“A master of the four mallet technique” - Jazz Times

Vibes, Piano, Marimba & Drums

Coming from the “four mallet school,” Ed Saindon has developed and continues to refine a pianistic approach to mallet playing which involves a consistent utilization of all four mallets via a grip that he developed called the Fulcrum Grip.

Saindon has absorbed and transferred the influences from the piano lineage that stretches from Art Tatum up to the present. Originally a drummer, Saindon began his studies at Berklee on drums with drummer and legendary educator Alan Dawson. He later took up playing the vibraphone along with piano while attending Berklee College of Music in Boston from 1972-1976.

Ed Saindon's previously released recordings include Key Play with pianist Kenny Werner, Swing on the Sunnyside with trumpeter Herb Pomeroy and clarinetist Dick Johnson and The Great American Songbook with clarinetist Ken Peplowski, cornetist Warren Vache and trombonist Dan Barrett. His recent recording from World Improvised Music is Depth of Emotion which features Dave Liebman on soprano and Saindon on vibes, marimba and piano along Mark Walker on drums and David Clark on acoustic bass.

As a concert artist, Saindon has traveled throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, Mexico and Japan. He has played and or recorded with Dave Liebman, Ken Peplowski, Warren Vache, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Fred Hersch, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, Louie Bellson, Howard Alden, Herb Pomeroy, Dick Johnson, Dave McKenna, Ed Thigpen, John Scofield, Marvin Stamm, George Masso, Michael Moore and others.

In addition to performing, Saindon’s other passion is music education. He is a Professor at Berklee where he has been teaching since 1976. He is also active in the field of music education as a clinician and author. Saindon is a clinician for Yamaha and Vic Firth giving clinics and residencies on vibraphone, marimba, piano, drums, jazz theory and harmony, composition and improvisation. Ed's books include Berklee Practice Method: Vibraphone published by Berklee Press and Exploration in Rhythm, Volume 1, Rhythmic Phrasing in Improvisation published by German publisher Advance Music.

In addition to writing books, Saindon has authored many articles on music education, jazz theory and improvisation. He is currently the vibraphone and jazz mallet editor for the International Percussive Arts Society’s magazine Percussive Notes. His articles have appeared in many publications including Downbeat, Percussive Notes, and Percussioner International.

Jazz Times: “a master of the four mallet technique”

CD Review: “a marvelous technician”

Jazz Journal (UK) : "an astounding solo performance"

Penguin Guide to Jazz: "virtuosic playing"

Jazziz: “exquisite touch of a world-class musician”

All Music Guide: “elegant, pianistic, four mallet vibist”

Music on the Web: "Ed Saindon is indisputably a virtuoso 4 mallet vibe player."

Bill Bruford/Jazz Jury: "I was completely won round by this music of staggering ability. This is some serious music. Ed Saindon’s solo was just terrific..."

Ejazznews: "Saindon provides an exquisite piano solo on one of the very best renditions of the Mancini/Mercer classic, "Moon River" I’ve ever heard...Ed Saindon and Dave Liebman chart a new course in modern jazz that deserves serious attention."

Ed Saindon (vibes) and Larry Baione (guitar) playing the standard 'All The Things You Are' as part of the Berklee College of Music Percussion Festival during June 2010.

The concert took place at the David Friend Recital Hall at Berklee on Thursday, June 24th, 2010