Brian Calhoon, percussion & marimba

This is a later voice & marimba arrangement I made while studying with Nancy Zeltsman in the Fall of 2007. It’s a direction I’ve really enjoyed exploring. I am in the process of creating more pieces in this singing & playing genre.

In The Wee Small Hours Mann/Hilliard | arr. Brian Calhoon

Wee Small Hours

Recorded May of 2008 in a basement practice room of The Boston Conservatory.

This was made using the built-in webcam on my MacBook, so the y-axis is flipped. Also, please excuse the mediocre sound quality.

All Is Quiet Bob Mintzer & Lawrence Hobgood, music | Kurt Elling, lyrics | adapt. Brian Calhoon

This is the very first singing & playing experiment I ever made in which I played on a stacked marimba & vibraphone, and sang. I created this arrangement with the supportive guidance of Jack Van Geem at SFCM in the Spring of 2007.

The original is a big band tune by Bob Mintzer, which Kurt Elling then treated with his skilled vocalese, singing his lyrics accompanied by his pianist, Lawrence Hobgood. I then transcribed their voice & piano version and adapted it to my “marimba-vibraphone” and voice.

All Is Quiet

Recorded at the 2007 ZMF Participants’ Marathon Concert in the Lawrence University Chapel (Appleton, WI).

If you have trouble playing the video, try double-clicking on the video image.

The Connection

Recorded at the 2008 ZMF Participants’ Marathon Concert in the Colburn School of Music Zipper Concert Hall (Los Angeles, CA).

The Connection James Rolfe, music | Daniil Kharms, text

This is a very creative piece & unusual setting of text from an early 20th century Russian philosopher (Kharms) in which the composer (Rolfe) requires the performer to speak in rhythmic unison with the right hand, accompanied by an quasi-serial left hand ostinato.

Keep checking back for more updates!