Michael Pluznick » African drumming

Michael Pluznick teaches Zaouli break into Kuku djembe solo on Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe

admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:27:20 +0000

Toca artist and Toca endorsee Michael Pluznick shows the fun Zaouli break and Kuku solo technique for djembes and dunun on Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe and Toca Freestyle Djundjuns. [...]

How to solo on djembe part one: my philosophy

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 04:04:29 +0000

Soloing on any drum especially djembe can be daunting at first. Everyone wants to do it but how do we start? First of all, what is a solo or “lead” as we also say in the drumming world?

Traditionally speaking a solo in West African music, specifically music from Guinee and Mali is a phrase or group of phrases chained together that interact and accent the dance choreography or dancers movements. The solo inspires [...]

How to play African drums: Soko, Djembe and Dununs class

admin — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:56:41 +0000

Soko djembe drum and dunun rhythm from guinea west africa taught by Michael Pluznick for his international crew including friends from Japan, Europe, Mexico, USA and Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand. All around the world people love to play djembe and dununs, too. Soko is now a popular rhythm in Guinee (aka Guinea). Soko is a Malinke (Malenke) rhythm from the Faranah region of Guinee. It used to be played during the month prior [...]

Bali beach djembe and dance jam with local West African group and special guests: Soli

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:53:48 +0000

This live video features footage of a very nice djembe and dunun west african inspired drum and dance performance on Legian Beach (near Kuta) in Bali, Indonesia. All the drummers are local except for one man from France and two from USA.

“African Dance”: Young Boy shows his stuff at Dununba Drum and Dance party in Conakry, Guinea

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:31:12 +0000

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/arunabrulye

Dununba #8:A young boy at a community drum and dance, “dundunba” party shows his dance and acrobatics as well as traditional west african dance technique in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa! I filmed this on my 2nd trip to West Africa. Master Djembe Drummer M’Bemba Bangoura and Jaques play at this one as well! Djembe masters and djembe drumming, too!

African Djembe class”, “How to play djembe” w/ Mali Master Djembe drummer Aruna Djembe solo (Pt.2)

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 01:36:02 +0000

http://www.earthcds.com/africa/west/mali

This is part #2 of my african drum lesson and djembe class deep in the Mali West African heat. I am trying to remember..and recite for my master djembe teacher, “Old Master” Aruna Sidibe… everything Aruna has taught me in the prior 2 and 1/2 months for this one piece! I pull it off, but just barely!! To see how it is really played go to my SUNU post on Youtube! Thanks [...]

HD!! NEW*Chandra Shekar from Barabajaba CD, “Rise Up”

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:06:47 +0000

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/barabajaba

high def video from barabajaba world music and percussion ensemble fromthe Big Island of Hawaii and Bay Area Claifornia, too. This song features a combo of west african, afro cuban and et indian music styles!

Mali baby naming community party with African drumming and dance

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:55:52 +0000

Mali baby naming community celebration and west african drum and dance party part 2. These are my friends and teachers from Mali performing for the baby naming ceremony. MC is playing a cow skin headed djembe drum. Siaka Doumbia is playing dununba.

All about my recordings and experience in Mali, West Africa

admin — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:06:45 +0000

On my first trip to Mali my friend from Maui, Hawaii and executive producer Paul Chandler introduced me to my new drum teachers Aruna Sidibe, Brulye and Siaka Doumbia who he had been working with on several projects and also been studying with them as well.

Aruna and Brulye in drum gear

I stayed in Mali almost three months studying with them, going to various playing events such as wedding celebrations, ceremonies, social [...]

“Kassa” from Lavaroots drum and dance performance in Hawaii

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:55:27 +0000

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.

Best of Michael Pluznick photo collage from Youtube

admin — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:03:56 +0000

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!

Fantastic Balaphone, djembe & dunun players in Conakry, Guinea

michaelpluznick-youtube — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:02:18 +0000

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.