Concert/Classical/Marching Artists
Mika Stoltzman
Marimbist
​
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 and Boston. 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 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. Her latest album, Mikarimba (Video Art Music, Japan 2010) was produced by drummer Steve Gadd and features bassist Eddie Gomez.
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)
​
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.
​
In August 2013,Mika;s guest performance of Chick Corea's Piano Concerto No.1 on Marimba (World Premiere) with Xalapa Symphony Orchestra in Mexico conducted by Langranco Marchlletti on Sep 1st was a great success.
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.