The Mika Stoltzman Quintet ft. Richard Stoltzman

Born in Amakusa Island, Kumamoto, Japan, Mika now resides in New York City. Since studying at the University of Toronto, Mika has devoted herself to marimba performance and musical studies under the strong influence of the NEXUS. She is also studying jazz privately with jazz vibe master, Mike Mainieri, in New York, while Steve Gadd has been producing her musically. Mika released her first album, Mitsue, in 1998, followed up by her second release, Marimba Phase, in 2003 under Monroe Street. In 2010… Show more Mika also released a live DVD, Marimba Madness, which features Gadd, Gomez and Peter John Stoltzman on piano. Her latest album, Mikarimba (Video Art Music, Japan 2010) was produced by drummer Steve Gadd and features bassist Eddie Gomez. Mika has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel + Weill Halls, Tokyo (2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011), PASIC (2005, 2007), in addition to touring in cities around the world.

She premiered John Wyre’s Moonlight for marimba and orchestra with the Kyushu Symphony, and Bill Douglas’s marimba concerto with the Kumamoto Symphony Orchestra. She was also guest soloist in the Kracow Philharmonic in Poland, and Szombathely Symphony Orchestra in Hungary. Her arrangement and performance of “Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint” appears on Steve Reich’s CD Triple Quartet (Nonesuch). Mika has also appeared on Richard Stoltzman’s CD Goldberg Variation (BMG Japan) and Jo Hisaishi’s Asian X.T.C. (Universal Japan). August, 2011, Mika celebrated sold-out recitals throughout the Blue Note Jazz clubs throughout Japan with her group, MIKARIMBA, featuring Mika on marimba, the legendary Steve Gadd on drums, Eddie Gomez on bass and the formidable pianist Stefan Karlsson.

Show less