Randy Armstrong, a pioneer in world fusion music.

Worldbeat Marimba Musicians and Vocalists

Learn music from Randy Armstrong.

Ben Baldwin

Vocalist / Alto & Baritone Sax / Mbira

Ben Baldwin is a graduate of Wesleyan University with studies with master drummer & musician, Abraham Adzenyah from Ghana and master mbira player & scholar, Paul Berliner with additional studies at the University of Ghana in Accra. He has been playing music in the Seacoast of New Hampshire and beyond since 1976, primarily with his acclaimed and popular band, The Big Note. In the 80’s, he sang with The Moonbeams, an a capella quartet.

Recently, he has been doing more teaching, sharing his love of music with students at Berwick Academy in Maine, and with his a capella friends, The Stairwells. Musical mentors include, but are not limited to, Ken McIntyre, Jon Barlow, Joe Galeota, Louie Jordan and Sam Cooke. Ben has been a featured performer with Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba since 2020 and recorded on their 2023 album release, Ziya Buya Africa.

Professional music trainings for aspiring artists.

Cynthia Chatis

Vocalist / Multi-Instrumentalist

Featured artist with Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba, Cynthia Chatis, is a talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist based in New Hampshire’s seacoast. She has collaborated in a variety of classical, jazz, world, folk and new age concerts and recording projects for over 35 years. Her solo album, Wind, has garnered high praise for its meditative and contemplative music.

Cynthia has performed and toured throughout New England and internationally, including as a soloist with the women’s chorus, Voices From The Heart and the regional chorus, Con Tutti, among others. She has performed on flute and voice as a featured headliner for the JAZZMOUTH, Poetry & Jazz Festival in Portsmouth, NH, USA.

A seasoned session player, Cynthia has recorded on multiple albums including The Dream Keeper: Jazz Interpretations of Langston Hughes by Larry Simon with Eric Mingus and David Amram on the Mode Avant record label; Island Sublime by Alex de Steiguer; A Place To Start by singer-songwriter guitarist, Bob Moore; the 2015 world fusion album, Beyond Borders by Randy Armstrong & Volker Nahrmann and the 2016 album for the theater & dance production, Conference of the Birds composed by Randy Armstrong.

Cynthia Chatis brings her enormous talents by singing all parts on the single, Nhemamusasa. A traditional song performed in the Shona language of Zimbabwe for the debut recording by Randy Armstrong & WorldBeat Marimba released on the UMP Record label in 2021. Watch out for additional exciting recordings scheduled to be released soon!