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Rattletree is a high energy dance and trance band! We are a six-piece marimba band that plays traditional and contemporary Zimbabwean music. This music will make you dance your booty off!! What is a marimba?!? Check out the pic's section to see what you've been missing. Also, check out Rattletrees website to see the most recent news, etc.

To learn more about the history of Rattletree and Zimbabwean Music both here in the US and in Zimbabwe, visit our website at Rattletree.com.

Joel Laviolette:

Joel began studying the mbira in 1995, and those studies took him to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Canada, and back to the US. He formed a record company, Mhumhi Records, in 2001. This was done to promote and support the groups that Joel recorded while in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Profits from those recordings go directly to the musicians involved. If you like any of the music on this page, please consider checking out Mhumhi Records and hearing the roots of this music.

Joel has had the joy of performing on stage and/or touring with some of the greatest musicians to come out of Zimbabwe, including Newton Gwara, Stella Chiweshe, Tute Chigamba, Garidziva Chigamba, Ambuya Buelar Dyoko, and David Gweshe. He has also done extensive teaching for students of all ages and is one of the regular teachers for Zimfest-an annual music festival dedicated to Zimbabwean music. Teaching children is one of his passions, and he is always excited to give workshops and demonstrations for children. Joel is regularly asked to teach Zimbabwean styles of guitar, mbira, matepe, and marimba. He is also the only North-American specialist of the Mozambiquen nyanga(panpipe ensemble) and has been honored to share that knowledge with others.

Joel is also playing lots of solo shows around town. Check his myspace page to see when he is playing next.