Contemporary Music with djembe

[Marc_M]

What are some of your favourite contemporary artists using djembe in their music?

About a year ago I posted a similar question asking for members to post examples - I don't think that I made myself understood, because there were posting of djembefolas and their music. The discussion was interesting so I didn't try to redirect.

Now I have some examples of what I was looking for for artists. Perhaps if we all posted an example, we would have a great compilation of artists we can listen to for some great ideas.

Cheers.

I've been really groovin on some Malian musicians - here are a couple of my favourites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lEi_WFQ ... re=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoEsYTgD ... re=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jC46flxyNA

[bops]

Ah, Ramata Diakite, may her soul rest in peace.

Marc, some of my favorite singers are Oumou Sangare, Nahawa Doumbia, and the late Ramata Diakite. That style of music is known as Wassulu style - kamale n'goni, karignan, jembe accompaniment, guitar, and some synth backing up the singer.

[bubudi]

I don't think that I made myself understood, because there were posting of djembefolas and their music... Perhaps if we all posted an example, we would have a great compilation of artists we can listen to for some great ideas.

got any good video links, bops?

[the kid]

Heres a few links ted

www.youtube.com/user/WorldSrv#p/u

[e2c]

you might also want to check out www.afropop.org (web site for the show Afropop Worldwide), which has lots of archived audio, interviews and more. Some of the Wassoulou singers are pretty well-represented there.

[Nodrog]

Hi there,

I'm not sure if this is what you had in mind but I have attached a video clip of a great reggae band from California called 'REBELUTION'. I would highly recommend seeing this band live but in this clip, they are playing mainly acoustic and using a djembe instead of a full drum kit,

Enjoy, Gordon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU0Cbazv64E

[Marc_M]

Ah, Ramata Diakite, may her soul rest in peace.

Oh, Bops, how sad. I didn't know this - I only just discovered music in the Wassulu style and now I know what to call this style. I will definitely be adding more to my collection. Thanks for the info and thanks to all who posted.

Cheers.

[e2c]

there's a tribute to Ramata on the afropo.org site...

[Djembe-nerd]

Here is something different with a djembe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMWvWpqshOc

[Djembe-nerd]

Another one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx7tGzyN-EE

[bops]

Thought you might find this interesting.

[e2c]

Baltimore-D.C.-area drum/dance troupe Farafina Kan performing their song "Nankama" (a little W. African twist on D.C.'s go go music!), featuring Jamaican dj Mr. Seifu -



Farafina Kan with LA's Krump Kings and (I think) dj Mr. Seifu -



(Interesting how well some of the guys in Krump Kings started picking up on the feel - my fave by far is the guy in the long orange shirt and black bandanna; he's the 3d to solo. And that jump by Mahiri Keita - with djembe - amazes me!)

More Guinée + go go by Farafina Kan, shot this past spring in D.C. -



They can and do play all the trad stuff beautifully, but I love how they mix it up, and how they use the duns for go go conga parts. Diallo Sumbry has the mike, btw. (These vids are making me miss D.C ....)

[Paul]

some nice stuff there.. I like what farafina kan are doing..

The Oumou Sangare stuff or people like habib Koite (though there is no djembe) are based alot on traditional stuff, I can pick out alot of kamele ngoni riffs from habibs music, classic lines like Jina Muso..

Personally I have moved towards mixing my music.. I studied kam ngoni and bass ngoni, I could wait a few years for someone to learn the ngoni bass or I can get an electric bass player in... I like to keep at least two dunun players in and someone moving between djembe and bara..

If you ever saw the Toumani Diabate symetric orchestra tour he explains how they have deconstructed the music to play on western instruments..

Also I was in the Choir balcony behind the stage at a Habib gig, that kit player was knocking out some fat dununba style beats on the kit...

Basically I would be happy to play pure traditional and I also have a guinea style drum group.. But by mixing I get to work with a higher quality of musician.... Violin players, Gospel choirs, jazz flutists.. I went to Fete sur le Niger a few years ago, all the bands were 50/50 trad/western...
Oumou, Tikken jah and amadou and miriam all sang a brthday song together for Habib.... It was rocking