddings, you name it. But guess what? When I pick up my mallets it’s all about worship. Before I walk out on the Chapel Sanctuary, or any church, bar or club, I look at my left hand and my right hand and pray—“With these hands I praise Your Name.”
Q- Anything else you want people to know about you or the vibraphone?
A- I’ve been privileged to play with some great musicians–Aretha Franklin, The Lettermen, The BPO, etc. and I always claimed that glory for myself… until… I got the message…Jesus.
To contact Ray J Bennett, call 716-523-1911, and tell him Mark Weber sent ya!
