Michael Pluznick » Thailand

Back in the Bay Area of Northern California, cold but beautiful!

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:02:34 +0000

Hi everyone. I am back from my trip to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It was a great trip visitng lot’s of beautiful places, meeting some very friendly people, seeing some new temples, beautiful scenery and great weather, too! I was very lucky.

Angkor Wat Temple City Sacred Temples

I really enjoyed going to all the temples and sacred sites in Asia. Cambodia’s Angkor Wat temple city was truly amazing and I highly recommend it for travelers going to Asia. Breath taking and great visuals and vibe there, too! Through architecture we can truly know history. And the architecture in Asia is amazing, for sure.

old VW in my new 'hood

Happy to be home in the very cold Northern California region of San Rafael again. I am getting ready to start a new music project with some interesting chants and percussion, too. Meanwhile, I am waiting for my new computer to arrive. I am going to take lessons and finally learn Final Cut Studio, a new editing software for me and work on the Mali drum and dance documentary many of you have seen the dance clips from on Youtube I am sure.

Mt Tam in Marin County, Nortern California

I will be filming and taking photos of Golden Gate Bridge area, some sunny windy beaches, Mt Tamalpais (Mt. Tam), the mountians and woods today and the next few days as well. Great location for photos freaks like me~

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out my new photos I load in almost everyday!

Ancient Buddhist temples, art, statues, Ayuthaya, Thailand world musicby Michael Pluznick

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:11:33 +0000

Ayuthaya Thailand one hour outside of Bangkok was the scene of Thailands original renaissance. The Kingdom grew to prominence when rice was the regions most important currency. However, when Burmese troops sacked the city in 1767, the capital was moved to Bangkok. This move also signaled a shift from a purely agricultural society to one that was more in tune with commerce. This video explores som eof the beautiful ancient temples and ruins in the area as well as art and sculptures around the numerous temples and sacred spots of Thai Asian ancient culture.

Beautiful traditional Thai flute music played on the street

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:04:26 +0000

Beautiful traditional Thai street flute music played on the street in Bangkok Thailand by happy musician I ran into by chance on one of my daily jaunts wandering the streets of Bangkok.

Ayuthaya Temple City, “HD” in Thailand. Music by Michael Pluznick

admin — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:52:44 +0000

The Thai Kingdom grew to prominence when rice was the regions most important currency. However, when Burmese troops sacked the city in 1767, the capital was moved to Bangkok. This move also signaled a shift from a purely agricultural society to one that was more in tune with commerce.

Thai Hammered Dulcimer and Cahone (Box drum) on the street in Bangkok 2

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:57:54 +0000

Thai percussion with fusion music using hammered dulcimer like instrument and non traditional (for Thai people) cahone or “caha”, (wood box drum) from Afro Cuban music origins. This video took place on Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand and was shot on my Canon G11 camera (non HD).

Real Guinea West Africa music on the streets of Thailand ! pt2.

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:52:58 +0000

Traditional West African Instruments being played at the best drum jam on Khao San Rd. in Bangkok Thailand by Musicians from Guinea, Liberia and around the world (japan, USA, etc): Gongoma, Balon,Djembe & Dunun in Thailand. Check out the songs and dance, too at this Khao San Road drum jam.

Thai multi percussion dance performance group

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:48:36 +0000

This Thai Mixed Mulit-Percussion troupe plays a little bit of everything in this live performance in Bangkok, Thailand. Filmed on Canon 7D digital camera. They play all kinds of cool percussion instruments, miscelaneous percussion, hand drums.

Epic international drum jam on Khao San Road Bangkok, Thailand

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:29:37 +0000

Last night there was an epic drum jam on Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand. There were drummers from all across the globe! We got permission to play right in front of the police station because “King”, the local police chief is a big fan of Eddie Tamba our Liberian master of ceremonies and djembe fola.

Eddie Tamba of Liberia represents on Khao San Road Bangkok, Thailand

The drum jam had originally started on Khao San by members of the Rumpuree Dance and Drum school of Bangkok as an outreach program. It quickly turned into a happening community event with players from all around the world passed through the infamous Khao San Road district of Bangkok.

The drumming had stopped for a while because King had a heart attack, but now he is up and running again and so were we. Last night We were also joined by two of Eddies friends from Guinea, one of who played an unusual “triple” Gongoma, and another who played the Balone.

Balone player from Guinea, West Africa jams with us on Khao San Road, Bangkok, Thailand

Kenji representing Japan was very kind and brought out his 2 dununs and 2 djembe so I had drums to play as mine is still down on Samui. Eddie was playing his djembe that conga player Raymond Rausch brought him over from Bali This drum sounds remarkably good, especially with Eddie playing it. Raymond and Michael K brought 2 congas so we really had a hybrid sound working.

Kenji djembe fola drum master from Japan performs for audience on Khao San Road!

There were other drummers from around the globe present and dancers of all kinds as well. The drumming was musical and magical. There was traditional African chanting and even some group dynamics. A good time was had by all!

massive drum jam on Khao San Road

If you are coming through Thailand make sure and drop a line to Louis at Rumpuree (google Rumpuree for e-mail adress) and he’ll let you know when and where the next drum jam is or look for Eddie Tamba on Khao San Road, he has a shop and everyone knows him there!

Thanks for visiting my blog! Peace, love and aloha!

Michael Pluznick playing djembe on Khao San Road, Bangkok, Thailand

“HOT”!! African Dancers from Liberia,Cameroon, West Africa perform African Dance

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:15:02 +0000

West African dancers and djembe and dunun drummer perform at the skytop Dream Bar in downtown Bangkok for music festival and celebration. MIchael P, Kenji Japan and Louis Mexico w/ Michael K on shakers as well

Sunset w/ world /latin jazz very high up on a Bangkok roof top!

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:12:51 +0000

Sunset w/ world /latin jazz very high up on a Bangkok roof top!
Bangkok Sunset from high atop the Omni Tower condos in Sumkumvit, Nana district of Bangkok, Thailand. World music and world jazz music by percussionist and drummer MIchael Pluznick with JOel Lindheimer. This music is available on CD Baby. Enter: michael pluznick