Hello everyone and happy new year! I am now traveling in Thailand, Cambodia and India. I will be reporting in on interesting events pertaining to drumming and dance in Asia! Tonight we will play for a huge street part on Khao San Road in Bangkok for New Years Eve. More to come, stay tuned!
            
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Preview the new CD
This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!  |
This is a music video by the Barabajaba Percussion Ensemble from Big Island of Hawaii. This is a performance by the Lavaroots ensemble on the Big Island of Hawaii and is called Kassa, which is a West African traditional harvest dance from Guinea, West Africa. Female West African dancers (formerly of Guinea West Africa’s famous Ballet Merveilles) drum, dance and dance solo with master djembe drummer (djembe fola) Bolokada Cond (from Les Percussions Du Guinee) and his group Les Percussions Melenke in Bolinas, California. The first piece with dancers is “Mane”, from Guinea West Africa. This is from a drum class given by Bolokada Conde star of Les Percussions Du Guinea, in Oakland at the Malonga Center (formerly know as Alice Arts Center), In this video Bolokada shows the seeming simplicity of drumming. This video features Bangkok’s inner city, architecture and temples along with a nice sunset and other Asian and Thai scenarios. This musical composition was a collaboration with maestro Jim Chapelle, percussionist Michael Pluznick and arranger, composer, and guitarist Joel Lindheimer. The music is based on the uptempo and festive Afro Cuban traditional and folkloric carnival percussion arrangement know as Comparsa. This video is a compilation of some of the best photos from past Michael Pluznick world music and world jazz videos set to new music by Michael Pluznick and Joel Lindheimer from the world music / world jazz CD, “Miles Dean” available as a download on CDBaby. This CD features musical collaborators Bill Ortiz on trumpet (from Santana band), Kit Walker (keyboardist with Airto and Flora Purim, and others), Jim Chappel and more! I have started a Djembe Drum group on Facebook! This video features master drummer Jaques, a unique djembe player performing with his friends and piers in a West African drum and dance extravaganza! From the new Barabajaba CD, “Rise Up”. This cut features the traditional Afro Haitian rhtyhm “Yan Valu”. Drums by Michael Pluznick and Jesse Seymour. According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes directly from the saying “Anke dje, anke be” which literally translates to “everyone gather together” and defines the drum’s purpose. In the Bamakan language, “Dje” is the verb for “gather” and “be” translates as “everyone”. A good friend and long time drummer recommends that students play every day. Some people think that means they have to sit around for hours at a time but he say’s even five minutes to connect with your instrument (in this case the djembe drum) makes all the difference in the world. You are building a relationship! Another teacher from long ago, Les Lumley from the group, “Ghetto Mysticism” in Boston say’s, “if you [...] Havana Cabana is a new percussion song on the CD entitled Heat Beat by Michael Pluznick, and features Michael P on congas, cahon, caha, bongos and other misc. percussion and drums in a rumba albierto (open rumba) or invento pattern/concept. World Jazz Music from the Michael Pluznick CD entitled Rhythm Harvest by Michael Pluznick with composition by Michael Hauser and alittle help from Joel Lindheimer. This video features shots of the band and their travels performing music around the globe including Asia, Hawaii and Thailand. Many drummers new to the art of djembe music think that they must play and participate in a drum circle, jam or dance class as a way to learn to drum. Most experienced players will tell you something different. By going to a djembe session or African dance class and sitting on the side watching you can learn much by listening, observing and even taking musical notes! By sitting outside of the music going [...] This song is called La Mar , new world music and ethnic jazz by percussionist michael pluznick and guitarist joel lindheimer from the new CD, “Miles Dean”. The photos were taken in and around Northern California and beyond. This new song is called Bembe Djembe from the Rythym Intergration CD. The peace is the Afro Cuban folkloric “Bembe” or Havana style Guido 6/8 by Michael Pluznick with Afro Cuban traditional Santos (Santeria/Lucumi/Yoruba) chants by Priest Pedro De Jesus and family. Filmed in and around California coastline by Michael Pluznick. Chris Walker lead drum, Tika Morgan back up vocals. Michael P on Shekere. Wade Peterson on bell. Shot with Nikon D90 digital [...] This is a performance of our group with master drummer Bolokada Conde, “les Percussions Melenke at the Mill Valley Theater. We play 3 different Konkoba drum pieces tied together and and West African dancers Nabe Bangoura and others from Ballet Merveilles come out as well. From left to right:Rafael, Sean Areneda, Michael Pluznick, Mohamed Kouyate, front: Bolokada Conde. Male dancer: Nabe Bangoura This video was shot at a dununba djembe drum and community dance party in Conakry Guinea my friend and teacher, the late great Komoko Sano took me to on my musical and percussion study tour to Guinea. Each dancer at a party takes a turn to show off their “stuff” or dance moves. If someone really likes your moves, they run out and give you money, which is the custom. Also, at the [...] I was walking through the streets of Conakry, Guinea, West Africa in a section called Mantomlido, where the artists live and play drums, when I ran across this fantastic group of balaphone, djembe & dunun players rehearsing for a big “spectac”. A real djembe lesson to watch for all who want to learn djembe or balaphone! Shot on my study trip to Guinea with Sony HDR-HC1 camcorder. By practicing in front of a mirror, you can correct mistakes in posture and form. It also helps you to see where you’re holding tension in your body and you can see if you’re making strange facial expressions (like me – for example in this YouTube video). Also, looking at your image in the mirror stops you from staring down at your hands, which is a common bad habit. Check out these newly-released field recordings from Africa. All of Michael’s profits from these albums will go directly to the tribes in Africa that created and performed the music. CDs can be purchased online from EarthCDs. |
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Copyright © 2012 Michael Pluznick - All Rights Reserved |
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