NEWS USA Mobile: 804 832 4867 / email / malikan on myspace Mali Kan - Music from West Africa Thursdays, 6pm, KFMG 99.1 On the Air in Des Moines, IA
Mundus World Music Ensemble World traveler Rusty Eklund brings forth traditional and original arrangements inspired by music from Africa, Arabia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The ensemble plays in multiple forms: as an instrumental stage ensemble, African and Arabic Drum ensemble, an instrumental acoustic ensemble, and as wandering drummers at festivals and street fairs.
Ongoing Classes Mondays in June, Des Moines, IA Beginning, Intermediate Djembe/Jenbe 7:30pm, Ancient Ways, 17th & Woodland $15/class Every Tuesday in Des Moines, IA Open Drumming Every Wednesday in Des Moines, IA Advanced/Professional Djembe/Jenbe Call for information Open and Beginning classes present the basic rhythmic concepts of West African drumming, handpatterns, culture, songs, and ensemble arrangements Intermediate and advanced classes present the ensemble arrangements, techniques, songs, lead phrasing and numerous arrangements from our teaching repertoire.
International Percussionist Rusty Eklund's Performance Set-List Rusty is currently arranging for, and performing in the Iowa area with, Des Moines percussion ensemble TUBABU. Together they present the folkloric rhythms and songs of the West African people as well as original pieces. Instruments highlighted are the jenbe (djembe), konkoni, dununba, bougarabou, n'tamani, n'tamanba, and korokoro . Donkono
Somono
Chiwara
Dansa
Suku
Maraka
Madan
Numu
Tama
Komo
Ferabanka
Gerankeh
Jon
Korojuga
Moribayassa
Manjani
Bara
Bonkolo
Maraka 2
Fula
N'grii
Sunu/12-8
Dansa 2
Wolosso | Mali Culture 1000 years of musical evolution
The music of Mali is arguably the most precious cultural jewel of the former Mande Empire. Malian music incorporates numerous styles, dozens of instruments, world-renowned singing, dynamic dancing, and a musicological evolution on par with the most respected musical traditions of Europe, the Caribbean, and India. The traditions of West Africa are widely accepted as being the source for American blues music and the culture of transplanted Africans has permeated most every form of Western popular music. The musical integrity of their traditional forms, and the modern fusion that Malian and foreign artists are driving has brought the music of this West African nation to the forefront of the world music scene. A Few Popular Malian Musical Styles 
| Rusty Eklund International Musician/Teacher
Rusty Eklund is a professional percussionist presenting the instruments, culture and musicology of the West African people, highlighting more than a decade of study and performance with master musicians. He has spent the better part of nine years in Mali and Guinea and holds a BA in Mathematics and Ethnomusicology. Currently, Rusty is teaching and performing in the Des Moines, IA area.
University Lecture Series Performances Drumming and Song Workshops Performance/Educational Materials School Programs
Mali Kan often works with a number of Malian musicians living in the USA, combining the authenticity of Malian masters with the educational background, cultural understanding, and professional presentation of Rusty Eklund.
Instructional Repertoire - Introductory Percussion (Ages 3-adult) - Jenbe Ensemble (beginner to professional) - Professional Percussion Instruction - Bonkolo Ensemble - Jeli and Guitar Ensemble Introductory Percussion Rhythmic concepts, introductory hand and stick patterns, basic ensemble arrangements Djembe, Dunun, N'taman Ensemble Core instruction for the jenbe ensemble includes jenbe accompaniment, konkoni accompaniment, call, 3 solo phrases unique to each rhythm, and for advancd players dununba lead phrasing. Instruction is rooted in the three main rhythmic families. Pedagogical approach is to solidify a player's knowledge and technique in the Malian repertoire, providing a "classical" base for understanding a wider range of lead technique, playing styles, and forms of music.
Suku
Dansa
Maraka
Madan
Gerankeh Moribayassa Numu
Korojuga
Ferabanka Fula Komo
Manjani
N'grii
Sunu/12-8
Wolosso Bonkolo Tama Donkono Modern Professional Percussion For percussionists wishing to include West African styles to their repertoire. Instrumentation includes the jenbe, jeli dununba, ballet dununs, nanga (bells), n'tama (talking) drums, calabash, koro koro (log drum), kerenyen (metal scraper), yabara (gourd shaker). Instruction in placing West African drums in support of instrumental ensembles. This instructional series incorporates rhythms plus improvisations for each instrument.
Bonkolo Ensemble
Jon Foly
Bara
Fula Foly
Chiwara Somono Foly Korojuga Foly
West African Guitar and Jeli (Griot) Ensemble - Kora, N'goni, Bala, Percussion
Mali Sadjo Sunjatta Janjon Mansani Cisse Bani Famaden Bemankan Tara Sackodugu Salimou
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