Marimba Forever

Musicians tend to gravitate toward and excel at particular instruments that suit their individual personalities [“Lorenzo ‘Lencho’ Martinez (1923-2009): Musician,” 9/20/09]. As a musician who heard Lorenzo Sr. play many times, and who has likewise had many happy opportunities to hear and play with his equally gifted sons, I can say that the marimba was a perfect musical “voice” for this man: soft-spoken and unassuming, yet complex, versatile, and powerful either in its own right, or as part of a larger ensemble. That describes to a T Lorenzo Sr., whose innate musicianship and mastery of his instrument truly was an amazing thing to see and hear. – Mark Wietstock