PRESS
L.A. Times: " . . .inventive, stylistically omnivorous composer and gifted performer . . .”
The New York Times: "Payton MacDonald's rich-textured Cowboy Tabla/Cowboy Raga . . . is nearly a percussion concerto, with Mr. MacDonald as energetic soloist."
Denver Post: " . . . one of the highlights, "Cowboy Tabla/Cowboy Raga" . . . The two pieces fuse into a 20-minute whole, creating an alluring, ever-changing exotic musical journey."
American Record Guide: ". . . MacDonald's works marshal a virtuosic tour de force from the performer. The rippling, shimmering textures he creates are hard to describe. I can't begin to imagine how he accomplishes them. Marimba wizardry? The cozy harmonies, the velvety propulsions, the gliding layers groove like some gauzy gamelan. As I listen, I'm drawn through a trance into the dizzying spell of MacDonald's Marimba-Oz. . . fantastic release . . . MacDonald's marimba is indeed super."
Textura Magazine:“Though Super Marimba includes remarkable performances, it's ultimately less noteworthy for its technical virtuosity and innovative instrument effects than for the strength of its compositions. . . . All credit to MacDonald . . . for once again single-handedly stretching the boundaries of percussion music in provocative manner."
American Record Guide:"His performance is strong and he displays a large range of dynamics and impeccable rhythmic precision . . . The finale’s quickness points out MacDonald’s dexterity with some extremely fast runs that he absolutely nails."
Grooves Magazine: "Marimbas are often stigmatized as mere entertainment for tots or fodder for broken-record minimalism. Payton MacDonald manages to trump both stereotypes with Super Marimba . . .[MacDonald] grew eight arms and concocts cats'-cradle melodies that seem to be performed by two musicians and offer new every time. . .Superhuman."
1700hz.com: “It is some of the best original contemporary classical music I have ever heard, performed by a man with extraordinary talent and a bright musical future.”
some random kid after a Super Marimba show: “I wasn't even high and that was awesome!”