Featured CD

Preview the new CD
"Rise Up" by Barabajaba.

Featured Products

Your First Djembe Rhythm

The Rhythm Reference Project

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

Tasumakan

The new MP Signature Model Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembes have arrived !

The new MP Signature Model Eco Pro 12" and 13" wood djembes

The new MP Signature Model Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembes have arrived in the UK and are avaialbale at WRP (World Rhythm and Percussion) now.. These drums are made in Indonesia from plantation wood which is planted and replanted responsibly. I have been working on these drums for about two years now and also field testing them all around the world and I am really happy with the sound and feel! [...]

New How To Play Djembe on line (downloadable) Djembe and West African drumming Lessons now available!

"How to Play Djembe" on line downloadable djembe lessons by Michael Pluznick

My latest instructional series on how to play the djembe and west african drumming styles is now available for easy downloads at X8drums.com. This easy to follow tutorial series features easy to follow instructions, over the shoulder shots and special slow motion sequences to make your learning experience easier and fun! Please check it out at X8drums.com where you can see and hear a free sample. [...]

The New MP Signature series Eco Pro Djembes are now available at X8drums.com in USA and WRP in London soon!

The NEW MP Eco Pro 12" Wood Djembe is now ready to ship to you!

Michael Pluznick has been recording with a variety of musicians with great pleasure and success for over 25 years. He has collaborated with Todd Rundgren, Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart ( both of The Grateful Dead),Clarence Clemmons (Bruce Springsteen), Raul Rico (Santana) and Jim Chappell, among others. Designed and manufactured in Bali, Michael worked closely with master carvers and artisans to create a djembe drum that he believes rivals most high-end African made drums in sound, look and definitely 100% in quality. One of the major upgrades to this drum is additional carving on the inside of the drum which creates a larger “choke” or opening for the sound to exit from. The choke should always be larger then your fist size when placed in the opening. He also added a bicycle tire to the bottom of the drum to protect your floors, other peoples floors, to stop the drum from whacking and splitting and to make it easier to hold when you are drumming sitting down. Once you try a drum with a tire on the bottom you will want one on whatever drum you are playing. Legally Harvested Wood Michael’s goal in making this signature drum was to try and design an “eco” drum from “good wood” and also to make a drum that looks, sounds and feels like the best west African drums at a price of almost half their cost. The trees used in manufacturing these drums are replanted and it is regulated and observed closely. The wood that these drums use cost twice as much as the “smuggled” and illegal wood, but to Michael it is worth the cost to try to at least be conscious about it. Kiln Dried The Eco Pro djembes are kiln dried and tested for humidity and moisture. This prevents long term problems with the shell cracking or changing shape over time. The Sound Please watch the videos and see for yourself. These drums have full rich tone, deep bass and a snappy high with slaps that really “POP”! The larger 13″ drum is really remarkable in that it covers so much ground. You can use it as a solo drum, accompaniment drum or anywhere in between. Because of the remarkable strength of the wood and roping methods you can pull these drums as tight as you want. They won’t warp like some lighter drums do. The smaller drum at 12″ is still a nice size, relatively light in weight and has remarkable presence and projection of sound. Despite being a screamer on the high end (if you crank it up) [...]

My New How To Play Djembe DVD is now available at X8drums.com

How To Play Djembe Volume 1 by Michael Pluznick

Well folks, it is finally here! After a very long road of playing, videoing, shooting, editing and re editing I am very excited to let you all know that my all new DVD, “How To Play Djembe” Volume 1 is now available at X8drums.com. It is over 1 hour and 40 minutes long and covers every possible aspect of how to play the djembe! [...]

Becoming a drummer, “where do I fit in” some tips on finding balance

congas and djembes room

Maybe you are a beginer or perhaps you have been drumming a while. A challenge or problem that we all face at one time or another in our drumming life is “where do I fit”? What is the type of music I really want to play and who are the people that I want to play with or learn from? Do I want to freestyle or play traditional music? [...]

Introducing the new MP Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembe drums

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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. [...]

Mano Secreto; Demystifying the secret hand technique for conga drums

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Have you heard of the Mano Secreto? It is the secret hand technique used and first made popular by percussion legends Changuito and also Giovanni Hildago. Prior to these great conga players there was another player named tat Guines in Havana Cuba who was developing this technique. Why is it secret? Because until recently (well about 10 years or so ) no one else could do it. Now everyone is doing it but there are not a lot of great instructional videos about it unfortunately. [...]

Bali Treasures drum and percussion shop in Ubud, Bali

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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 [...]

How to Play Congas: Very basic technique, position and tones

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“With out strong framework the house will collapse’. In this ‘follow along” video/ conga lesson we will begin to explore how to position your hands and also how to make basic sounds on the conga drum. This is part one. For more info go to: www.michaelpluznick.com

Toca Elite Pro wood conga drum review

Toca Elite Pro Wood Conga Drums Review by Michael Pluznick

These are really nice , sweet sounding drums, and the finish is beautiful as well. They come as a set with a nice folding stand which is great if you are playing in a band. I also tried the Tumba which has a deep, rich bass tone. The drums come in a choice of two different finishes and also having matching bongos which are crisp and clean. The drums are medium to light weight and a bit shorter then Toca’s other drums. I prefer the shorter drums as I like to play sitting down. [...]

The late Great Pello EL Afrokan, our teacher

The legendary Pello El Afrokan teaches us Mozambique in Cuba 1985

Pello El Afrokan

 

In 1985 we traveled to Cuba to learn about Cuban culture, study the music and experience the Cuban lifestyle. We were young and looking for musical and cultural adventures . While staying at the hotel in Havana we met Pello el Afrokan in our lobby. We told him about our quest to study Cuban music, rhythm and dance and he took our small group of friends on [...]

**NEW**!! How to Play Sekere (Shekere) Vol.2 JUST RELEASED!!!

How to Play Sekere

http://www.earthcds.com/caribbean/cub…

How to Play Sekere (Shekere) Volume 2 has just been released by Michael Pluznick and earthcds.com. Please check it out at earthcds.com. This Sekere video includes group arrangements for Shekere (sekere), individual parts for playing the Sekere (shekere) as well as Sekere rhythms for popular music as well.

Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia

Aruna Sidibe and Brulye, my two teachers in Mali West Africa

Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia *(Dununs) perform traditional West African djembe rhythms from the world drumming recording session for the Old Master CD on www.earthcds.com

MP plays Toca congas w/DJ Steve and guitar at BBC club, Koh Samui, Thailand

Michael P and Dj Steve Bray on Koh Samui

Percussionist and conga player Michael Pluznick plays Toca congas, bongos and djembe to the electronic music of DJ Steve from England with Bobby Parrs on Guitar. Filmed on location at the BBC bar Big Buddha, Koh Samui, Thailand, Asia.

How to Play Congas: Very basic technique, position and tones

Michael Puznick on Toca congas in Bangkok Thailand

“With out strong framework the house will collapse’. In this ‘follow along” video/ conga lesson we will begin to explore how to position your hands and also how to make basic sounds on the conga drum. This is part one. For more info go to: www.michaelpluznick.com

How to Play Sekere (Shekere) Vol.#2 demo

shekere demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAs38Zqw34g[/http]This new and exciting video I shot myself covers every possible aspect of playing Sekere (aka Shekere) by yourself or with other people. In this new instructional DVD I  have included how to play with bands, music ensembles, in Afro Cuban groups as well as with West African drummers as well! Excerpts from the new and upcoming ‘How to Play Sekere (Shekere’) Volume 2 by Michael Pluznick.In this  demo video some of the techniques [...]

My Shekere (Sekere) I made in Micky Hart's Museum

Gourd drummers, play "Bara Bendre", the percussion section of Bobo music

MIckey Hart of the Grateful Dead consigned me to make him the “ultimate” Sekere (aka Shekere). This one took me about two minths and 4,000 or so beads more or less. I also made one for Airto as well. These days I am not making too many Sekere’s as it takes up so much time to make one. This one travels in Micky Hart’s traveling African Museum. To learn how to play the [...]

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

Bali Djembe of Eddy Tamba

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.

Bali from a drummers perspective

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.

beautiful clouds and sunsets from my travels abroad and coming back home

clouds, sunsets and world music and world percussion by Barababaja Percussion Ensemble of the BIg Island and SF, California.

Vocals (part one) by Zahira and part two by Boaz Hashimoto Martin. Photos by Michael Pluznick. Percussion by Jesse Seymour and Michael Pluznick.

My hand made Shekeres: Shekere Art by Michael Pluznick

http://www.myspace.com/rhythmsofbarab…

This is the shekere I was hired to create (make) for Mickey Hart formerly of the Grateful Dead. It took me hundreds of hours to complete this one and only! It now travels with Micky Harts traveling percussion museum.

Vietnam 2:”HD” art, sculptures,temples w/ music by Michael Pluznick

This video features photgraphy shot in Hanoi, Vietnam and contans beautiful art, sculpture, and nature with world music by Michael Pluznick The people and scenes are from everday life in Hanoi, Vietnam. HD *(high definition). Shot on Canon 7D digital SLR

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

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).

M and M in Bed! More Funny Found Percussion Pt.2!!

M and M explore found objects and home made percussion instruments in the bedroom. See how many different found objects you can recognise! CLICK THIS LINK TO HEAR OR BUY OUR NEW CD: http://www.myspace.com/rhyt… http://www.reverbnation.com

what to use if you do not have a drum (bucket)

Michael P demonstrates what to do when you don’t have a dunun or conga..use a bucket. MP shows 3 different ways to play 6/8 beats on his cheap yellow bucket drum! Stcik and hand technique.