Mika Stoltzman, called “High-wire jazz marimbist... an amazing, energetic performer ready for major exposure.” (LA Times) was born in Amakusa Island, Kumamoto, Japan, and 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 her producer. “Mika Stoltzman makes the marimba sound so natural within jazz.” (JazzTimes,2014)

Mika released her first album, Mitsue, in 1998, followed up by her second release, Marimba Phase, in 2003 under Monroe Street. In 2010 Mika also released a live DVD, Marimba Madness, which features Gadd, Gomez and Peter John Stoltzman on piano. 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).

She has also appeared on Richard Stoltzman’s CD Goldberg Variation (BMG Japan) and Jo Hisaishi’s Asian X.T.C. (Universal Japan). In August, 2011, Mika celebrated sold-out recitals at Blue Note Jazz clubs throughout Japan with her group, MIKARIMBA, featuring Mika on marimba, the legendary Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez, and the formidable Stefan Karlsson (piano). In 2012, Mika celebrated a sold-out recital at Carnegie Weill Hall in NYC. Mika performed 8 world premiere pieces with Richard Stoltzman, Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez and Mike Mainieri (vibraphone). In September, Mika performed at the World Heritage Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, Japan with Richard Stoltzman and Duke Gadd (drums). She then joined with Eddie Gomez and the four completed a successful Japan tour.

On May 30th,2013, Mika celebrated another sold-out recital at Carnegie Weill Hall performing World Premiere works by John Zorn, Bill Douglas, Steve Reich, William Thomas McKinley, and Chick Corea's new arrangements with Richard Stoltzman, Gayle Moran Corea, Harlem String Quartet, David Finck (bass), Bill Cahn (per), Bill Pihl (piano), and Duke Gadd, with a special guest appearance by Chick Corea.


John T. La Barbera guitarist, composer, educator, author and concert artist has performed to audiences throughout the U.S., Europe and South America with both classical, traditional Southern Italian folk and original music. 
Awards and commissions as composer: The Jerome Foundation, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, The Martin Gruss Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts, Meet the Composer, ASCAP and awarded as one of the first transcribers of Southern Italian folk music in America from The Italian Oral History Institute.
Film composer credits include: The Bounty Hunter (Columbia Pictures); Academy Award Nominated feature documentary Children of Fate; Sister Italy; Sacco and Vanzetti; Drifting; Pane Amaro; What’s Up Scarlet?; La Festa; and Tarantella.
Off-Broadway composer and musical director credits include: Souls of Naples, starring John Turturro (The Duke Theater on 42 Street); Kaos, directed by Martha Clarke at The New York Theater Workshop; productions at La MaMa and Theater for a New City.
Original folk operas include: Stabat Mater: Donna di Paradiso; The Voyage of the Black Madonna; The Dance of the Ancient Spider and The Adventures of Don Giovanni and Pulcinella.
Published works include: Italian Folk Music for Mandolin; Traditional Southern Italian Mandolin and Fiddle Tunes (Mel Bay Publications)
His virtuosity on a wide variety of fretted string instruments has enabled him to
record for some of Hollywood’s most prominent film composers; Disney World in Shanghai China; and numerous jingles for TV and radio. He holds a M.M. from William Paterson University and a B.M. from The Hartt School of Music. He is an adjunct professor at the Bergen Community College in Paramus, and artist in residence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.


Ofri Eliaz
www.ofrieliaz.com
Israeli singer who sings in Ladino and Hebrew


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