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1/14/2012 7~10pm
For the first time ever, world renowned clarinetist Richard Stolzman and New York City Marimbist Mika Yoshida will join forces and present their latest project, BACH & MONK. Richard Stoltzman is arguably the world’s best-known clarinetist, who has both helped to broaden the repertory for classical clarinet and made numerous forays into jazz, Latin and crossover styles. Over a long career, he has accomplished a number of firsts for his instrument, becoming the first wind player to receive the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize, and the first clarinetist to give solo recitals in Carnegie Hall and at the Hollywood Bowl. He has appeared with orchestras and chamber groups around the world, performed with pop artists like Mel Torme and Judy Collins, and won two Grammy Awards. Yoshida has been described as “a flame dancing before her instrument” (New York City Concert Review), who recently celebrated sold-out recitals throughout the Blue Note Jazz clubs in Japan with her group, MIKARIMBA, featuring Steve Gadd, Eddie Gomez and Stefan Karlsson.
ABOUT MIKA YOSHIDA
Born in Amakusa Island, Kumamoto, Japan, Yoshida now resides in New York City. Since studying at the University of Toronto, Yoshida 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.
Yoshida 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, Mirimba Madness, which features Gadd, Gomez and Peter John Stoltzman on piano. Her latest album, Mikarimba (VideoArt Music Japan 2010) was produced by drummer Steve Gadd and feature the bassist Eddie Gomez. Yoshida has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Zankel + Weill Halls, Tokyo (2001, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010), in addition to touring in cities around the world. Her arrangement and performance of “Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint” appears on Steve Reich’s CD Triple Quartet (Nonesuch). Yoshida has also appeared on Richard Stoltzman’s CD Goldberg Variation (BMG Japan) and Jo Hisaishi’s Asian X.T.C. (Universal Japan).
This August, 2011, Yoshida celebrated sold-out recitals throughout the Blue Note Jazz clubs throughout Japan with her group, MIKARIMBA, featuring Yoshida on marimba, the legendary Steve Gadd on drums, Eddie Gomez on bass and the formidable pianist Stefan Karlsson. On April 3rd, 2012, Yoshida will be premiering pieces specifically written for her by Chick Corea, Marcos Valle and Mike Mainieri at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
ABOUT RICHARD STOLTZMAN
Two-time Grammy Award winning clarinetist 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. As one of today’s most sought-after artists, Stoltzman has been a soloist with more than a hundred orchestras as well as a recitalist and chamber music performer, innovative jazz artist, and prolific recording artist. A two-time Grammy Award winner, he has amazed critics and audiences alike in repertory spanning many musical genres. Stoltzman’s talents as a jazz performer as well as a classical artist have been heard far beyond his annual tours. He has performed and recorded with such classical, jazz, and pop greats as Emmanual Az, Yo-Yo Ma, Gary Burton, the Canadian Brass, Chick Corea, Judy Collins, Eddie Gomez, Keith Jarrett, the King’s Singers, George Shearing, Wayne Shorter, Mel Tormé, and Spyro Gyra founder Jeremy Wall. Stoltzman frequently performs with his son Peter John Stoltzman, a talented classical and jazz pianist and composer. Stoltzman graduated from Ohio State University with a double major in music and mathematics. He earned his Master of Music degree at Yale University while studying with Keith Wilson, and later studied with Kalmen Opperman at Columbia University. He makes his home in Massachusetts and is a passionate Boston Red Sox fan. He is also a Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef whose specialty is the Linzer Torte.
