Catalogue

Summary:

Crossing the Bar showcases the creative boldness of Mika Stoltzman, the world’s leading marimba virtuosa, engaging in the sound worlds of contemporary classical and jazz through original works and arrangements of music by J. S. Bach, John Zorn, Claude Debussy and Miho Hazama.Mika Stoltzman is the world’s leading marimba virtuosa whose imaginative, genre-bending collaborations have cemented her unique place in the music world. Crossing the Bar is a thoughtfully conceived, beautifully executed, and boldly multi-idiomatic album that is an entrée into the unique possibilities of the contemporary marimba.

Crossing the Bar puts the creative boldness that has defined Mika’s career on full display, engaging in the sound worlds of contemporary classical and jazz with equal devotion and insight. Opening with her beloved Bach “Chaconne in D minor” in a new arrangement for marimba and strings – backed by members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Modern Orchestra Project – the album segues to “Breathturn: Part 1” by frequent collaborator, composer John Zorn, featuring Mika’s husband, the celebrated clarinettist Richard Stoltzman. Next is an enchanting arrangement of Debussy’s “Rêverie” for marimba and strings, followed by a barn-storming world-premiere recording of the “Marimba Concerto No. 1” by Mika’s compatriot, GRAMMY-nominated composer Miho Hazama, which brilliantly showcases Mika’s virtuosic talents alongside those of fellow-musicians Richard Stoltzman, jazz bass player Eddie Gómez and drummer Steve Gadd.

Tracklist:

Crossing the Bar
World-premiere recordings

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
1. Chaconne in D minor from Partita No.2 BWV 1004 18.06
arr. for *marimba & °strings by Mika Stoltzman* & Steven Lipsitt°

JOHN ZORN (b. 1953)
2. Breathturn: Part 1 (2025) 4.38

CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862–1918)
3. Rêverie CD 76 5.44
arr. for marimba & strings by Takeshi Fuse

MIHO HAZAMA (b. 1986)
4–6. Marimba Concerto No.1 (2021) 19.42

Mika Stoltzman, marimba
(2) Richard Stoltzman, clarinet • Fred Sherry, cello
(4–6) Richard Stoltzman, clarinet • Eddie Gómez, jazz bass • Steve Gadd, drums
(1, 3, 4–6) members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Steven Lipsitt, conductor (1, 3) • Miho Hazama, conductor (4–6)