Composing instrumental music around djembe rhythms

[music]

Just wanted to let you all know Vagabon Tribe has a new CD out, and much of the music is based on traditional djembe rhythms.

Midio Ma was written around the structure of Komo Foly (it also has some cool banjo on it)
Duna was based on Numu Foly - the blacksmith rhythm
Yewehdeh is structured around a Bamana bonkolo rhythm from Markala called Fula Foly
N'do Haadi is based on a Bamako interpretation of Dogon rhythms
Nedi comes from a Bamana bonkolo rhythm titled Jon Foly

You may try and hear drums playing the parts from these rhythms, so try not to be confused when you don't hear this. The idea is to try and integrate a specific feel from malian djembe rhythms into the ensemble, while making original music.

Both out first CD with Djoba Gueye (Mauritania-vocals) and Lamine Soumano (Mali - guitar, mandolin) and Rusty Eklund (USA - kamel n'goni, percussion), and our 2nd CD with Seidou Sow (Mauritania - vocals), Rusty Eklund (kamel n'goni), and Papis Kone (Mauritania-guitar) are currently available in Mauritania and will release internationally at the end of June.

We are working on our third album - a mixture of electric kamel n'goni, cigar box guitar and west African percussion with Seidou Sow on vocals (compositions based on djembe rhythms Sunu, Gerankeh Foly, Maraka, Korojuga, and Wassalou Fula Foly). We'll finish this album in the next couple of weeks and have it available during the summer also.

Check out www.vagabontribe.com for more information.
Peace
Hope you enjoy it

[bubudi]

looking forward to hearing it, rusty. any plans to record more with djoba?

[music]

No plans to work with her in the near future. Since she really needs to sing in diatonic and chromatic realms, and I am focusing on my kamel n'goni work, she really needs a certain set of musicians and I really enjoy working with Seidou's pentatonic abilities. I was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to put her and Lamine together. I really like that album. The hird album which we are currently recording is really great and I like the direction we are going. Thanks for the listen.