Poconos by Nancy Zeltsman

This version of Leo Blanco's “Poconos” features solo marimba performed by Zeltsman with a backing track she created based on Blanco's version for percussion ensemble. With his permission, Zeltsman condensed and shortened the piece and, using MIDI, realized, arranged, and preliminarily mixed a backing track. Leo suggested that Nancy ask their good friend Jamey Haddad (Paul Simon’s percussionist) to add percussion tracks to her arrangement.

Nancy’s vision is a walk through Leo's fantastically inventive composition (largely based on a 9/4 ostinato pattern) that feels a bit like a wonderland: a place to discover what is in between imagined and real. The solo marimba part weaves through many roles, from covering simple melodies to bass parts, chordal accompaniment, and a few solos that soar above.

The idea to create this version came to Nancy in mid-2021 as a means to explore technology and MIDI that she began to study during COVID. New and humbling territory, it drew her into hundreds of hours of absorbing work through the summer of 2021 and into 2022. She recorded the solo marimba part and produced this single in the summer and fall of 2023.

Back in 2002, while the Venezuelan pianist/composer Leo Blanco (b. 1971) visited Haddad at his farm in the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania, Jamey played Leo a recording of "Walking Song" from the album “Bayaka: The Extraordinary Music of the Babenzele Pygmies" from western Congo. Jamey saw it sparked an idea; Leo excused himself to work awhile at a piano.

The tune Blanco sketched that day turned into “Poconos.” He recorded it on his 2003 album “Roots & Effects” and continues to perform it in jazz and World music settings — often with Haddad on percussion. Leo created his version for large percussion ensemble in 2012, and performed a wonderful piano/jazz trio and orchestra version with the Caracas Youth Orchestra in 2014 (available on YouTube).

From Nancy: Huge thanks to Leo Blanco for your beautiful piece and kind support of my unusual project, and to Jamey Haddad for so generously contributing not only your soulful, brilliant percussion tracks but lots of advice I needed! Jamey also connected me to one of his favorite engineers: Michael Seifert at Suma Recording Studio in Painesville, Ohio who contributed so much to this piece! Michael recorded Jamey’s tracks, mixed the backing track I use in live performances, and recorded the solo marimba heard in this version. Thank you so much, Michael! Thanks to the great Boston-based engineer Ted Paduck who worked with me to create this final single version. Thanks also to Luke Johnson and Berklee’s Technology Support, Doug Perkins, Weedie Braimah (who came by during Jamey’s recording session and contributed a djembe part near the end), and the Case Western Reserve University Department of Music (who loaned their marimba).

Nancy Zeltsman has been a pioneer and influencer in the world of contemporary classical marimba performance for over 40 years, via commissioning over 130 solo and chamber music compositions, numerous recordings and performances, and activity as a passionate teacher. Her marimba playing is recognized for its “velvety, rich-toned allure” (Colin Currie).

nancyzeltsman.com
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