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Djembe Bara, “Unity Of The Drum”! What is drumming really about?
What is drumming really about? Of course our beloved traditional hand drumming is about musicality, technique, history, culture, education, spirituality, devotion,self expression, creativity, love and I am sure I missed a few things. “Anke Dje Anke Be” means come to gather in peace in the Melinke language of the Mali Empire (the Bambara say anka… Read More »
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Now And Then, All Styles Relate To The One!
Then And Now~ Let’s Get It Together! When I first started drumming in the 70’s (for those of us not born into or of the drum culture), there was one general drummers informational grid or network, that is to say one large drumming platform or base of information that was available to the general public.… Read More »
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Playing 5 Sets of Some of the Best Congas Ever Made
I am feeling very blessed and happy to have these drums to play and show you! Here today we have some of the nicest conga drums ever made. I made a simple demo video of myself playing these drums so you can get a feel for the all these different and wonderful drums. Of… Read More »
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MP Djembes Are Back! New Djembes Are Now Available In Limited Quanities!
I am now selling world class, professional and very beautiful djembes with amazing sound! I have djembes in 13″ and 14″ sizes from Guinea, West Africa featuring cow skin. These drums look and sound fantastic, please check out the sound demos. These drums are being designed by me to my exact specifications. I have a… Read More »
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Bolokada reveals secret of the djembe
Bolokada reveals secret of the djembe It is rare that I am able to share the deepest secrets of the Djembe! I have shared many songs, rhythms, and stories of my Malinke people, many techniques. Now, I’m excited to share the secrets of playing the djembe and the music with you. This is something I… Read More »
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It’s All About The Groove! Groove Consciousness In Hand Drumming
Groove consciousness. I believe we all need more groove consciousness. Goove is good. Groove is groovy. What is a groove and why does it make us happy, why does it make us want to dance? To me, a groove is an energetic wave of music that picks me up and takes me with it. Its… Read More »
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Peeing Blood Playing Djembe or Congas: “Percussion Hemoglobinuria”
I am not a medical doctor nor do I pretend to be a scientist. I can however, tell you my personal experience about the experience of peeing blood after playing, what’s been told to me and also what I have read. Then it is up to you to do what you have to do. It’s called… Read More »
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In Awe of The New School, But I love Folkloric traditional Styles
I love and I am in awe of the new school, the ballet style of drumming and the super fast hands and gymnastic like techniques of todays young and modern djembe foals. Truly amazing stuff. Beautiful and Intriguing. Most of all it impresses me. But…does it make me smile? And what am I feeling inside… Read More »
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How To Solo On Djembe
The Djembe Solo Demystified: What is a djembe solo? For me, (depending on the scenario and situation), a djembe solo is a story we..or someone tells. Like any good story It has a beginning a climax (or climaxes) and an ending. There is a build and their is space. But how do we tell this… Read More »
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The Djembe Solo
The beginners, *(all of our) need to solo in traditional drumming situations. Most people getting involved with hand drums such as congas and djembes get inspired by seeing a video, being at a drum circle or a performance where they have seen someone soloing. Something clicks. Something calls us. We are moved in a very… Read More »
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Understanding West African Jenbe (Djembe) and Dunun Music.
When we concentrate only on soloing on the jenbe, and not learning or playing the dunun we are only experiencing the rhythm arrangement or composition from one small perspective. You are relating to it from a small and stuck position. Its like driving down the highway and only seeing the back of the car in… Read More »
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Playing Ballet Style Dunun (aka Djun Djun) vs Traditional Style Dunun
What is the difference between playing ballet style dunun drums and traditional style dunun playing? Traditional is sideways played by three or two players and Ballet stye the dunun are played standing up. But it goes beyond this. The dunun are a set of three double sided drums hit with sticks that make up the… Read More »
