House Concerts (see a flyer)
My new favorite format for performing music. A house concert is played in a regular, real person's backyard or living room, or some other creative home space. The hosts invite their friends, and I invite my friends and fans in the area. Then I put on a two-hour concert of mostly original music, throwing in a few songs from Brazil, Africa, and Latin America. These days I mostly play solo, adding an array of percussive accompaniment played with my feet, including bass drums and hi-hat on some tunes. I play guitar on most songs, though I also play flute, mbira (an African thumb piano), djembe, banjo, and occasionally something else. I love how intimate these shows are, and how more of the depth of my songs can be shared in this kind of comfortable and distraction-free environment. I also love the feeling of intimacy and community connection that happens in these shows, played on a human scale...often consisting of 25 to 50 people. It ends up being a great way for me to share my music and a wonderful way for hosts to bring their communities together around music and connection.
Library Performances
These all-ages shows inspire me to pull out all my instruments from around the world...berimbau, drums, shakers, mbira, flutes, strings, etc. Featuring mostly interactive, fun, and participatory music, I introduce kids and adults to music, songs, stories, instruments, and traditions from Brazil, West Africa, Zimbabwe, and South America. I also play some of my most fun original songs that get the kids laughing, dancing, jumping, and having fun!
Village Drumming, Song, and Dance
Bringing the people together through the ancient call of the drum, I respectfully borrow from West African village traditions, teaching the poly-rhythmic magic that has formed the backbone of these cultures for centuries. Participants learn the correct techniques for playing the djembe and dundun drums, singing parts, drum parts, and if inclined, dance steps to these wonderful traditional pieces, as well as their cultural significance. The way that this kind of orchestrated communal drumming brings people together, out of their minds, and back to their hearts is a wonder to behold.
My new favorite format for performing music. A house concert is played in a regular, real person's backyard or living room, or some other creative home space. The hosts invite their friends, and I invite my friends and fans in the area. Then I put on a two-hour concert of mostly original music, throwing in a few songs from Brazil, Africa, and Latin America. These days I mostly play solo, adding an array of percussive accompaniment played with my feet, including bass drums and hi-hat on some tunes. I play guitar on most songs, though I also play flute, mbira (an African thumb piano), djembe, banjo, and occasionally something else. I love how intimate these shows are, and how more of the depth of my songs can be shared in this kind of comfortable and distraction-free environment. I also love the feeling of intimacy and community connection that happens in these shows, played on a human scale...often consisting of 25 to 50 people. It ends up being a great way for me to share my music and a wonderful way for hosts to bring their communities together around music and connection.
Library Performances
These all-ages shows inspire me to pull out all my instruments from around the world...berimbau, drums, shakers, mbira, flutes, strings, etc. Featuring mostly interactive, fun, and participatory music, I introduce kids and adults to music, songs, stories, instruments, and traditions from Brazil, West Africa, Zimbabwe, and South America. I also play some of my most fun original songs that get the kids laughing, dancing, jumping, and having fun!
Village Drumming, Song, and Dance
Bringing the people together through the ancient call of the drum, I respectfully borrow from West African village traditions, teaching the poly-rhythmic magic that has formed the backbone of these cultures for centuries. Participants learn the correct techniques for playing the djembe and dundun drums, singing parts, drum parts, and if inclined, dance steps to these wonderful traditional pieces, as well as their cultural significance. The way that this kind of orchestrated communal drumming brings people together, out of their minds, and back to their hearts is a wonder to behold.