Madison Marimba Quartet

(2023 Isthmus pick) The Madison Marimba Quartet is back! The most mellifluous of the percussion instruments, marimbas are — well let’s just say that if there is sad music written for marimba, it does not stay sad for long. This free concert by the all-marimba band (the indefatigable Jim Latimer, Tim Gruber, Nancy Riesch-Flannery and Jim’s son Jim D.) will include the Kalliwoda Quartet Opus 61, Beatles tunes, and jazz selections from the likes of Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Bring a chair.

Bring a chair and a friend. Plenty of off-street and in the parkland parking. Brought to you by the Capitol City Band Association in cooperation with Madison Parks. Let’s just call it “making music in Madison.”

Members of the quartet include Tim Gruber (Madison) who is a recent retiree from the Madison Schools and now serves as volunteer coordinator for the Madison Children’s Museum. Returning marimbist Nancy Riesch-Flannery (Middleton) is a recent retiree and sub for the Middleton-Cross Plains School District and devoted grandmotherteaching her grandkids music, of course. Rounding out the quartet is the father-son Latimer duo. Newest member, James D. (often referred to as Jim D, from Mineral Point) has played marimba from an early age including Young Artist performances with the Madison and Milwaukee Symphonies. His father, James H. (aka Jim from Oregon) founded the quartet in 1980. Looking back, he says “that’s 43 years playing with the quartet but I’ve been playing marimba for about 80 years. In fact, I had to stand on a coke box to reach the keys when I first started.” The elder Latimer also conducts the Capitol City Band free concerts in Rennebohm Park.

This year the quartet is joined by Greg Riss.

The June 18 concert, Our Gift To You, is free and open to the public and for the quartet members, it is “our way of giving back to the community.” According to Nancy Riesch-Flannery, “it’s just like another concert in the park; we want people to bring chairs and be comfortable. I think all will be delighted to hear and see four musicians playing four marimbas.” Marimba quartet playing has become popular in college and university settings, but it is not something you see every day in the community especially a public concert.

For more information, call 608 835-9861. Visit www.mmqccb.org or like us on Facebook, Madison Marimba Quartet.