What is a crossover marimbist?
A crossover marimbist is a marimbist that performs, writes, or simply explores music outside of the typical realm of modern marimba world of primarily though-composed, modern-classical repertoire. Crossover Marimbists utilize improvisation to adapt the marimba to “new” musical settings, such as jazz, folk, or Latin music.
What is the Crossover Marimba Collective?
The Crossover Marimba Collective is a group of marimba players dedicated to the expansion of the instrument through:
providing learning opportunities to marimbists of all levels that focuses on improvisation, exploring non-typical genres on the marimba, and engaging with other styles and musicians
cultivating new, creative works for marimba that utilize elements improvisation-based music
supporting marimba artists that work outside of the typical realm of modern-classical, through-composed music by providing a platform for them to share and present their art
creating a community of creative marimbists to inspire others to explore a more widely-diverse range of styles, genres, and practices for the marimba
Through the CMC, we hope to add to the breadth of the instrument, not take away. We want to see the instrument posses as much versatility as the guitar or piano by adding to its library of artists, recordings, and teaching approaches. The marimba has a rich history in folk music and improvisation, yet the instrument is primarily played in modern/classical, through-composed music settings. Our mission is expand the instrument by crossing over into new genres and practices, especially those that utilize improvisation and interactive freeplay, like: jazz, Latin, Americana, and beyond.
Where is the Collective?
The primary connection spot will be online, with at least one in-person event a year (also offered virtually).
Are you a skilled improviser/marimbist?
CMC is seeking guest artists/teachers. Do you have some marimba skills or insights that seem to fit right in around here? Send us a message here with “CMC GUEST” in the title and a brief proposal of your offering.
Crossover Marimba Workshop 2025
Evolving from the “Jenny Klukken Marimba Workshop” from 2024, the Crossover Marimba Workshop is an annual gathering (in-person and virtually) of creative, crossover marimbists. Hosted by Jenny Klukken at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, this weekend is packed with activities, including:
Presentations and group discussions on a creative approach to the marimba and its place in the wider-world of music-making
Workshops on practice techniques that emphasize the understanding of chords, harmony, improvisation, and arranging
One-on-one lessons with crossover marimbists working professionally
Time for participants to share their projects and receive feedback from like-minded musicians
Performances by crossover marimbists
Artistic Director - Jenny Klukken
Jenny started the Crossover Marimba Collective as the “Jenny Klukken Marimba Workshop” in 2024 and soon realized that her mission was more expansive than a one-day workshop. Seeing a missing piece of available resources for marimbists, Jenny created a space for creative musicians to explore the marimba as an integrated member of the music world. Her vision for the collective is to generate new works, offer educational resources, and gather like-minded marimbists, all with the goal to cross over into new genres and practices beyond the typical norm of the modern marimba.
BIO:
Jenny Klukken is a marimbist from Minneapolis who combines her classical percussion background with her passion for improvisation-based music like jazz. As a crossover musician, Jenny bridges the gap between virtuosic marimba repertoire and adaptive music-making. She strives to take the instrument to new ears, celebrating its versatility in a wide range of genres.
Klukken first moved to Minneapolis to study Percussion Performance at the University of Minnesota with Fernando Meza, Steve Yeager, and Phil Hey. At that time, she was interested in pursing jazz drumset but soon found her home was with the marimba. She spent years studying classic marimba repertoire before returning to her passion for improvisational genres like jazz, folk, Latin, hip hop, and beyond. For years after her formal education, Jenny played in various improv-based ensembles to develop her craft and her creative approach to a mostly-classical instrument. Through a grant from the Metropolitan Region Arts Council, Jenny travelled to Paris, France, in 2018 to study composition and improvisation on marimba with Eric Sammut. This experience studying with Sammut greatly influenced her playing and writing styles and led her to write many new works for marimba + band. In 2019, Jenny travelled to Costa Rica to teach marimba workshop and also learn about traditional Costa Rican folk music. In Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Jenny had the privilege of connecting with marimbists of ages. This trip enriched her connection to the instrument and its tradition in improvisation, which influences her as a performer and educator today.
Soon after, Jenny collected her compositions for marimba + band to crowd-fund, record, and produce her first full length record in 2021 entitled “Color in Motion”, which was the first of its kind: centering the marimba on a jazz/world music album. Color in Motion is filled with Latin percussion, complex rhythms, soaring melodies, and virtuosic marimba playing. It features some of Minneapolis’ finest, inluding: Nachito Herrera (piano), Chris Bates (upright bass), Dave Schmalenberger (drums), Byan Nichols (piano), as well as a connection to Costa Rica with drummer Carlomagno Araya.
Klukken currently teaches marimba at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, as well as teaching percussion at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. She is an active performer and musical collaborator in the Twin Cities area, where she lives. As passionate educator, she regularly visits Universities and high schools to teach and encourage young marimbists to incorporate improvisation and creativity into their musicianship. Jenny is a premier artist with Marimba One of Arcata, California, and a member of the Percussive Arts Society.