Topic: Babatunde Olatunji & Drums of Passion

[nichi]

Oya- Primitive Fire

http://www.youtube.com/v/41p2a0zqMMY&hl=en&fs=1



Baba Jinde

http://www.youtube.com/v/6gSBOy50dbw&hl=en&fs=1



Shango (to the God of Thunder)

http://www.youtube.com/v/fWeDev0QWLc&hl=en&fs=1

[nichi]

Ajaja

http://www.youtube.com/v/51O2ymTtsR8&hl=en&fs=1

[TIOTIT]

 


http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WseOkQXfY2A


http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=47Izq2OS6do&feature=related

[Michael]

Ajaja

http://www.youtube.com/v/51O2ymTtsR8&hl=en&fs=1

That was good to see - never actually seen them live: 'Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion perform at a New Years Eve Concert in 1986 opening for The Grateful Dead'.

This album changed the music of the western world forever - it's influence on the top musicians in the west (and on me personally) could never be understated. (It is also the album where I first identified what I call the secret African rhythm.)

[nichi]

Tim Buckley


http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=47Izq2OS6do&feature=related

I know I should know of him ... I'm going to pick my roommate's brain in the morning -- I think he is someone we secretly savored back then. The memory cells are rattling. He sure had a lot of character! Dead, I presume? I'll see if I can hook him up for the montage! 

That was good to see - never actually seen them live: 'Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion perform at a New Years Eve Concert in 1986 opening for The Grateful Dead'.

This album changed the music of the western world forever - it's influence on the top musicians in the west (and on me personally) could never be understated. (It is also the album where I first identified what I call the secret African rhythm.)

Didn't you just love how the Drums of Passion made their entrance? And such energy, wow.

I think I hear what you mean about the secret rhythm, but I can't articulate it...

[Michael]

the 'secret rhythm' as I call it, is an actual rhythm, played on another track from the album.  I would need to look it up again.

I call it secret because I have rarely heard it played, and it is so clever!

[nichi]

the 'secret rhythm' as I call it, is an actual rhythm, played on another track from the album.  I would need to look it up again.

I call it secret because I have rarely heard it played, and it is so clever!

Ah! Then, of course, I have no idea what you mean!       Though I do remember your mentioning somewhere a 'secret african rhythm'.
If you stumble upon the name of the track, and let me know, maybe I'll be able to hear it on youtube -- they had several of his.

[nichi]

http://www.youtube.com/v/zMuA-E--aWU&hl=en&fs=1


Youtube:
Babatunde Olatunji "Master of Drums," was virtuoso of West African percussion. Born and raised in Nigeria, Olatunji was educated at Morehouse College in Atlanta and the New York University Graduate School. At Morehouse, he began performing informally, entertaining fellow students. As the demand for his music increased, he entered the professional music field.

In 1959, Columbia Records released Olatunji's first album, Drums of Passion, which became an unprecedented, worldwide smash hit. It was the first album to bring genuine African music to Western ears, and it went on to sell over five million copies. Olatunji has traveled the world for forty years spreading his music and African culture. Thirty years ago, he founded the Olatunji Center of African Culture in the heart of Harlem and he has been a member of the faculties at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California and the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York for almost 15 years. At these institutions, as well as at innumerable workshops and festivals, Olatunji continues to pursue his strong commitment to spreading knowledge of African culture through the teaching of traditional drumming, dancing, and chanting in classes for adults and young people.

Olatunji received a Grammy Award in 1991 for his collaboration with Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart on their Planet Drum album. In addition, his composition "Jingo Lo Ba" has become a signature song for the rock group Santana. Olatunji also has written scores for Broadway and Hollywood productions, including the music for She's Gotta Have It, a film by Spike Lee.

In 1997, Chesky Records released love drum talk, which went on to be nominated for the 1998 Grammy for Best World Music Album. On it, Olatunji unleashes the rhythm of passion. Olatunji leads an ebullient ensemble of guitarists, singers and, of course, percussionists through a series of spirited meditations on the nature of love. Lust, kinship, sensuality, courtship, and spirituality are the themes Olatunji uses to fuel his joyous, infectious playing.

[nichi]

Some of that influence M spoke of -- Santana doing Olatunji's piece, "Jingo-lo-ba" --  (this picks up in midstream...)


http://www.youtube.com/v/vBZnC07qiL4&hl=en&fs=1



Olatunji and His Drums of Passion version:

http://www.youtube.com/v/ZYhFyF8dvU4&hl=en&fs=1

[TIOTIT]

 


http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=hE0ODrmaiFE&feature=related

[Michael]

If you stumble upon the name of the track, and let me know, maybe I'll be able to hear it on youtube -- they had several of his.

It is the rhythm at the very beginning of this track:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8wp1PKuqwPk

because it is a variation on a standard rhythm, it is easy for them to fold back into the base rhythm or other variations of it, which they do in this piece, but you can hear it dominant at the beginning.

[nichi]

It is the rhythm at the very beginning of this track:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8wp1PKuqwPk

because it is a variation on a standard rhythm, it is easy for them to fold back into the base rhythm or other variations of it, which they do in this piece, but you can hear it dominant at the beginning.

Thank-you, Michael! 
I'm studying it ...


Akiwowo

http://www.youtube.com/v/8wp1PKuqwPk&hl=en&fs=1

[nichi]

Nick Drake

Ahh! Suicide! He's in ... but will he want to be? 

[Jennifer-]

Great thread V Im very much looking forward to seeing and hearing these clips when I can visit a speedy internet connection!

[nichi]

Great thread V Im very much looking forward to seeing and hearing these clips when I can visit a speedy internet connection!

Jen! Go see Monica today, don't delay, heheh! I know you'll love them.