From the YouTube description: “Bwazan members, Khalifa and Bassidi Koné play a balafon and djembe duet during rehearsal at Maison des Jeunes, Bamako, Mali (Khalifa on balafon and Bassidi on djembe). In Bamako, Bassidi Kone leads his longstanding percussion group, Bwazan. For more information, check out the websites of Bassidi and Bwazan.
The results from Trinidad and Tobago’s Panorama 2018 are in and the winners are:
Large Conventional Steel Orchestras
1st place: 287 – Renegades
2nd place: 280 – Skiffle Bunch
3rd place: 279 – Desperadoes
(more…)
“What Carol is This?” is a medley of “What Child is This” and “Carol of the Bells” for steel drum ensemble. This performance took place on Sunday, December 3, 2017 Lakewood (CA) 1st Methodist Church.
Performers:
Kristen Harper, Dave Gerhart – Lead Pan
Ross Harper – Double Tenor
Dave Beery – Double Seconds
Cynthia Perez Gerhart – Triple Guitars
Jackie Beery – 6 Bass
Many years ago, I was introduced to the Aslatua. According to DjembeDirect.com, “the aslatua (ah-SLAH-too-uh) is a unique hand percussion toy that will capture your attention with its tricky polyrhythm. This simple instrument (also known as aslato, kashaka, cascas, televi, kasso-kassoni, and more) is played by holding one gourd in the palm while simultaneously shaking and swinging the second gourd. The gourds come from the Swawa tree in West Africa, which are dried, hollowed, filled with pebbles, and connected with a string. You’ll have hours of fun playing with this traditional African instrument.”
The first video (above) is a great freelance video of the Aslatua. If you are interested in learning how to play the aslatua, check out the instructional video below.
This video features the live performance from PASIC 2012 (November 3, 2012). The session was called “Steel Band Literature: Standards, New Directions, Styles and Sources” and was directed Tony McCutchen (Jacksonville State University), Dave Gerhart (CSU, Long Beach) and C. J. Menge (Inside Out Steel Band). The performance featured over 60 faculty members from the US performing new literature for steel band.
If you are a percussionist, you should be a member of Percussive Arts Society and attend the yearly convention Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Thanks to Joshua Simonds, Executive Director of PAS, for allowing this video to be posted.
Program
Trini Yellowtail – Adam Mason
Very Much (A Lot) – Joshua Garrett
Spin Cycle – Brad Shores
PanSon – Dave Gerhart (more…)
YouTube is an amazing resource for world music. Here’s a great example of some of the videos I have been watching lately. Amazing Balafon music from Africa. What have you been watching? Leave a comment below.
Skype Lessons with Dr. Gerhart