Brian Calhoon's MARIMBA CABARET to Return to Club Cafe This Fall

"What's a marimba?" It's like a xylophone, but bigger and more fabulous - just like Brian.

See what happens when a classically-trained percussionist with a (not so) secret love of musical theater - and killer taste in shoes - puts on a show. Brian Calhoon's Marimba Cabaret brings together years of training and in an evening of theater tunes and pop covers performed on marimba, vibraphone, and voice. Joined by director and percussionist Greg Jukes, Brian will sing, play, and (at times) stand 7-feet tall.

Winner of the "Critic's Choice Award" at Maine's PortFringe, Marimba Cabaret also made its Provincetown debut this summer. Returning to Boston, two all new shows will take place at Club Café in Boston's historic Back Bay (209 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116) on October 29 and November 25. Tickets are $15 with optional table service and bar.

Each performance has a different theme with new covers, arrangements, and guest artists. You've never experienced anything like Marimba Cabaret. Audience members say it's "fun, unexpected, inventive, full of heart, and well done" and "an imaginative concept, exceptionally executed."

The first fall show, on October 29 at 2pm, will see Brian and Greg playing "dress up" with fellow Disney aficionado, soprano Anna Ward. This fresh and unexpected evening showcases Brian's love of songs and characters from iconic musicals such as The Sound of Music, Grey Gardens, and Wicked. They'll also escape into the magical world of Disney (and karaoke favorite) with hit songs like A Whole New World from "Aladdin," and premiere a "princess mashup" designed to delight the most hard core fans. They'll also include songs from the "Princesses of Pop," Beyonce, Adele, and Whitney Houston, with all-new arrangements of Beyoncé's emotional ballad Sandcastles, a mash-up of Adele's smash hits Hello & Someone Like You with a surprise special guest, and Wilson Phillips' ballad Hold On.

The November 25 show at 8pm sees Brian and Greg collaborating with singer-songwriter Carrie Cheron. Known for her warm and velvety vocals, Carrie will sing and play guitar alongside Brian on the marimba and Greg on drums. What better way to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving than with a "throwback" concert with music from the 80s and 90s? They'll be covering songs by Jewel, Alanis Morrissette, No Doubt, and others with all new arrangements for marimba, percussion, and voice.

Brian Calhoon combines his experience as a percussionist and vocalist to perform a dynamic collection of music for marimba and his voice. Brian has presented his unique repertoire in concert and masterclass around the U.S. and Asia, including recent appearances in Taipei, Beijing, Interlochen Arts Academy, Berklee College of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, and Zeltsman Marimba Festival. A San Francisco bay area native, Brian resides in Boston and is active as an arts administrator and freelance percussionist. He is Executive Director for Boston Percussion Group, lead performer of the Marimba Cabaret, and Director of Admissions at Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Brian has worked with significant musicians of our time from Steve Reich and Lyle Mays (of Pat Metheny Group) to the Borromeo String Quartet and his former teachers, Jack Van Geem and Nancy Zeltsman, among others. Brian is a Bang On A Can Summer Institute fellow, former Zeltsman Marimba Festival associate faculty, Blue Devils Drum & Bugle A-Corps alum, and graduate of the San Francisco Conservatory and Boston Conservatory. Visit briancalhoon.com to learn more.

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