news
the university daily kansan
5A
West African beats pound recital hall
Swarthout Recital Hall welcomes first performance other than classical or jazz
James Abbott, of the Kansas City area group Djembe Kaan, ventured off the stage at last night's performance drumming in front of the crowd gathered at Murphy Hall. The piece the group performed was described as the dance of strong men.
By Alex Hoffman
ahoffman@kansan.com
kansan staff writer
The sounds of Africa brought rhythmic energy to the University of Kansas last night.
Djembe Kaan, a Kansas City-based percussion group, played traditional instruments of west Africa at Swarthout Recital Hall.
The group started its performance by singing offstage. The seven musicians then appeared in a single-file line wearing colorful African dress.
After their vocal introduction, they began playing fast-paced, pulsating rhythms native to Burkina Faso, Senegal and the Ivory Coast. They alternated between drums they wore around their necks and drums that stood on their own.
At times the musicians played as if they were competing with each other for the best rhythm. They rocked, hopped and swayed with the music, pounding the drums with their wrists. Each song would come to a frenzied end.
zereena. "Their communication with each other is impressive," said Andy Schillinger, Overland Park junior.
The name of the group comes from the dijembe, an hourglass-shaped drum used often in the concert. The word kaan means "voice" in an African language known as Mandingue.
The music illustrated important events in the lives of the African people. The songs they performed celebrated agriculture, weddings and the arrival of
"There's so much music in this world that we don't hear and that we don't experience."
Clarence Henry assistant professor of ethnomusicology
dignitaries.
digitaries.
It was the first known performance of music other classical or jazz in Swarthout, a smaller concert venue in Murphy Hall.
phy Han.
Djembe Kaan came to the University with the help of Clarence Henry, assistant professor of ethnomusicology. Henry said the concert served as a preview for the World Music and Global Diversity Concert in April.
Diversity Concert "It shows people the value of other types of music," he said. "There's so much music in this world that we don't hear and that we don't experience. To bring a non-traditional group in a concert context is a big thing."
Djembe Kaan has a connection with the University. They got started when James Abbott, a former KU student, developed an interest in drums.
interest in drums.
"There used to be guys who would get together in the park and play drums once in a while," he said. "I'd been a musician before, but never played drums. I just sat in, and I was hooked."
just sit in, and I promise He met Sean Branagan, who shared his interest in the drums and learned under the same teacher in Lawrence. They then met the other members through
playing at an African event in Rolla, Mo.
Rolla, Mo.
"We all got together and had four rehearsals to play this gig in front of a banquet hall of 250 people," Branagan said. "And we went down and we thought we sucked. We got up on stage and the reaction was sort of polite
clapping."
After hearing themselves perform, those first thoughts changed.
changed.
"We start listening to the recording and it's like, 'Wow! We sound really good,'" Branagan said.
They have performed together since April 2002.
The audience also participated in the concert, with hand claps cued by the musicians and a dance contest. The winner of the contest received a free CD or Djembe Kaan's music.
Abbott hoped the audience gained a better appreciation for African culture.
"I think the goal of the University is to enrich people's lives through exposure to new ideas," Abbott said. "One way we can preserve and pay tribute to these traditions is by performing their traditional arts."
Edited by Andy Marso
MORE MORE MORE
MORE MINUTES MORE FEATURES MORE SERVICE
Nokia 3650
ALL RATE PLANS INCLUDE: NATIONAL DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE & DIGITAL ROAMING
ALL RATE PLANS INCLUDE: NATIONAL DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE & DIGITAL ENTERPRISE
BASIC PLAN 60 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes 500 WEEKEND Wherever Minutes $19 99 PER MO.
BASIC PLUS PLAN 300 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED WEEKEND Wherever Minutes $29 99 PER MO.
GET MORE™ PLAN 600 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED WEEKEND Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED NIGHTS $39 99 PER MO.
GET MORE PLUS™ PLAN 1000 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED WEEKEND Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED NIGHTS $59 99 PER MO.
GET MORE ULTRA™ PLAN 1500 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED WEEKEND Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED NIGHTS $79 99 PER MO.
GET MORE MAX™ PLAN 2500 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED WEEKEND Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED NIGHTS $99 99 PER MO.
GET MORE SUPRAT™ PLAN 5000 WHENEVER Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED WEEKEND Wherever Minutes UNLIMITED NIGHTS $129 99 PER MO.
Simple Answers Simple Solutions Simply Wireless
Simply Wireless
T-Mobile
authorized dealer
19th & Mass • LAWRENCE • (785) 842-5200
4651 W. 6th • LAWRENCE (Between Blockbuster & Pizza Hut) • (785) 749-1850
Other Locations In Ottawa, Emporia & Garnetti
TOURNAMENT WEEKEND
---