Evelyn Glennie is one of the most famous contemporary marimba players, who’s shown how expressive the marimba can be. She’s commissioned over 200 works for the percussion instrument. She became deaf as a twelve year old and now leads a company dedicated to teaching people “How to truly listen”.
Accordionist Maria Kalaniemi trained as a classical accordionist and sings as well, but her expressive accordion is what she’s best known for. Like all good folk artists she gets the toe tapping.
Scottish folk band RURA comes to WOMAD New Zealand in March 2020. RURA were named Live Act of the Year at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards. Since then, RURA's powerful, entrancing instrumentals have been a main stage highlight of many of the world’s leading folk festivals.
The Kugels are a Wellington based klezmer band that specializes in a mixture of ancient traditional tunes and freshly composed ones by the band’s accordionist Ross Harris. The Kugels are united by their love of feisty 19th century folk music of the Jewish people.
The Kugels Photo: Atoll Records
Back in the 50s vibraphonist Cal Tjader was one of the first non latino musicians to play Latin, even before the bossa nova craze started. He had a string of successful mambo bands and many hits playing mambo versions of pop songs. We hear some Cal Tjader tunes.
In the 60s the Baja Marimba Band performed their slice of bossa nova dressed in Mexican style sombreros and faux latino outfits.
Violinist Nigel Kennedy was experimenting with jazz, way before he became known for revitalizing classical music. While a teenager at the Menhuin school, Kennedy met Stéphane Grappelli who had such fun jamming with the 14 year old, he invited Nigel to join him on stage at Ronnie Scott’s in London. Inspired by that experience last year he released his new Gershwin album Kennedy Meets Gershwin – hailed by The Guardian as "rip-roaring and exquisitely tender”.
Emmanuel Séjourné writes music that ranges from classical to improvised. His Concertos for percussion are a great success – one of them, the concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra, is a major part of the marimba repertoire, played more than 600 times since it was first done in 2005.
Music details:
MUSSER: Etude in C, Op.6 No.10 - Evelyn Glennie (percussion), National Philharmonic Orchestra, (RCA RD 60242)
EDWARDS: Marimba Dances - Evelyn Glennie (RCA RD 60557)
HOLLMER: Videpiano - Maria Kalaniemi (AITO 134401)
HOLLMER: Cirkus II - Maria Kalaniemi (AITO 134401)
RURA: Catriona's - RURA (RURA002)
RURA: Forged - RURA (RURA002)
TRAORE: Lalla - Rokia Traore (NONESUCH 979591)
HARRIS: Moler - The Kugels (ATOLL 508166)
HARRIS: Voglenish - The Kugels (ATOLL 508166)
HARRIS: A Vayser Shayn - The Kugels (ATOLL 508166)
HENRY: Evil Ways - Cal Tjader (KENT 672139)
Baja Marimba Band: Flyin' High - Baja Marimba Band (DERAM 535547)
GERSHWIN: They Can't Take That Away from Me - Nigel Kennedy (Warner Classics 0190295642136)
GERSHWIN: Our Love Is Here to Stay - Nigel Kennedy (Warner Classics 0190295642136)
SEJOURNE: Final movement, from Concerto for marimba & strings - Katarzyna Mycka & Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra (Mons Records 1461675263332)
