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November 2007
3rd Annual Drum & Percussion Festival
Bare & Core Expression will present its third annual Drum & Percussion Festival on Saturday, November 10 at 6 p.m. at Palace Theater. The production will showcase various styles of traditional and non-traditional drum and percussion performance groups, such as Hawaiian, Latin, Samba, Asian, Caribbean, African and more. The featured artists and groups are from the community, sharing their passion for music and dance and multicultural facets of our community. Musasa Marimba Ensemble, one of the groups that featured in our last year’s program, will again share their great music and enthusiasm for the music of Zimbabwe, Africa. Michael Breez, the Director of Musasa Marimba Ensemble, will offer a special Marimba workshop on Saturday, November 10 from 11-1pm at Palace Theater. Another returning artist is Steve Campbell. He will present a solo performance with creative and non-conventional man made noise makers which are not originally found in the percussion world market. Drew Leone, Artistic Coordinator of the Drum & Percussion Festival, has been the key person to make this project possible since its inception in 2005. Drew will present collaborative performance called Rhythms of Nature which will explore the connection between “the nature and evolution of jungle sounds and music”.
The special visiting guest artist for this year’s festival is Robertito Melendez from California. He is a ten-year member of “Bobby Matos Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble” on Life Force Records and a California schools percussion instructor. He studied at the Ile Ife Percussion School in Philadelphia. He studied Latin percussion and Caribbean rhythms. Throughout his professional career, he has performed with numerous groups and various artists, such as Bobby Matos Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz, Francisco Aguabella Salsa Orchestra, La Palabra, Teddy Riveria and his Puerto Rican Orchestra and more. For the past 20 years he has been teaching actively at Ramona Hall Community Center in California and at various places. He will present school lecture-demonstrations for children and youth. Besides his performance at the 3rd Annual Drum & Percussion Festival, he will also offer a percussion workshop on Sunday, Nov. 11 from 1:30-2:30 at Center Stage Dance Studio in downtown Hilo. His special visit to the Big Island is sponsored by the generous contribution of Volcano Percussion company.
One of the newly featured groups in this year’s program is Kumu Hula Aulii Mitchell and his Halau ‘O Kahiwahiwa laua ‘O Aana. Kumu Mitchell continues in the perpetuation of the hula olapa in which students learn all aspects of the hula. Another new presenter at this year’s festival is Jesse Seymour. Jesse Seymour, a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, has extensively studied numerous percussion styles from Cuba, West Africa, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Nigeria, Ghana, and the Congo for years. Jesse has shared the stage with many well known artists such as Celia Cruz, Mohammed Camara(Tata Denke), Eggui Castrillo(Tito Puente Tribute Orchestra), Rolando Sanchez(Salsa Hawaii), Moussa Bangoura(Sewa Fare), Reynaldo Gonzales(Raices Negras), Assane and Ousseynou Kouyate(Grios Kouyate), and Erin Harpe(Lovewhip). Just finishing his third tour with Orchestra La Pasion Segun San Marcus he continues to use his diverse knowledge of rhythm to participate in some of the most cutting edge music of this time. Jesse and his students will offer exciting beat of Brazil and Samba. Nikki Conti, a professional Flamenco dancer and instructor, will present a solo Flamenco dance titled “Solo de Pied.”
On Saturday, November 3, the Drumming in the Park, will be held at Kalakaua Park at 11 a.m. This free event will be opened by a guest performance group, Na Pua Mae’ole Hawaiian Ensemble, featuring Pahoa High & Intermediate School students under the direction of Pi'ilani Ka'awaloa. The ensemble initially started with five members and has increased steadily over the years. Currently the ensemble has grown to over 20 members. Today Na Pua Mae'ole is a registered Gifted and Talented class at Pahoa High and Intermediate School, open to students from 7th to 12th grade by auditions. Their performance highlights include statewide performances as well as to American Samoa, Tahiti, California and Washington DC. They also regularly perform on the Norwegian Cruise Lines.
The 2nd Youth Percussion Contest will be also held on the same day of the Drumming in the Park. It is open to anyone under 17. There are solo and group categories for the contest. The first place winner of each category will be featured at the main concert of the festival on the 10th of November at Palace Theater.
Following the youth contest, local drum and percussion artists will come together to share their music in free jam sessions. Anyone who is interested in this fun and creative process is welcome to join us. Bring your own instruments if you have. Several percussion workshops are scheduled on the day of Drumming in the Park as well as the main concert day of the festival at different venues.
On the day of the main festival concert, the silent auction will be held to raise funds for various arts events and projects, including arts in education programs by Bare & Core Expression. Many items donated by the local businesses and community members will be auctioned. One of the major items for the auction will be 13" Hawaiian Mango Super Tumba "Natural Fusion" series conga drum custom-made by Volcano Percussion. Volcano Percussion was founded in 1995 by Tom & Victoria Alexander. Many collectors, fine bands and various individuals throughout the U.S. and parts of Europe play Volcano Percussion’s drums now. In Hawaii such groups as Fiji, Kalaeloa, Rolando Sanchez, Kirk Thompson Quintet and Blue Lights are playing Volcano Percussion’s drums a well as the Music Dept. at University of Hawaii at Manoa. The retail value including the insulated Gig Bag is $874.00. This auctioned item features Remo Fiberskyn 3 head, great for Hilo weather, always stays in tune; top quality chrome hardware with Curve Chrome Crowns; shell protectors and rubber gaskets on bottom to protect the drum from slipping; finished insides; dowelled together; stainless backing plates to reinforce staves; finish is hand buffed Dupont polymer, same finish clear coats as automobiles; 5 yr. warranty on drum; comes with insulated Gig bag and adjustment wrench.
Advance purchased tickets for the concert at Palace Theater are $8 for general, $6 for students/seniors. At the door, they are $10 for general, $8 for students/seniors. Tickets are available at Basically Books, CD Wizard, Keaau Natural Foods and Patricia’s Transitions.
For more information, contact Bonnie Kim at 640-9182 or email at
artsforall-hawaii@hotmail.com. Bare & Core Expression is a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide opportunities where everyone can access arts to appreciate as well as to participate in the process of creativity through performances, workshops, exhibits, and residency arts education programs.
This event is supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawaii and by the National Endowment for the Arts. The generous community support from the Volcano Percussion has made it possible to bring special visiting artist as well.
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