Ngoni dreams

Tomorrow night on my 57th birthday I get to see ngoni player Arouna Diarra and rising Appalachia. I am working on a self produced cd called ngoni dreams . Kef will play the sat market and then open for resonant rogues at the add and fiddle.More later. My surf group the surfonics is back up and running as is african guitar driven  Trio Chibuku.

seattle bound

off to seattle this weekend for 4 gigs, 2 of which are @ the northwest folklife festival with kef for the sunday night balkan dance and a trio mingushki which means "hen's wattle in bulgarian". we play a mixture of balkan and scandinavian tunes on accordion, cornet and percussion.
alsokef @ georgia's greek restaurant saturday night and the russian center friday night.

where was I?

wow i forgot about this blog i started! well it is now feb. 2 2011. last year i went to England with the band woodland for 2 weeks, my first time in Europe! It was great i loved it! My wife michele and i went to maui the winter previous also my first time in the islands! Looking forward to playing in seattle in 2 weeks with kef for some dances and shows. Then in march i go to a steampunk/celtic/ mythic faire in baltimore with woodland acoustic. We did a masquerade ball the other night and it went well, pirates vs faeries. I also have some gigs around st paddy's day with my klezmonaut best buds Jeremy and Chip to play celtic and scandinavian tunes in some pubs. I also play with mamadou and abdoulaye tchioub senegalese master dancers and drummers. So even though i put very little effort into having a career i have things happening enough to keep me occupied, it kind of works that way for me. I will be playing a totally improv free jazz show fri at cowfish with Shawn diFiore and Rick Iannacone. free as in free in every way!

It's a chilly 23 F today i knew we would have another cold snap. The balmy weather was to good to be true. We are doing a liver cleanse diet for 2 weeks. My asthma seems to be going away due to it, I have more energy and this is just the 4th day in. already dropping poundage and looking better! this will be a good year. Got a fire cooking in the woodstove, i get a massage today!

Update

update;

kef is done for the season at world cafe turning quite frigid for playing outdoors. Maybe next season in the spring but first, We have added jaime and hasina on vocals and john on electric upright bass. also I am playing drumset with the group mostly now and dumbek.

agate hall for the balkan dance on the evening of november 9th
saturday market on the december 22nd @ 12:30

klezmonauts are playing

tsunami books november 11th from 5 to 7
saturday market on december 1st@ 3:15

looking like an eastern european flavor to this season musically.
I decided not to stay with the dance troupe because of my other professional groups. I just don't have time for it all anymore. I saw their performance at the country fair this summer and they were outstanding!! I am performing african inspired music of Zimbabwean and west african influences as well as polonesia and malagasy with guitarist and guests

Paul Prince january 10th @ Sam Bond's garage

that's every sunday

every SUNDAY at 3:00 that is

world cafe balkan music 3:00
weather permitting
strictly outdoors
courtyard
out side
balkan
band
KEF
clarinet, darbuka, flugelhorn, trumpet, cello, accordion
bulgarian wedding music, serbian choceks,
macedonian mayhem etcetera
world cafe 3:00 p.m.
for now on
always
as long as the sun shines
blair street in whitaker neighborhood
eugene oregon, food, bakery, beverages

west african drum and ance with Alseny Yansane

Since age seven, Alseny Yansane has been immersed inthe musical and dance tradition of his native country,Guinea, West Africa. Alseny trained and performed inmany competitions as a dancer, drummer, and acrobat inthe dawning of the Republic's newly won independencefrom France. Historically, this was a time when artand cultural appreciation and cultivation were at anall-time high, and the training that artists receivedwas strict and systematic. Artists had to compete on anational level annually as a way of moving up tohigher levels of artistic status. These competitionswere held in the heart of Alseny's neighborhood andattracted groups from all over Guinea who representedspecific art and culture from particular regions andethnic groups.This has given Alseny a wealth of knowledge of thehistory and cultural diversity behind this art form, asolid artistic foundation, and a strong drive tostrive for excellence.Alseny has worked with some of Guinea's most reputableperformance groups, including the recently departedKemoko Sano's Ballet Merveilles and Jean Macuely'sBallet Sanke. In 1993, Alseny was recruited to join the country's mostprestigious of all the national groups, the worldrenowned Les Ballets Africains. Touring with them severaltimes, Alseny has dazzled audiences all over theUnited States and Canada, Bermuda, and Morocco.Alseny's dance style is powerful, yet graceful. Hismovements have incredible precision and extension. Hehas brought crowds of spectators to their feet withhis fancy acrobatics and lifting techniques. As adrummer, Alseny is clear and rootsy. He plays smoothlyand melodically with the time, not murkying up themusic with extra notes. Alseny is also a wonderfulteacher who is energetic, inspiring, and fun. He knowshow to make West African dance and drumming accessibleto a variety of levels by breaking things down andbeing patient and encouraging. His joy and passion forhis work is so imminent that it can fire up a room ofstudents from all kinds of backgrounds.DRUM CLASSES:MONDAYS: ON GOING 6:30-8:00 pm Adam's Elementary School cafeteria 950 W. 22nd Ave, Eugene COST: $12-15 SLIDING SCALENEED A DRUM? CALL ANDREA AT 541-232-5471 BEFORE 4 PMMONDAY TO RESERVE ONEDANCE CLASSES:SATURDAYS: ON GOING 11:00 am -12:30 pm WOW Hall 291 W. 8th St., Eugene COST: $12-15 SLIDING SCALEWEDNESDAYS: ON GOING 6:30-8:00 pm Willard Gym at The Village School 2855 Lincoln St., Eugene (BEHIND THE NEWMARKET OF CHOICE) COST: $12-15 SLIDING SCALE