Is that a xylophone? How many people actually play the vibraphone? Is that from Africa? These and many other questions will be asked and answered on this night as I convene my second Vibes Hang. (Not the same event as the LA Jazz Society’s Vibe Summit). I’m counting on 20 or so of the finest players on this instrument to join us that evening to display their unique and individual approach to playing one of the stranger instruments in jazz. In addition, we’ll be taking a moment to honor a true stalwart of the jazz vibraphone, Stephen Hobbs, as he’ll be on tour in California that week. Our house trio will consist of Ahmet Turkmenoglu on bass and Steve Hass on drums, at the best jazz club in LA, the blue whale.