Michael Pluznick: List Format

Michael Pluznick is an acclaimed and accomplished percussionist, performer and music producer from New Jersey, who has traveled the world performing and recording as well as teaching various forms of percussion. He has studied on numerous trips with master drummers in Brazil, West Africa, Cuba and Puerto Rico.
He has been drumming since 1972 and teaching for over 25 years. His teaching credits include stints at Sonoma State University (CA) (teacher and guest lecturer), Univ. of California (at Santa Cruz) and Yamaha (Japan).
His album “Rythym Harvest” was in Billboard’s “Top 20″ albums for two months, while  “Where The Rain is Born” won top honors in Electronic Musician Magazine. Michael now produces various forms of African music for special events, productions and performances.. He also accompanies Bay Area dance classes and performs locally and globally.

Michael currently lives in Sausalito, California and performs with Les percussions malinke master drummer Bolokada Conde’s stellar ensemble, Coco Oshun.

Currently, he is working with acclaimed natural healers Scott Martin and “Ta”, creating the “Thai Raw Spa” in Thailand, a world class international healing center and retreat featuring raw foods, permaculutre and natural, sustainable living.

He is also helping to develop The Center for World Music and Dance in Hawaii and is continuing  to co-create ethnic drum, dance and music camps in the Islands as well.

He is also co-writing, “The Original Diet”, a book on healing with raw foods with Scott Martin and writing and illustrating children’s books with Margot Van Riper.

Studied with:
Bolokada Conde: West African drumming
Mohamed Cammara: West African Drumming
M’Bemba Bangoura: West African Drumming
Siaka Dombia: Mali Drumming
Aruna Sidibe: Mali Drumming
Brulye Doumbia: Mali Drumming
Ami Doumbia: Mali dance
John Amira : Afro-Haitian and Afro Cuban drumming and chants
Nuru Dafina: Afro-Cuban music and drumming
Simbo  Bo Shu Feng: African drumming, music, poetry, composition and shekere construction
Mamady Keita: West African Drumming
Karamba Diakate: West African Drumming
Ousman Soumah: West African Drumming
Mohamed Diabe: West African Drumming
Shene Wo : Thai Chi Chuan
Master Bo In Lee: Thai Chi Chuan
Michio Kushi: Macrobotics and natural healing techniques and modalities
Scott Martin : Raw Foods, Primal Diet, Original Diet
Boaz Martin: Permaculture
Shizuko Yamamoto: Barefoot Shiatsu
Master Oki: Oki Yoga

Margot Van Riper: Advanced sales and marketing techniques
Michael Hauser: Computer training
Mabeba: West African Dununba

In Cuba
Pelo el African : Afro-Cuban culture,music and dance
Alfreido Calvo: Afro-Cuban culture, drumming, music and dance
Amado Gomez: Afro-Cuban drumming, music and dance

In Brazil
Maestro Bira: Brazilian drumming
Maestro Marcos: Brazilian drumming
Dr Fritz: Brazilian faith healing

In Mali:
Brulye Doumbia
Aruna Sidibe
Siaka Doumbia
Paul Chandler
Ami Doumbia
Lamin
Cabuigne

Short List Of Major Performances:
Great American Music Hall: 1993 Michael Pluznick and Rythym Harvest with Archie Bell Dancers
Shoreline Amphitheater: 1994 Grateful Dead
Oakland Coliseum:  Nelson Mandela Liberation Celebration
Todd Rundgren: 1989 Fillmore, SF,CA
The Tubes: 1989
Olatunji: Golden Gate Park Festival
Michael Narda Walden: 1996
Amsterdam Fest 2005:  Michael Hauser Band

Dance Accompaniment
Jazz: SF State University
Modern: SF State University
Haitian: SF State University,  SF City College, Sonoma State, S.C.S.U.,Third Wave Dance Studio
Afro-Cuban: Dance Theatre Seven
West African: Maui Dance Camp 1998-2004
S.C.S.U.: 1980-1982
S.F.S.U.: 1979-1983
City College: 1981-1984
Rythym and Motion: 1997-2007
Marin Ballet: 1998-2000

Teaching
Professor and Guest Lecturer at Sonoma State University
Yamaha (Japan)
Santa Cruz State University

Commercials:
Del Monte Ads

Movies:
Poko Loko: Recorded with Jerry Garcia for Debrah Coones
Angel Blue: With Joel Lindheimer

Radio: KKSF Theme Song for Friday Afternoon Report

Healing Seminars: 2002-2003:  Co-facilitated “Rhythm Integration” workshop with Kelli Hill for participants in multiple workshops led by Donald Epstein, founder of Network Chirpopractic System.
Somato-Respiratory Integration (SRI): Accompanied Donald Epstein Seminars.
Co-led Dolphin Smiles, Japanese eco-conscious tour groups and healing seminars on Maui and Oahu with Richard “Rich Life” Holland.

Musical Instruments:1986-2007: Manufacturer of custom-made instruments, including shekeres and gourd drums, for musicians, including Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead) and Airto Moreira (legendary Brazilian drummer-percussionist).
Michael Pluznick and his shekeres are featured in Micky Hart’s book, “Drumming at the Edge”

Some of his former students :
Arthur Hull : World-renowned drum facilitator
Jim Greiner: Latin Percussion (LP) company drum facilitator
Margot Van Riper: Head Hunter International
John Grinder: NLP inventor
Daniel Fiorucci: International martial arts instructor and founder of “Baby Moves” ™

Michael Pluznick Album Credits:
Small Village 1 (1988)- by Michael Pluznick, Kim Atkinson and Arthur Hull
Small Village 2 (1989)- by Michael Pluznick, Kim Atkinson and Arthur Hull
Small Village 3 (1991)- by Michael Pluznick, Kim Atkinson and Arthur Hull
Where the Rain Is Born (1989) – Michael Pluznick Group
Cradle of the Sun (1990) – Michael Pluznick Group
Rhythm Harvest (1992) – Michael Pluznick Group
Drummers Journey (1994) – Michael Pluznick And The Small Village Ensemble
Heat Beat (1995) – Michael Pluznick
Jam Beats (1999) – Michael Pluznick
Grooves For Gigs (1998) -  MIchael Pluznick
Very Green Christmas (1997) – Various Artists
Miles Dean (1997) – Michael Pluznick and Joel Lindheimer
Nearly Human (1989) – Todd Rundgren
Perfect Match (1993) – Tadamitsu Saito
Heart of a Gypsy (1987) – Govi
Narada Collection, Vol. 4 (1993) – Various Artists
Saturday’s Rhapsody (1990) – Jim Chappell
Opafire (1990) – Opafire
Camelot Music/Narada Sampler – Various Artists
Acadia (1996) – Jim Chappell
Flashpoint – Looters
Intruding on a Silence (1988) – Colin Chin
Collection One (1990) – Various Artists
Memory & Imagination (2003) – Barry Cleveland
Rhythms of Paradise (1996) – Daniel Paul
Heart of the World (1995) – Pamela Polland
Volcano (2003) – Barry Cleveland
Desert Beach -Robert Powell
Sona Gaia – Collection One (1990) – Various Artists
Mali Masters (2006) – Drum Masters of Mali (produced by Michael Pluznick)
Young Guns (2006) – Drummers of Mali (produced by Michael Pluznick)
BoBo Music of Mali (2006) – Produced by Michael Pluznick
Di Da Di Music of Mali (2006) – Produced by Michael Pluznick
Dununba Drum and Dance Party in Guinea (2006) – Produced by Michael Pluznick
How to Play Shekere Video and DVD (2006) – Produced by Michael Pluznick
(A Re-release)
Peace is Alive (1998) – Robert Blackman D.C. Produced by Michael Pluznick
The Wo’s (2000): Peaceful Journey
Tribal Revival (2003): Fantuzzi (Recorded basic tracks at Naked Drummer Studio and performed on album)

His-Story: “Highlights”

2004-2006: 2004-2006: Worked with various Bay Area musicians and artists. Started new CD and website with Michael Hauser.
2006: Guinea and Mali (Trip #1)
2005: Summer: Summer Tour with Fangle Group (Amsterdam); African trip to Mali.
2004: European Tour #1 with poet Nick Ostis and dancer Kelli Hill.
2003: Began video documentary production of master drummers’ workshops.
2002  Co-produced  African-related performnce events, workshops on Maui.
2001: Finished building first healing retreat on Maui and Naked Drummer Recording Studio #3.
2001-2002: Worked with eco-friendly Japanese tour groups as guide/health advisor.
2000: Created Maui Village drum and Dance performance ensemble. Toured Brazil.
1999: Developed several “How to Play” percussion videos.
1998: Developed Rhythm Integration, healing movement, music and dance. Produced the Rhythm Integration video.
1997: Produced, performed and wrote music for Clarence Clemmons’ (Bruce Springsteen) solo album.
1996: Played on other peoples albums.
1995: Toured  Asia and Cuba (Trip #2).
1994: Changed record labels.
1993: Performed with Rythym Harvest Group, built Naked Drummer Studios #2.
1992: Toured Southeast Asia.
1991: Training with Alan Roland in self-development course.
1990: Built Naked Drummer Studio #1.
1988-89 Began recording career. Survived San Francisco earthquake!
1986-1987 Hired as guest lecturer, then teacher at Sonoma State University, CA and other universities and institutions.
1987: Made saint to Orisha Obatala.
1985: Toured Cuba (Trip #1).
1984: Taught music in Japan.
1983-85: Worked for Musical merchandise Review, where I wrote special feature articles. Also worked in advertising sales.
1983: Completed Dale Carnegie Sales Course.
1982: Graduated New College of California with BS in Humanities with emphasis on Wholistic Health.
1981-2007: Began to teach drumming, starting with Haight-Ashbury Music Center (SF).
1980 Co-founded Vilage Music and Dance Ensemble with Marian Oliker (Santa Cruz, CA).
1979: Contributing artist for East West Journal (Boston, MA).
1979: Completed advanced courses in Shiatsu massage with Shizuko Yamamto (Boston, MA.).
1979: Completed Oki Yoga and Do-In courses.
1979: Worked at Sanae, a macrobiotic restaurant in Boston.
1978: Attended macrobiotic cooking courses with Hiroshi Hayashi at 7th Inn restaurant (Boston).
1978: Completed macrobiotic course levels 1, 2 and 3 at Kushi Institute (Boston).
1977: Attended school for acupuncture and herbs in Watertown, MA. Worked for Musical Merchandise Review.
1977: Attended Mass. College of Art (Boston).
1976: Attended Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) for fine arts.
1975: Attended Germain School of Photography (NYC). Graduated high school.
1973-1974: Completed TM meditation courses, began yoga, achieved green belt in karate and went to ice hockey camp.

1997-2007: Studied shamanic healing, personal growth and human potentiality with Megan Freeman and Alan Roland.

1996-2007: Studied traditional Afro-Cuban shamanic healing, divination, chants and music with Peter “Pedro”
De Jesus, a.k.a. Obendey Omo Yesa

2004-2007: Studied traditional Afro-Cuban shamanic healing, divination, chants and music with Pedro DeJesus aka Obendey Omo Yesa.