I am reviewing this little known CD in the U.S. as a percussionist. The usual format for playing Djembe is to play within a group. The Djembe is an hourglass shape larger drum made out of Tweneboah, Mango, Mahogany, Rosewood or other indigenous and/or resonant woods. They are usually made out of one peice of a tree trunk with goatskin drumheads stretched by intricate, interwoven, nylon marine roping. The Djembe is usually played in groups of two or three players, and with a Djundjun player keeping the pace with a bass rhythm while playing a cowbell in counterpoint. This album provides long periods of time of solo Djembe, and the playing is excellent. It is somewhat rare to hear solo Djembe. If you follow rhythms in your head and interwoven tracks of rhythm, this is a showpeice. The hands are moving very fast with slap, tone and bass strikes. I have played along with my own Djembe, and this has been great fun (although hard to keep pace). If you enjoy African music and percussion, this is a good album to add to a collection for astounding solo drum playing.
