Batouka 86 - (Adama Dramé and other world percussionists)

[davidognomo]

Hi.

http://percusiones-de-africa-brasil-y-c ... 28VIDEO%29

this is a link to a blog where you can download a lot of stuff

ran into it when my favourite youtube videos of adama drame were taken of the web.
I wrote to the guy that had them and he replied with this link.
As far as I know, Batouka was (or still is, I don't really know) a percussion festival in south america.

This is a documentary from its 1986 edition, where you can see Adama Drame play some of his typical solos, at a young age, with a vigour wich he hasn't got anymore (just saying he's getting older, with qualities gained and lost).

enjoy.

[Rhythm House Drums]

can't wait to check it out. Adama Drame is a huge inspiration to me. I can listen to his stuff all day!

Thanks for posting

[davidognomo]

Yes, he's like my favourite. Although his work (as a solo djembe player - that's the stuff from adama drame I like) is not comparable to other word class djembefolas, being his style so specific.

But, I'm going to dare saying this: there is no one playing solo like him.

On the other hand, his sound as a soloist on an ensemble doesn't move me.

Hope you got to check the film out.

[Djembe-nerd]

On the other hand, his sound as a soloist on an ensemble doesn't move me.

That's an interesting comment.

I will tell you my side of the story. When I was new to djembe, I liked (or understood) the soloists who stayed within the melody of the rhythm and filled it up with variations. That was the level I understood west african music then. Now, I also like and understand the "going across" soloists, ones that go right acroos the rhythm, thats what I have started grasping now in WA music. Its a journey, I think you see some things only when you have travelled till there.

Coming back to your comment, I am still young in this music but I think that Adama is one of those "going across" soloist.

[davidognomo]

well, the reason I said that his sound as a soloist on an ensemble doesn't move me is precisely because, to my understanding, it stays too much on beat. So I guess we see it in exactly opposite ways. I find him too calm when he is soloing over an ensemble, seems like it isn't his thing.

On the other hand, when he is playing alone, it seems like you're hearing an ensemble. I mean, when I first started listening to him, I was always wondering how was that possible with only two hands.

On this documentary, you see him very young, swetting, and with that typical to youth attitude of a man who wants to go further. Its beautiful.

I think he goes across when he's playing alone. way across.

cheers