Percussions

Keiko Abe is linked to the marimba the way Isaac Stern is linked to the violin, or Yo Yo Ma to the cello. She has given master classes at leading music conservatories in North America, Europe, and Asia.In addition, she has recorded extensively on the Denon label, and has received numerous awards, including being the first woman inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame. Abe is a Professor of Music at Toho Gauken School of Music in Tokyo, maintains a full schedule of composing and touring, and has released more than 20 recordings. 

David Friedman, internationally renowned vibraphonist, marimbist, composer and jazz educator, has his own musical message, born of fascinatingly diverse musical influences. Few jazz musicians can claim as broad a spectrum of performing and recording experience, with such varied musical personalities as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Berio, Bobby McFerrin, Wayne Shorter and Yoko Ono. The list doesn`t stop there. Friedman has been heard either live or on recordings with, among others, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Johnny Griffin, Jane Ira Bloom, Ron Carter and John Scofield. His compositions are featured on Chet Baker`s award winning Enja release, Peace, with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Joe Chambers. Friedman is also the featured soloist on this recording. 

Performer Zivkovic completed his master's degrees in composition, music theory and percussion in Germany. His consistent duality, his untiring work - both as composer and performer - account for his unique artistic personality. His concert tours have taken him through many European countries, repeatedly to the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and recently Mexico. Contemporary music is an important part of Zivkovic's repertoire, and many composers have written works dedicated to him. His own music can best be described as "New Music with flesh and soul" and specially his works for marimba and percussion published in the USA and Germany have entered the standard repertoire of many percussionist world-wide.Zivkovic has also made a number of radio recordings in Germany and abroad, as well as several TV appearances.