Marimba Soul
Mika Stoltzman marimba
World-renowned marimbist Mika Stoltzman and Navona Records present MARIMBA SOUL, an accurate reflection of Stoltzman’s remarkable ability to capture the very central being of every work she performs with naturally vivid emotion and visceral technical ability. Stoltzman’s abilities are highlighted especially so by a one-of-a-kind Demorrow Marimba, built with specially selected rosewood bars collected over the period of an entire decade.
Mika Stoltzman, a 10-time Carnegie Hall performer and highly sought-after guest of music festivals across the world, brings her instrument to life in MARIMBA SOUL, with a passion and vivacity that only a performer of Stoltzman’s ability can hope to achieve. The artist brings a number of works from Paul Simon, Chick Corea, and more to the table in this release, and is joined by her husband, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, on the iconic Moon River.
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Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Over the Rainbow | Keith Jarrett | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 7:03 |
| 02 | Amulet for Marimba | Paul Simon | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 4:46 |
| 03 | Antagatadokosa | arr. Takeshi Fuse | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 3:00 |
| 04 | Chaconne | J.S. Bach arr. Mika Stoltzman | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 18:41 |
| 05 | Pulse Wave for solo marimba | Joel Ross | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 5:00 |
| 06 | Moon River | Henry Mancini arr. Minako Ota, Mika Stoltzman | Mika Stoltzman, marimba; Richard Stoltzman, clarinet | 6:17 |
| 07 | Birthday Song for MIKA | Chick Corea | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 4:30 |
| 08 | Deborah’s Theme | E. Morricone arr. Takeshi Fuse | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 5:04 |
| 09 | Englishman in NY | Sting arr. Minako Ota, Mika Stoltzman | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 5:19 |
| 10 | Cello Suite No. 3 | J.S. Bach arr. Mika Stoltzman | Mika Stoltzman, marimba | 14:07 |
Mika Stoltzman has been using the DeMorrow Marimba since 1996. The marimba is the first imported DeMorrow in Japan. In this recording, the world’s only keyboard made of the finest rosewood collected piece by piece over the past 10 years was used and tuned by Mr. Douglas DeMorrow. Tone bars used in this recording were collected by Douglas DeMorrow himself from Demorrow Instruments.
Special Thanks
Richard Stoltzman, Hiroki Suenaga, Ryoko Sakamoto, Douglas DeMorrow, Takeshi Fuse, Minako Ota
Track 1-7
Recorded January 9-11, 2023 at Western Connecticut State University Hall in Danbury CT
Producer and Recording Engineer Steven Epstein
Mastering Engineer Rick Jacobson
Track 8-10
Recorded November 15-16, 2021 in Mechanics Hall MA
Producer Steven Epstein
Recording Engineer Rick Jacobson
Production Assistant Eishun Maki
Executive Producer Bob Lord
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Patrick Niland
Artist Information
Mika Stoltzman
Mika has toured to 19 countries and 65 cities around the world. She has performed 10 times at Carnegie Hall (Zankel and Weill Hall), as well as at PASIC 2005 and 2007, the Blue Note in New York, the Tokyo and Cairo Jazz Festivals, and the Rockport Jazz Festival. She regularly performs around the world in a duo with her husband, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, at major venues in New York, Boston, Austin, Buenos Aires, Mexico, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany, and many more.
Richard Stoltzman
Richard Stoltzman's virtuosity, technique, imagination, and communicative power have revolutionized the world of clarinet playing, opening up possibilities for the instrument that no one could have predicted. He was responsible for bringing the clarinet to the forefront as a solo instrument, and is still the world's foremost clarinetist. Stoltzman gave the first clarinet recitals in the histories of both the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall, and, in 1986, became the first wind player to be awarded the Avery Fisher Prize.
Notes
MARIMBA SOUL is a combination of heartwarming reminiscences and dedications — such as in Antagatadokosa, a traditional tune from Mika Stoltzman’s hometown played with the utmost clarity, jubilance, and care, or Moon River, a loving dedication to her husband Richard Stoltzman, who joins on clarinet in the final chorus to produce a sound of utter warmth and comfort —baroque repertoire played to the highest classical ability — particularly Stoltzmann’s highly lauded performance of Bach’s Chaconne — and stand-out marimba solos of exceeding grace — Pulse Wave is a particularly delightful example, opening with a wash of sparkling sound before slipping into short, pulsing breaths, much like its title.
