
After field testing and working closely with the Drum Factory and Ed Balma in Ubud, Bali for over a year we now have two new beautiful prototype MP Eco Pro wood djembe models ready for the market, a 12 ” and a 13″ (6ocm and 65cm) ! They will be distributed in the USA by X8. It’s been a long and windy road bringing these drums to fruition but here they are. [...]

This last month I had the good fortune to be able to go to Bali once again. My focus was on teaching west african drum classes in Ubud and also playing with every band I could sit in with or gig (work) with. I had no idea that the musicians and drummers I would meet would be so receptive and talented. I had many interesting and surprising moments and experiences there as well. [...]

What do you do when you are completely cold and suddenly have to play hot? Last night the islands best trumpet player performed with his band at Bali’s version of Yoshis called interestingly enough, Ryopshi’s! Any coincidence? Great sushi and great tunes. Rio Sadik, the trumpet player, singer and “star of the show”, ( as James Brown would say), was in rare form. The venue was so packed you could not move. Raymond, my impromptu agent and good friend here in Bali, Indonesia called his long time pal Rio earlier to confirm me sitting in but I think I got there way to late and there was already another conga player there. [...]

I will be teaching an intensive, intermediate to advanced small group djembe and dunun workshop for a limited number of people in Ubud, Bali. We will meet daily and cover some very nice pieces I learned in my travels to Guinee and Mali West Africa such as Mali style Sunu in 4/4 with opening and closing interlude breaks, traditional solo phrases and techniques and dunun arrangements for one or several players. I will be [...]

If you are a drummer or musician or just love percussion and you are ever in Bali (or on line) you owe it to yourself to check out Bali Treasures. I was recently in Ubud Bali where I had the pleasure to meet the owner of the Bali Treasures retail store Ed A. Balma. Ed also is owner of what is probably the worlds largest djembe manufacturingcompany.
play along [...]

It’s not the drum it’s the drummer!
What makes a drum have that special sound? Is it the wood? The place or country it is from? The goat skin or what the goat ate? Just what is it? About 10 years ago I was at a Mamady Keita workshop trying to pick out a djembe from a local seller there who was displaying his goods outside the workshop. I asked Mamady, what do you [...]

Balinese djembe player *(worker in the Bali Treasures drum and percussion store), solos on a nice Toca djembe in Kassa (from Guinee West Africa) djembe and dunun class@ Bali Treasures retail store in Ubud, Bali , Iidonesia.
Fun little djembe and dunun west african drum class with some fellow lovers of djembe,dununs and west african music. In this video we play the new Toca djembes at the Bali Treasures retail store located in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

If you are a drummer or musician or just love percussion and you are ever in Bali (or on line) you owe it to yourself to check out Bali Treasures. I was recently in Ubud Bali where I had the pleasure to meet the owner of the Bali Treasures retail store Ed A. Balma. Ed also is owner of what is probably the worlds largest djembe manufacturing company. We went there afterwards and [...]
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.
Photo slide show of my recent trip around the amazing and magical tropical island of Bali Indonesia. Includes photos of the many drums and drummers on the island as well. World percussion and djembe drum music by Barabajaba from the new CD entitled Rise Up. Music available on line at I Tunes and CD Baby.

Bali Djembe drums vs West African djembe drums
The prices of professional djembe drums are going through the roof on line (you can pay well over $650!). That said, under certain circumstances, one of the best buys going right now is a Bali djembe drum. They are just about always light weight, have nice skins and a great drum can cost you about $100 US or even less!
Bali is still a wonderful place [...]
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