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Welcome to the Handuma Drum News Letter.

To find out what's happenin' around town concerning drumming or to help others know what's happenin' around here visit Handuma Drum's Event Calendar. You can edit Handuma's calendar by clicking a link on the right side of the calendar.

I had fun at the drum workshop presented by the Traditional Music Society, February 15, at the Westport Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri. I advise anyone interested in learning more about African drumming, rhythms from other cultures or vegetarian cooking (a dinner was served after the workshop) to attend the next event the Traditional Music Society presents. At this workshop, Cheikh Gueye, a master drummer from Senegal, West Africa, taught us to play the Monjani as the members of an African village would. Different types of drums were required and different types of rhythms were played simultaneously to emulate the sound an African village. Unfortunately, similar to the experience I've had learning foreign languages, getting the accent just right is nigh impossible. With a master drummer like Cheikh Gueye in the group, however, we sounded authentic!

Different drummers play repeating patterns on their djembes. For instance myself and others played the Trivole. It goes like this: tone, snapsnap, bas -- tone, snapsnapsnap, bas; while simultaneously, other djembe drummers play various other accompanying parts. The bas drums tye it all together with their long lasting low notes. A basic arrangement requires two different types of drums and bells(which function like a metronome). In addition to djembes we had two different kinds of bas drums, the jun-Jun, the ? Jun and bells. Whenever, the village (our group) began sounding tight the master, Cheikh, would let lose with furious solos. The intensity of his performance is impossible to exaggerate. He plays astonishingly fast and with great force defining the phrase, "loud and clear." I wish everyone in Kansas City could have seen his performance. Since pictures speak fluently let me supplement my description with several. Click here to see Cheikh Gueye in action.

We applaud the work of Stan Slaughter, the Eco-Troubadour. Ever feel powerless or detached concerning the causes of pollution? Stan's music will help you understand, in a friendly way, things you can do in your own home, that are crucial to saving the environment. We're sure you will enjoy his music. The first song on the play list, "Storm Drain," is about water.