Category: Blog
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How to allow drumming to be spiritual practice
The first step in making drumming a spiritual practice is realizing we are not making anything or forcing anything. We are dropping. We leave our ego at the door. What does this mean? It means we have have to drop our egos and come into the room humble and open. When we are humble we… Read More »
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My trip to Cuba in 1985
In 1985 my friend Jerry had found out about a special artists cultural tour expedition to a jazz fest in Veradero Cuba. In those days people had not yet started traveling to Cuba to study. A few had gone but not many. I did not have the money to go and I knew this was… Read More »
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Studying Drumming In Mali Part #2
Part #2 An excerpt from my upcoming book When I was living and studying in Mali I would call a taxi in advance to deliver me and pick me up for my drum and dance classes. This was only partially effective. Often they simply would not show up on the return leg and it was… Read More »
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Drumming with others is like being on a team
“There is no I in team”. Although this is a bit of an over used expression, I still love it. It really fits into my idealism concerning group drumming be it traditional or non traditional. Drumming is a communal experience. And for me, It would be so more of a communal experience if we acted… Read More »
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The 4 Types of Djembe Solos
The djembe solo in the west and in the east. 4 types of djembe solos. In West African djembe music originating out of Mali and Guinea areas there are 2 different types or approaches to solo on the djembe. I am talking about these two regions (Guinea and Mali) because that is where I have… Read More »
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The yin and yang of call and response
The yin and yang of call and response. What does call and response really mean? If we look a West African drumming and any drumming from the West African Diaspora originally, it is a system set up of plus and minus, positive and negative, yin and yang, tension- release and call and response. For me… Read More »
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Learning how to stay in time, practice tips for beginners Part 1
A lot of people ask me how to improve their rhythm when they are drumming or learning to drum. Everyone has to start somewhere and there are definitely things to do that can help us improve. A fun way to play, improve, learn to “lock in” and sit in a groove is to play along… Read More »
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My First Trip To Mali Part #1
My first trip to Mali West Africa happened as a fast last minute decision. I had a good friend living there studying guitar from Maui, Hawaii who had been asking and inviting me to come for quite some time. I had been playing in a music trio in Amsterdam and our time had ended in… Read More »
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Groove and the pocket. The power of simplicity.
Groove and the pocket. The power of simplicity. When you are playing traditional style drumming, especially West African djembe based music you “hold” parts. Everyone is not playing whatever they want constantly. Each djembe player and each dunun player has basic set parts. The parts are part of alchemic formulas from who knows where originally.… Read More »
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What About The Dunun (AKA Djun Djun, Duns and Dounoun)
What about the Dunun? I would like to open up a discussion on a trend I have been seeing in West African drumming in my travels home and abroad. I have been noticing a focus on learning djembe only, especial solos and leading and a lack of emphasis on the importance of dunun parts and… Read More »
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Dispelling The Myth Of Talent
Dispelling the myth of talent. More often then not, something we see someone doing looks easier than it is or someone makes something look very easy. In this case let’s talk about hand drumming. When you see most of our drum masters play they are very relaxed and maybe they are smiling. Maybe we don’t… Read More »
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Drumming Is A Shared Experience
When you are drumming there are ways to play besides holding parts. But in a jam, dance class and even a performance when you are indeed holding a part, you are holding the space for others. It’s a shared experience. We have to leave space for each other. We support each other. There is more… Read More »