Mika Yoshida – Mikarimba Success at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall

January 14, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mika Yoshida’s concert at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall on Friday, January 7th proved to be a powerful combination of musical prowess and refined elegance. The program opened with Billy Strayhorn’s Take the “A” Train and included Ludwig Van Beethoven’s Pathetique but there were musically complex selections from Bill Douglas that definitively won the audience over in the first half – Sanbata and Jubilation.

Mika Yoshida captivated the audience as she performed songs from her newest album, Mikarimba! produced by Steve Gadd. This is Mika’s first jazz / pop album and Friday’s concert was a brilliant showcase of her musical virtuosity and strength.

Mika’s ensemble at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall included internationally-acclaimed drummer, Steve Gadd and legendary bassist, Eddie Gomez with special guests Peter John Stoltzman, jazz pianist extraordinaire and Richard Stoltzman, beloved innovative clarinetist and prolific recording artist.

The second half of the program featured two world premieres – Crazy Marimba for Marimba and Drums written by Michiru Oshima and Mostly Blues for Marimba and Clarinet by William Thomas McKinley. Each piece featured the warm tones and capabilities of the marimba instrument and drew appreciative response by the audience.

Eddie Gomez wrote Mika Suite to ‘showcase the colors, styles and warmth of the marimba’ and featured three movements – Rubato, Moderato and Latino Dance. The crowd wildly cheered the musical diversity and beautiful complex melodic rhythms. Steve Gadd’s compositions, Gadd About, Strength and The Duke received thunderous applause and audience participation as well.

Innsbruck Records would like to thank and recognize Momentum Music’s Ben Stidham and Greg Monty for providing their expertise on the successful media campaign. Their promotions included features and rotations on prestigious radio stations and jazz publications as well as CD / DVD reviews. Thank you also to Steve Singer, archival photographer for the concert, Jane Marino, videographer who created the YouTube promotions and to Randee Mia Berman and Johnny Mandolin for their radio interview with Mika Yoshida & Eddie Gomez.