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This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!

There are many kinds and types of djembe and African drum rhythms

oldside1

Let’s face the facts. Until Mamady Keita arrived in the USA we were playing djembe ass backwards. For example, Mandiani was more often then not being played  backwards as Soli, (Donba in Senegal) or visa versa. We were doing the best we could at the time as there was very limited  resources available in the late 70′s and very few instructors as well. It was prior to the internet and consumer cmcorders were still [...]

Studying West African drumming in Mali part one

Siaka Doubia and his crew "Young Guns" playing live at a celebration

My first trip to Africa was to Mali ,West Africa. I was always scared to go to Africa even though all my friends and students had already gone and the reports were always very positive. I was scared of getting sick. I heard the horror stories of people getting sick there, the poor hospitals, bad conditions and everything else. But in the back of my mind since I first started playing in the 70′s I knew I would go, I knew I had to go. I was just waiting for the right timing, [...]

What is a djembe solo and the four types of djembe solos

Dununba drum and dance party in Guinea!

I love to play djembes and I also love to study the music we make with djembes. Djembe soloing is a very small part of djembe music as a whole. The djembe is a communal drum and is about community and unity. We all (myself included) get caught up in being the soloist as it is so much fun! But keep in mind that it is about a whole group of people, musicians,dancers and others, too! [...]

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

IMG_3116

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. [...]

Amazing female dancer at West African Dununba drum and dance celebration at Kemoko Sano's compound

The late great Komoko Sano

Very athletic and amazing dancers solo and perform at a “dununba” community drum and dance celebration. Dununba  refers to “strong mans dance” as it was originaly called and used as. This djembe drum and west african dance party takes place at my friend and teachers house, the late, great and legendary master dancer, drummer and choreographer Kenoko Sano of Ballettes Africans fame.

Guinea djembe rhythms

Kuku solo technique

In this video I am playing the popular and social Kuku rhythm from Guinea (Guinee) West Africa where I lived and studied. These are solo techniques I learned from my various teachers in Africa and the USA including Hawaii, California and the east coast as well. [...]

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

raw shells are beautiful

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 [...]

How to play Sorsonete (soresonere) on three Dunun (doundoun)

begginer drumming at a fun jam session

Michael Pluznick shows a technique for playing the Guinee (Guinea) west african drumming and rhythm pattern Soresonere (Soresonete) on three drums or dununs (dounouns) at Rumpuree dance studio in Bangkok, Thailand during a West African djembe drum and dunun workshop and drum class. This style of playing dununs (aka djundjuns or dounouns) is called “ballet style” and refers to  the Afrcan dance  and performing groups in West Africa called Ballets. In the Ballets [...]

Djembe Master Bolokada Conde Djembe Drums with Les Percussions Melenke Peform at La Pena

Bolokada on fire!

Master Djembe drummer Bolokada Conde and Les Percussion Melenke performance ensemble and crew in an early West African djembe drum and African dance performance live in Oakland California at La Pena cultural Center for world music and world dance. Musicians from left to right: Bolokada, Wade Peterson, Michael Pluznick (djembe) Sean Areneda (dununs) Rafael djembe, Barron Chase (kinkini)

Dundunba Drum and African Dance Party: Clown and Awesome Dancers

The late great Komoko Sano

Community celebration known as a Dundunba drum and African dance party at the late , great performer and master choreographer  Kemoko Sano’s compound in Merveilles, Guinea, West Africa. In this dance video a Clown solos and Awesome Dancers dance at the dundunba djembe drum and african dance party.

Amazing and athletic dancers solo and perform at traditional "Dununba" drum and dance party @Kemoko Sano's

doundoumba

Very athletic and amazing dancers solo and perform at a “dununba” community drum and dance celebration. Dununba  refers to “strong mans dance” as it was originaly called and used as. This djembe drum and west african dance party takes place at my friend and teachers house, the late, great and legendary Konoko Sano of Ballettes Africans fame.

Skilled djembe drummers and dancers perform at Dununba community celebration

Dununba drum and dance party in Guinea!

From a Dununba (doundounba)  I sponsored  in Guinee, West Africa.  A Doundoundba is a West African drum and dance community celebration or “Dundunba” party at the late great Kemoko Sano’s compound.

West African/ world drumming and dance at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble on the Big Island of Hawaii

function startGallery_38() { var myGallery = new gallery($(“myGallery_38″), { timed: true, showCarousel: true, showInfopane: true, showArrows: true, embedLinks: true, slideInfoZoneOpacity: 0.80, delay: 5000, defaultTransition: “fade”, textShowCarousel: “Show/Hide Thumbnails” }); document.getElementById(“myGallery_38″).style.display = “block”; myGallery.toggleCarousel(); } window.addEvent(“domready”, startGallery_38); West African dancer from Hawaii at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

Ray Titus performs West African drumming (kinkini) @ Blend show

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

West African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

West African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

West African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance 3

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

West African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance 4

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

Little girl performs West with African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

Kakilambe mask dancer at west african performance on Hawaii

Kakilambe BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

West African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

flowers

flower

birds and nature

birds

Michal leader of Lavaroots teaching west african dance class on Kona side of the Big Island of Hawaii

MIchal dancer, dance teacher, choregorapher, african dancer and leader of LAvaroots Ensemble and Blend

beautiful dancer at African dance class

dancer from the Blend performance

congas

Peter plays congas at Blend show

west african dance choreography

dancers from the BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

dancers jump

dancers from the BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

Bata drumming at drum and dance performance on Big Island

Ray Titus, Jesse Seymour and MIchael Pluznick on Bata

MIchael Pluznick djembe drumming@ Blend Show on Big Island of Hawaii

MIchael Pluznick djembe drumming

MIchael Pluznick djembe drumming@ Blend Show on Big Island of Hawaii #2

MIchael Pluznick djembe drumming@ Blend Show on Big Island of Hawaii

West African dancers from Hawaii peform at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble performance

dancers from the BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

michael Pluznick

Michael Pluznick drummer from Blend show and Lavaroots ensemble poses with a small friend

Michael Pluznick 2

Michael Pluznick drummer from Blend show and Lavaroots ensemble poses

Joshua and Bruce

Joshua and Bruce

djembe djembe djembe

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

more djembe

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

west african dance

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

african dancers perform

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

drummer and dancer

BLEND world percussion music and dance performance by Lavaroots Ensemble Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii

Check out the beautiful photos by Bill Adams of the West African/ world drumming and dance performance at the Blend show by Lavaroots Ensemble on the Big Island of Hawaii

Mali and Guinea West Africa trip photos of musicians, dancers and drummers

function startGallery_2() { var myGallery = new gallery($(“myGallery_2″), { timed: true, showCarousel: true, showInfopane: true, showArrows: true, embedLinks: true, slideInfoZoneOpacity: 0.80, delay: 5000, defaultTransition: “fade”, textShowCarousel: “Show/Hide Thumbnails” }); document.getElementById(“myGallery_2″).style.display = “block”; myGallery.toggleCarousel(); } window.addEvent(“domready”, startGallery_2); Beautiful Balaphones

Two balaphones large and small from Guinea West Africa

Komoko Sano\’s compound in Guinea

This was taken at the late great legendary Komoko Sano\’s compound in Merveilles section of Conakry, Guinea, West Africa. Taken with Nikon D90 digital camera

Didadee drummers from the village visit Bamako for our

Didadee drummers from the village visit Bamako for our recording session and play amazing music!

Mali

Didadee drummers from the village visit Bamako for our recording session and play amazing music!

Mali Young Guns session

from the \”Young Guns\” CD field recording with Siaka Doumbia nad crew

MP in Mali

Michael Pluznick playing at wedding celebration outside of Bamako in Mali west Africa

Baby naming party

Siaka Doumbia and Young Guns crew perform live at a baby naming ceremony

drum carver

Our drum carver works hard all day in the sun and het on our new djembe drums in Bamako Mali West Africa

mali, djembe, west african, west africa, world music, ethnic music, village drumming, didadee, bobo, djembe, master drummer, djembe fola

Mali young guns djembe drumming recording session photo

Mali Wedding

MC the young master drummer plays dunun at Mali wedding party

mali wedding ceremony

more wedding photos and shots from Mali West Africa

Grand Master Djembe Fola Aruna

Grand Master Djembe Fola Aruna Sidibe listens to himself play on a recording \”Old Masters\” (available on earthcds.com) for the first time in Mali West Africa

Brulye Mali champion

Master drummer and my second teacher is named Brulye. He was Mali (Bamako city), champion of djembe drumming

Didadee

Didadee drummers from the village at a recordng session for Mali Music available on earthcds.com

Didadee village drummers

Didadee (Didadi) music from the village!

Aruna Sidibe, Grand master djembe fola

My djembe master is Aruna Sidibe 83 years old in Mali from the Music of Mali: Old Masters CD on erathcds.com

Bobo drummers in Mali

Bobo drummers in Mali play the gourd drums, bara bendre,

Bo Bo balaphone

Bobo musicians in Mali play the balaphone,

Bo Bo drummers in Mali

Bobo drummers in Mali play the gourd drums, bara bendre,

Yagbe Onilu in Mali

Bobo drummers in Mali play the gourd drums, bara bendre,

drum carver in Mali makes djembe drums for us

Drum carver outside of Bamako Mali making a beautiful djembe drum

Komoko Sano's daughter

Komoko Sano's other daughter

at Komoko Sanos compound in Guinea, West Africa

Michael P in Amsterdam fest

Amsterdam drum festival with Nick Ostis

Michael P in Amsterdam fest

Amsterdam drum festival with Nick Ostis

Amsterdam drum festival with Nick Ostis

Amsterdam drum festival with Nick Ostis

;
I took these photos on my two trips to Mali and Guinea, West Africa where I studied traditional djembe, drumming, music, culture and African music and dance. Drummers photos feature my teachers Aruna, Brulye and Siaka. Guinea photos at the late great Komoko Sano’s home and compound.

Amazing! Dazling Young child djembe SUPER STAR player solos at show : AMAZING!

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

An amazing 6 year old child djembe drummer solos at Guinee, West African “Spectac” (big show in Conakry, Guinea). Music similar to this and other similar high quality digitaly recorded audio recordings I did in Mali are now available for sale:

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

Masters of Djembe#4: Dancer, Jaques Pt.2 &Dunun solo!! In “HD”!

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

Jaques comes back for his second solo in this all star djembe fola-young masters video form Conakry Guinee West Africa. Please check out part two of the traditional male african dancer and the remarkable dunun solo as well!! I made this durring my 2nd study tour of West Africa where I met and played with several master djembe drummers and djembe folas in Guinea and Mali.

Africa, Barabajaba and more..your questions answered!

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

I have received so much mail asking who was who and what was what, I put this video together with answers for you..It has captions and information on whose who and what is what in many of my videos! Please click on the link in blue to take you to the earthcds.com Mali page where you can listen to 4 of my different CD’s for free, or order them there as well. [...]

What is traditional drumming about?

Traditional drumming part one West Africa

What is traditional drumming?

Traditional  African drumming usually refers to drumming that has been handed down from generation to generation and comes from a time long ago.

Traditional drumming is  organized and systematized drumming or drumming that is part of a musical piece or composition that is used for a specific purpose or occasion in almost every culture if you look back far enough.

Master Mali djembe [...]

Yankadi Beginners Djembe and Dunun class by Michael Pluznick

Yankadi rhythm from Guinea, West Africa taught in a beginners djembe drum and dunun class in Bangkok, Thailand. Michael shows both traditional and ballet (dununs down) styles of playing.

Guinea Lamban west african drum class by Karamba Diabate

This is a video of a Guinea Lamban west african drum class given by my teacher and good friend Karamba Diabate at my home on Maui, Hawaii. He also demonstrates the dance moves for this piece as well.

djembe drum facebook

I have started a Djembe Drum group on Facebook!

Daily practice

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 [...]

Fantastic Balaphone, djembe & dunun players in Conakry, Guinea

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.