A pair of mallets fly high up into the air, twirling at least two times before the hands that will strike them against the golden bars of a vibraphone catches the wooden sticks. What happens next is best described as being “hypnotic” as Jason “Malletman” Taylor plays the instrument he loves, while also placing his audience in a trance, as they witness something they have never seen before…  Taylor grew up in Brooklyn, NY listening to Lionel Hampton’s music. His mother, who was a fan of Hampton’s and would go see him perform at the Apollo Theater, introduced her son to the jazz legend’s work. Taylor started out playing the drums when he was 12 years old. He then went on to play the xylophone before falling in love with the vibraphone, which he describes as being “the most beautiful sounding instrument.” He became dedicated to mastering the “vibes” just like Hampton, who was so impressed during his first meeting with Taylor in 1981, that he took in the young “Malletman” as his protégé and became his mentor. In addition to touring the U.S. and Europe with Hampton and his 18-piece band, Taylor also lived with him and received the kind of personal training and experience that can only be described as “priceless.” It was during that time when Taylor also formed Mallet Records, a record company dedicated to its mission of “Keeping Real Music Alive.”