Album Notes

Founded in 1982, the Madison Marimba Quartet is Wisconsin's premier percussion ensemble. It is a unique ensemble that one has to see (and hear) to believe. Unlike quartets of different instruments, there is a smooth transition from player to player especially during improvisations. The sound of four marimbas being played together is amazing from the first note of Amazing Grace through a Grieg, Mozart or Brahms quartet to the last note of So What. It's nice, it's different, it's refreshing and it is still a relatively new art form in music performance. The quartet is committed to playing from the standard classical, contemporary, jazz and popular literature. MMQ delights in playing music from around the world. MMQ performs regularly by invitation for a fee.

Meet the Performers

Tim Gruber teaches music in the Madison schools and is a member of Atimevu Drum and Dance, a group that performs traditional music and dance from Ghana. His study tour of Ghana inspired his composition "Ghana Sweet." Tim joined the quartet in 1993.

Jim Latimer is well-known for his dedication and promotion of music. He is conductor of one of Wisconsin's finest professional concert bands, Madison's Capitol City Band. In 1999, he retired from a thirty-one year distinguished career as professor of music at UW-Madison and timpanist with the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

Matt Peters is a free lance percussionist in the Greater Madison Area and computer specialist at the Wisconsin State Historical Society.

Tom Shaver is high school band director at Portage WI. Prior to the Portage assignment, he established one of the most outstanding elementary/middle school band programs in Wisconsin in the Westfield School District. Tom has been playing with the quartet since 1991.