Every month we pump several tracks from favorite drum-centric CDs onto the website as suggested music for self-practice between jams. All tracks recommended here have purchasing links (in case you get severely addicted to them-- hey, it happens!!). If you would rather not listen to music while visiting our website, you can turn the music off by closing the Audio Stuff browser window that opened when you first came to this website or by using the RealPlayer playbar Stop button in the Audio Stuff browser window. If you closed the Audio Stuff browser window and would like to bring it back to listen to the website background music, click here. Currently playing: Meli Meli was a very popular CD in 1998 by Cheb Mami (vocalist often recognized in this country for his work with Sting on Desert Rose). 'Rai' is the popular stylized music of Algeria, a blend of old world middle eastern and mediterranean rhythms (including completely unexpected bagpipes! Gotta love middle-eastern fusion). Our drum circle will be revisiting this rhythm genre this July at our Monthly Jam's workshop. This track is entitled Azwaw 2... enjoy! One of the last great djembe masters on the planet, Famoudou Konate of the Malinke tribe in Guinea, is returning to the Pacific Northwest this year to offer workshops on traditional West African drumming techniques and songs. Our drum circle is diving into several of these rhythms at its jam in April. This CD, Hamana Mandenkono, from 2004, is a collection of traditional chants and drum songs performed by Famoudou and his International troupe. For 12 years, Dead Can Dance (Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerard) cranked out some of the most innovative fussion sounds of the ancient world and modern electronica on the planet. Serpent's Egg was one of their most popular CDs, which includes Mothertongue, a piece the Sultana Dancers and several Tri-Cities Drummers play for their performances. Both artists have gone on to do major movie soundtrack work, and to produce their own solo collections. They come highly recommended. It is a privilege to share the musical genius of Paoli Mejias this month, one of several drumming masters who hosted workshops at Seattle's recent World Rhythms Festival. Adept at playing the conga, djembe, tabla, and numerous other drums, Paoli has incredible mastery over the speed and clarity of his drumstrikes. This track Revelation is from his Grammy-nominated 2004 CD Mi Tambor (my drum) which is that furious, feverish, and utterly delicious Latin Jazz you would expect from the equator. Currently playing: For 12 years, Dead Can Dance (Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerard) cranked out some of the most innovative fussion sounds of the ancient world and modern electronica on the planet. Serpent's Egg was one of their most popular CDs, which includes Mothertongue, a piece the Sultana Dancers and several Tri-Cities Drummers play for their performances. Both artists have gone on to do major movie soundtrack work, and to produce their own solo collections. They come highly recommended. Sacred Spirit is one of those rare collections of First Nation rhythms that isn't dominated by the stylizations of one particular nation and which effectively brings the genius and the unique quality of the genre to mainstream audiences. Paralleling the fusion styles of Enigma, Deep Forest and James Asher, the musicians of this CD combine the authentic chants of several First Nations with very catchy grooves. In April our drum circle will be diving into the rhythms of several First Nations including several featured on this CD. Known best for his composing of Riverdance, Bill Whelan has been writing music with the themes and patterns of the British Islands for many years including great percussive pieces like this one, Bridge Attack from The Roots of Riverdance. The drumming patterns of Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales have a common history, but the spirit of these drumming patterns are very different than those of their Celtic ancestors. In February we plow into the earthy militant rhythms of these 4 countries... another first for our drum circle! A master teacher and natural healer, Frank Natale has been a prominent figure in alternative education for over thirty years. Committed to dance movement as a healing force, Frank, with his band Professor Trance, has produced a body of trance dance music including the best selling CD 'Shaman's Breath' on Island Records, the double CD 'Medicine Trance' and their latest CD 'Rites of Passage'. Desert Visions is one of India contemporary artist Prem Joshua's older CDs, but it includes numerous tracks with awesome classical rhythms from India, played beautifully by Tabla and Udu master Rishi Vlote. Drum Beats of the Pacific is a 2-volume compilation of authentic traditional rhythms of Hawai`i, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, Rarotonga, Aitutaki Atoll, Pukapuka, Atiu, Manihiki, The Cook Islands, Tokelau, and the islands of Wallis and Futuna. The CD was created as a tool for students of percussion who were interested in reproducing these rhythms. It's hard to describe the audio chemistry that the AfroCelts generate as they layer traditional African and Celtic beats and lyrics with new and exciting melodies. Some call this kind of fusion blasphemy, but as with all artists who remain true to their own colors, the group is what it is and does what it does... and the resulting sound is infectious and addicting. In January and February we explored these high energy sounds.