anybody had lessons from Karamba Diabate?

[dununbabe]

Hi djembefolas, has anyone had experience with learning djembe from Karamba Diabate that they would like to share? I have not yet heard of him. He will be here in two weeks with Youssouf Koumbassa(who I HAVE heard of )
thanks!

[e2c]

He's been around for a good while - why not just go to the workshop and see what you think?

[dununbabe]

oh I am already going. Just would like to hear feedback from others.

[e2c]

Understood - wish I could help!

[Dugafola]

you haven't heard of Karamba? he's been in the states for looooong time.

he's griot from Diabate lineage and a shredding balaphon player. he's a self taught djembe player and was in Les Merveille's D'afrique under Kemoko Sano.

he has crazy phrasing and hangs mostly offbeat.

he loves cola nuts too.

Call Baba and ask him about Karamba.

we see him here in Santa Cruz about once a week.

[michi]

oh I am already going. Just would like to hear feedback from others.

Sorry, can't help either. But please let us know your impression when you get back!

Cheers,

Michi.

[dununbabe]

thanks duga I'm looking forward to it!

[dununbabe]

you haven't heard of Karamba? he's been in the states for looooong time.

no duga, in San Diego, we do not get the kind of players that they do in SF, SC or LA. We really have to fight to get good teachers here.

[michi]

no duga, in San Diego, we do not get the kind of players that they do in SF, SC or LA. We really have to fight to get good teachers here.

Yeah, right--you only have Mamady, you poor thing!

Cheers,

Michi.

[dununbabe]

no duga, in San Diego, we do not get the kind of players that they do in SF, SC or LA. We really have to fight to get good teachers here.

Yeah, right--you only have Mamady, you poor thing!

Cheers,

Michi.

sure we get Mamady; but since he started touring nonstop, it's for only two weeks out of the year, and for a mini Guinea camp, and I cant even go to most of the classes because I'm out and about organizing things and doing errands. So I dont even "get him" as much as YOU do!

[michi]

sure we get Mamady; but since he started touring nonstop, it's for only two weeks out of the year, and for a mini Guinea camp, and I cant even go to most of the classes because I'm out and about organizing things and doing errands. So I dont even "get him" as much as YOU do!

Oops, yes, I see your point. It's sort of easy to assume that, when you are the headquarters of TTM, Mamady would be a constant presence when, as you say, he isn't...

OK, that puts paid to my plans to permanently relocate to San Diego...

Cheers,

Michi.

[jeffduyndam]

Hi Dununbabe,

Yes, I have taken many classes from Karamba. He is awesome. Very funny and easy to hang with.

And he can tear it up on dunduns, djembe, balafone.

Sit next to him with your drum during a dance class and get ready to rock!

You will love playing drums and taking classes with Karamba

[dununbabe]

thanks Jeff! it will be a week from today, I'm looking forward to it!

[dununbabe]

It was fun, we learned a rhythm he called Daro, a griot "rhythm" originally played on Balafon. It had FOUR djembe patterns and dunun patterns. fun!! Unfortunately there were only 6 people. Total shame. But Youssouf's dance class was PACKED! Played djembe for that, and the Balandugu Kan folks from LA were there too. We played Sofa for warm up, then Tiriba(which I heard a different Kenkeni part for that was really cool) and Sinte at the end.