Press Highlights:
- ...keeping the Shona music movement alive and growing in the Southwest!
- -Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide
- Rattletree is a "must see". They are a high energy fusion of African and other world influences that is immediately accessible, and rousing.
- -David Courtney, "Music beyond Borders", KPFT Houston 90.1 FM
- I AM totally amazed at the size of their Marimbas!! WOW -it's almost Surreal ~ you've really got to see this!!! The sounds are Amazing & So Much fun to dance with!
- -Sydney Strahan, facilitator-Houston Ecstatic Dance
- It was a sight to see and a unique joy to hear!
- -Tad Hendrickson, Global Rhythms Magazine
- Talking to Joel Laviolette is like listening to World music while reading National Geographic...
- -Carson Barker, Austin Music Magazine
- Marimba and electronica may not be musical terms associated with one another, but Rattletree Marimba, based in Austin, has earned a reputation for fusing giant, hand-made mallet percussion instruments with hypnotic grooves that make you want to get up and dance.
- -Joel Luks, CultureMap Houston
- More quotes...
Awards:
- Esme Barrera Award for Activism and Music
- Enjoy Texas Music Grant (received four times)
- Grant to build marimbas for the Texas School for the Blind (State of Texas)
Selected Festival Highlights:
- Austin Yoga Festival
- Addison Worldfest
- Boulder Theater
- Brazos Valley Worldfest
- Levitt Pavillion
- Levitt Shell Amphitheater
- Luminaria Festival (invited to be site installation) 2010-2013
- Make Magazine Maker Faire
- Official SXSW Showcases 2008-2013
- PASIC performance, workshop, and panel Discussion
- Texas Yoga Festival
- Wolf Pen Creek Amphitheater
Selected University Highlights:
- Colorado State University-Performance and workshops
- PASIC performance, workshop, and panel Discussion
- Prague, Czech Republic - guest clinician
- Sam Houston State University-Performance and workshops
- SMU McFarlin Auditorium-Performance
- Tarleton State University-Performance and workshops
- University of Gottingen, Germany - lecture and performance
- University of New Mexico-performance
Other Selected Performance Highlights:
- Austin Chamber of Commerce
- Austin City Hall
- Austin International Awards
- Austin Convention Center
- Houston PBS (The Artery)
- Threadgill's World Headquarters
- and many more...see full list of past performances
Teaching Highlights:
- PASIC 2009 - Performance and workshops
- Texas A&M University
- Sam Houston State University
- Tarleton State University
- Built marimbas for the Texas School for the Blind
- Keeling Magnet School Workshops
- Many, many grade schools
- Zimfest Workshops: '99, '01, '02, '03, '05, '09
- Camp Tumbuka
Rattletree on the Radio
Rattletree in Print
Quotes
- ...keeping the Shona music movement alive and growing in the Southwest!
- -Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide
- Rattletree is a "must see". They are a high energy fusion of African and other world influences that is immediately accessible, and rousing.
- -David Courtney, "Music beyond Borders", KPFT Houston 90.1 FM
- You don't have to be booked at the festival to make an impact. Rattletree had dozens of fest-goers dancing on Barton Springs Road both Friday and Saturday nights. Look for a big turnout when the impressively melodic collective plays...
- -Michael Corcoran, Austin360
- Rattletree is authentic Zimbabwean marimba with a twist. It's impossible to resist the African beat commanding you to move along with the energetic music.
- -Wendy Wever-Austin Daze Magazine
- The more I listened to Chamukwenjere the wider my frequencies became, which means that I could go to higher planes of existence. The song is a vehicle to higher astral realm. It is simply beyond words.
- -Ambuya Stella Chiweshe-Zimbabwean Musician (Piranha Records)
- I AM totally amazed at the size of their Marimbas!! WOW -it's almost Surreal ~ you've really got to see this!!! The sounds are Amazing & So Much fun to dance with!
- -Sydney Strahan, facilitator-Houston Ecstatic Dance
- ...if you happen to be at one of their shows and you�re not dancing/grooving in some way � there�s no hope for you, you�re already dead!
- -found on an online blog describing show at Revolution (College Station, TX)
- I was extremely impressed with the craftsmanship of the marimbas! The show was mesmerizing. The music was so beautiful and hypnotic, most people couldn't stop dancing and they were fabulous to watch. Looking forward to another show!!
- -Hannah Williams, Austin Musician
- I've heard all the best players of Zimbabwean music for over 20 years, and Joel Laviolette is a serious chain in the link of it's continuity.
- -Ralph White, Austin Musician
- Fabulous sounds. Fascinating seeing these lily white guys sing and play African music with as much passion and talent as if they were from the continent.
- -A'Muse Media, Houston