Arts, Etc.Music

Drummers beat African rhymes

Steve Biondo leads this semester’s West African Drum Ensemble in a performance held in the Quad Wednesday. The students played traditional rhythms from the Malinké tribe, such as “Soli,” a manhood song, and “Djole,” a harvest song. The Ensemble will perform Dec. 8 in Founders Auditorium with guests. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz
Steve Biondo leads this semester’s West African Drum Ensemble in a performance held in the Quad Wednesday. The students played traditional rhythms from the Malinké tribe, such as “Soli,” a manhood song, and “Djole,” a harvest song. The Ensemble will perform Dec. 8 in Founders Auditorium with guests. / photo by Reina Santa Cruz

by Kenneth Todd Ruiz
Managing Editor

Spirited beats and driving percussion from the Music Department’s West African Drum Ensemble set more than a few toes tapping Wednesday afternoon in a free campus performance.

The final offering of this semester’s Music in the Quad series of outdoor concerts, the show featured the students who have immersed themselves in West African culture and rhythms since September.

And rhythm they had.

Pounding a variety of differently shaped drums with names like djembés and dununbas, the 11-member group produced a repetitive yet mesmerizing sound without missing a beat. Or very few, at least.

“They really put themselves into their music,” said May Stanley, a La Verne resident who brought her 7-year-old daughter Corinna to the show. “I’ll probably have the beats in my head all day.”

Steve Biondo, for whom percussion has been a labor of love for more than three decades, directs the group in between his own performances with various groups including the Samadhi Project.

“A lot of them are beginners and they’ve never played in front of an audience,” Biondo said. “It worked out really well.”

For those who missed out, the West African Drum Ensemble will be shaking the walls of Founders Auditorium at 8 p.m., Monday evening. They will be joined by special guest Joseph “Panhead” Peck and his Steel Drum Orchestra, performing Calypso, modern jazz and original compositions.

Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Managing Editor
Kenneth Todd Ruiz
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Reina Santa Cruz
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