Album Notes

7 Essential Grooves is a culmination of a lifetime of drumming and teaching. Over the last twenty years of teaching djembe grooves around the US and in Santa Monica, California, I have found certain grooves that are foundation patterns which every culture in the world uses to make their ritual, ceremonial and sacred rhythms- even in the US. These are simple patterns that are explained while the student can hear or see the hands on the DVD. Slow tempos, medium and fast are fun to follow and easy to play too. There is an expert level as well. This is not a conventional drumming lesson CD/DVD. It shows grooves that are inherent in popular music; blues, rock, folk and jazz. These are rhythms that are being playing around the fire dance circles and in healing drum circles. There is no need to learn first the complicated traditional drum parts that become intellectual exercises without the magic of the groove. These grooves are for trance, dancing, joy and healing. The rhythmic elements are common to all cultures. There are two bonus tracks on the DVD.
The first track is about the second line funk; New Orleans R and B soul.
The second track is about the Latin Salsa clave and its connection to the Bo Biddley beat.