About Marimba Music
Zimbabwean marimba music has a tendency to take over people’s lives in a way that is pretty much indescribable. Once entranced by the sheer joy of playing this music, it becomes an integral part of one's existence. Such is the transformative journey embraced by Pamwe Marimba, an ensemble composed of passionate advocates of this musical tradition across the United States.
Zimabwean music came to the United States in the late 1960’s via Dumisani Maraire, a Zimbabwean musician who was invited to teach at the University of Washington in the Ethnomusicology department. Maraire, known by his peers as “Dumi,” was originally teaching the music of the mbira, a traditional African-style instrument. As he gained a following of students, he decided to have a set of marimbas shipped to Seattle from the Kwanongoma College in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to start a band with his students. This was the first ensemble of this kind in the U.S., and the music took the people by storm.
Over the course of the 1970’s, people came and went from Dumi’s bands, and many of his students relocated and began their own marimba projects, passing on what they had learned from Dumi. Since then, many other Zimbabwean musicians have come to the U.S. to teach the music. There are now Zim-style marimba programs in many of the states, primarily the western states, many of which host Zimbabwean teachers regularly. The members of Pamwe grew up playing this style of music in their respective local communities, including Boulder (CO), Santa Fe (NM), Eugene (OR), Spokane (WA), and Coeur d’Alene (ID).
The members of Pamwe all formerly played in Santa Fe-based ensemble, Polyphony Marimba, under the direction of Peter Swing. After the announcement of the retirement of Polyphony’s touring era, Pamwe was formed in an effort to continue making music together. The musical and relational chemistry that this group of musicians has is both beautiful and powerful, and the members decided it was a must to continue playing together; thus, Pamwe was born!
Pamwe’s vision is to share the beautiful music of Zimbabwe that the members have grown up learning, studying, and playing. We are also excited to share how this music has impacted our own artistic and musical styles by including original compositions.
The band embarked on two separate tours in 2024, one in the Southwest and one in the Midwest. Most recently, Pamwe recorded their first album which will be released in May of 2025, stay tuned!
Meet the Band!
Jesse Larson
Jesse Larson began playing marimba at the age of 11 at the Kutandara Center in Boulder, Colorado, and 19 years later is still going strong. Throughout her teen years she continued to study Zimbabwean music with her primary teachers, Randy McIntosh and Amy Stewart McIntosh, as well as many Zimbabwean instructors, and began teaching regularly at her studio. Since then, Jesse has taught throughout the US and in Indonesia, and though she is currently residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she still regularly travels to teach in Colorado, Alaska and around the US. Above anything else, Jesse loves performing, and has been a band member of Kutandara, Ande, Polyphony, Tamba, Zuva, and Supa Kalulu. Sharing this infectious music with both her students and audience is her joy.
Raven Swing
Raven has been playing music since the age of 6. He grew up surrounded by Zimbabwean and West African rhythms and grooves, and they’ve deeply impacted his entire musical style and intuition. With the help of friends/family, and the influence of traditional Zimbabwean music, he has composed music that has been enjoyed by many and even taught to a few other marimba groups around the US. These days, he is especially inspired by musicians such as Chiwoniso Maraire and Thomas Mapfumo, who have masterfully weaved together traditional Shona music with more modern instruments and ideas. Beyond their skill with music, Raven is very interested in learning more about their history and the lyrical content of their songs, which is very powerful and contains lessons that are prevalent today.
Adam Halpin
At the age of 11 in Spokane, Washington, Adam discovered his passion for marimba while playing in his high school band, Musha Marimba. Since then, he has become a dedicated marimba player, touring with Polyphony Marimba in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023, and currently with Pamwe Marimba. Residing in his hometown, Adam enjoys all genres of music—listening, creating, and playing. He also finds joy in playing the mbira, another traditional Zimbabwean instrument. Beyond the music, Adam loves to spend time with friends and family.
David Onstott
David Onstott began playing marimba in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when he was eight years old, taking marimba classes with other kids taught by Peter Swing. David played in a marimba ensemble with homeschool kids called "Fangura". He then moved to Ecuador and Spain with his family for a couple of years, where he enjoyed getting involved in the very rich cultures of those countries. When he moved back to the States, it was hard for him to find a marimba band to play in again. However, after a few years, David came in contact with Polyphony Marimba in Santa Fe and was invited to start practicing and performing with them, so his passion and skill on the marimbas was renewed. After touring with polyphony marimba for five successful tours, David began playing with Pamwe marimba. He currently lives in Santa Fe, NM, where he teaches snowboarding in the winters, and during the summers, goes to Alaska and fishes.
Conrad Rice
Conrad Rice is from Eugene, Oregon, and is now living and working in Portland, Oregon. He has been playing marimba at the Kutsinhira Cultural Arts Center in Eugene since he was seven years old, and he has loved the music since day one. He has gone on three national tours with Polyphony Marimba and is also currently a member of Portland's Boka Marimba.
He is a percussionist at heart, and aside from marimba he plays the drums. Some of his other interests include photography and exploring the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. He loves how much energy and excitement this music has to offer, and is thrilled that Pamwe Marimba has come together to keep creating music!
Caden Davis
Caden Davis, 24, is an active performer, teacher, arranger, composer, and lover of all things music. Originally from North Idaho, Caden got his start playing marimba in his 4th grade elementary music program, led by Tina Gospodneditch and Sally Sorenson. He spent his remaining school years playing in the Coeur d’Alene Youth Marimba group until he graduated high school in 2017. He went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Trumpet Performance at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho in 2021, during which he directed a high school marimba program at Moscow Charter School. After graduating college, he became the full-time Music Director at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene, ID, as well as joined life-long favorite marimba group Polyphony Marimba for their 2021 and 2023 tours.
In 2023, he relocated to Bellingham, WA with his girlfriend, Kristen, and his beloved kitty, Moo. He teaches at the Rubatano Center in Langley, WA, under the direction of the legendary Dana Moffett and is pursuing a master’s degree in Music Education from Western Washington University.
Julia Nelson
Julia started playing marimba at the age of 8 with her 3rd grade class at school. She quickly fell in love with the music and began playing at the Kutandara Center there, where she continued to play throughout middle and high school, under the direction of Amy and Randy McIntosh and Daniel Lockley. She had the chance to go to Zimbabwe twice in 2017 and 2018 where she was able to learn first-hand from several master musicians such as Alois Mutsinhiri, Jacob Mafuleni, and Forward Kwenda. During this period she performed in several marimba ensembles, including Kutandara, Polyphony Marimba, and in college as a guest at the Eastman School of Music. In addition to playing with Pamwe, Julia also plays in SUPA! When not playing marimba, Julia enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and trail running.
Branson Seamons
Having been born and raised in the small town of Blackfoot, Idaho, as a young child Branson Seamons had very few musical opportunities until age seven. At that time his family relocated to Coeur d'Alene, where he began to surround himself with musical groups and opportunities at school. In second grade, he joined the school's choir and drumming program, which he continued for the next three years. Then Branson's family moved again and his new school offered even more music, including a marimba ensemble class.
After seeing the marimbas and hearing the music originating in Zimbabwe, he included himself in their marimba program and ever since that time, he hasn't put his mallets down!