I would love to see these guys in Seattle. Maybe SWPS could invite [...]]]> Randomly browsing YouTube tonight, I came across a group in Philadelphia called Spoken Hand. They combine North Indian tabla, Afro Cuban bata, Brazilian samba and West African djembe in a 40-person ensemble that must really rock live, if this video is any indication:

I would love to see these guys in Seattle. Maybe SWPS could invite them to the World Rhythm Festival. I’m pretty sure the SWPS budget couldn’t cover 40 plane tickets, but maybe we could get the director and a few of the drummers to come out. I’m just sayin’ . . .

Zakir Hussain is a master tabla player who has collaborated with Mickey Hart, Babatunde Olatunji, Sikiru Adepoju, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Giovanni Hidalgo, and many other world beat musicians.

There’s a clip from a 2004 Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion show [...]]]> Sorry for the late notice on this one. I just learned about this show today.

Zakir Hussain is a master tabla player who has collaborated with Mickey Hart, Babatunde Olatunji, Sikiru Adepoju, Airto Moreira, Flora Purim, Giovanni Hidalgo, and many other world beat musicians.

There’s a clip from a 2004 Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion show at YouTube.

Show Details

• Artist: Zakir Hussein’s Masters of Percussion
• Date: March 4, 2010
• Time: 8:00pm
• City: Zakir Hussein’s Masters of Percussion in Seattle
• Venue: The Moore Theatre
• Address: 1932 Second Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
• Venue phone: 206-682-1414
• Country: US
• Admission: $35
• Box office: 877-784-4849
• Buy tickets
• Notes: Under the direction of percussion legend Zakir Hussain, Masters of Percussion offers the audience an opportunity to experience both melodic (raga) and rhythmic (tala) development and will feature the traditional repertoire from both Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) classical traditions, North Indian drumming on tabla in solo and duet as well as excursions exploring the frontier between traditional and contemporary, folk and classical. Featuring: Taufiq Qureshi, various percussion; Ganesh & Kumaresh, violins; Sabir Khan, sarangi; Sridar Parthasarathy, mridangam; Navin Sharma, dholak; The Motilal Dhakis from Bengal.
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Here’s the announcement (these classes are also listed on the African dance [...]]]> Hey, there, dance nuts. You won’t want to miss this one. Alseny is one of the most dynamic and fun dance teachers you’ll ever see. He’s teaching two classes this weekend – Saturday afternoon in Fremont and Sunday evening at the Seattle Center.

Here’s the announcement (these classes are also listed on the African dance page):

ALSENY YANSANE, dynamic teacher and fourteen year performing artist of the world renowned, BALLETS AFRICAINS of Guinea is offering two fabulous West African Dance classes in Seattle guaranteed to rock your world!

www.wontanaraproductions.com

I can’t believe that it took me until tonight to finally catch Eckaman and Super Mokako. Eckaman is Congolese, so his vocals, and the overall feel of the show, were a nice departure from [...]]]> It was a sweet show, and a particularly sweet scene, at Hidmo tonight. Joy and camaraderie abounded, and the music was cooking.

I can’t believe that it took me until tonight to finally catch Eckaman and Super Mokako. Eckaman is Congolese, so his vocals, and the overall feel of the show, were a nice departure from the usual West African scene.

Well, actually, a lot of the West African “usual suspects” were in the house. Abdoulaye Diabate played guitar, along with Leif Totusek. Karim Koumbassa sat in on djembe for most of the second set. Edward Souarez sang several songs and sat in on drum kit for another song. Naby Camara played balafon on one song. And Abdoulaye Sylla and other Guinean dancers were having a lot of fun on the dance floor.

Bob Antolin played sax and clarinet. Ricardo Guity Blanco played drums. I didn’t recognize the bass player. Mohammed Shaibu sat in on guitar and drum kit.

Be sure to get to Hidmo next Sunday, March 7, for the big fifth anniversary show. Maya Soleil will open for Guillaume Mpacko’s group Sol Afrique.