Hooked

[rachelnguyen]

I am finding myself becoming a dun dun addict too.

Lately, I have been playing the Jeli dun dun for Sidy's beginner class. It has been great fun for me to learn to hold down the bass line.

Today I got to play the ballet style dun duns for Dansa. I have, of course, heard the dun dun part for over 4 years now, so it took about 1 second for Sidy to teach me the part and then I was off and running. Sidy's set is a dun dun and kenkeni and I am totally in love. I think when I am in Mali in January I am going to have to add to my already ridiculously huge drum collection.

Dundunfola Rachel

[Allurelife100]

I can relate to your exuberation because I am regulary a djembe player and never get a chance at the dun-duns. I went to a conference in Chicago a few weeks ago and let me tell you, it was intense! Moustapha Bangoura was down my back about feeling the rhythm Sorsene on the Dundunba, and wanting me to play without the bell. I know this rhythm well playing them dun-duns upright, but ballet style kicked my behind. I need more practice on the dun-duns and I will have to do just that...lol

[Michel]

Duns on Dansa, great. I've been busy with Dansa with several teachers (Madou Fané, Ibrahima Sarr) and saw various versions of Dansa last year on the festival in Ségou, Mali. I filmed about 20 minutes of it real Khassonké-style with 2 jeli-dununs, with dance. If you are interested we will find a way to share it.... My teacher who is Bamana from Senegal is getting into his Malian roots, ordered some jelidunun's with his Malian family to get us into this great dunun-thing, so I can't wait. I have been working on the solo-phrases, while listening to the bass-line, so I think it won't take long for me to learn how to play them either. Who are you going to visit in Mali this january? I'm thinking about joining Sidiki Camara's travel. I can imagine you are hooked, I hope I will be soon.....

Michiel

[rachelnguyen]

Hey Michel,

I am going with my teacher, Sidy Maiga. This is my second trip with him. Last time I studied with djembefolas Makan Koné and the late (and very great) Mazé Kouyaté. I worked on djembe with both of them, though Mazé was a great dundunfola too.

This time I might try a little n'tama and will definitely work on dun dun along with djembe.

The workshop is 16 days in January, from the 7th on. PM me if you want more information!

Love,
Rachel