We had breakfast with the Minister of Infrastructure for Tanzania today, the Hon. Hezekiah Ndahani Chibulunje (we had met him in 2005 when the Government had sent an envoy to meet us and hear about the Sing to the Well project). 2 years ago the World Bank offered finance to help remote villages in the Dodoma region with drilling wells. Read More
As you can imagine there was much joy when we were able to pass on a gift of a keyboard from a musician friend in the States to our friends in Dodoma, central Tanzania. The interesting story was getting it into the country ….. when we arrived a custom official tried to pocket 200,000 TSH for us to bring the keyboard into the country. When we said we did not have that money on us … he gave himself away by replying “How much can you afford?”
Sadly this was not the only story of corruption during our trip to Africa. We called his bluff, and finally after the usual waiting game … he got fed up and let us go through!
Rebekah and Martin will be making a return visit to Tanzania in February to visit the Gogo people whose music was recorded on the Sing to the Well project. To remind you all ….. here is a short video of the Tanzanian village as they celebrate with music and dancing.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL
We are off to Tanzania again in Feb and we are hoping to take a keyboard out as a gift. Anyone got one they are not using and want to donate? You’ll love the request we got ….. priceless English!
tHANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING TO FIND YAMAHA KEYBOAD FOR ME,PLEASE TRY TO GET GOOD ONE WITH MORE THAN 500 PSR,HARD TIPE,WITH TWISTABLE PEACHES(A THING THAT A PLAYER CAN USE TO TWIST OR SHAKING THE KEY BOADY VOICES WHILE PLAYING)
Twistable peaches mate every keyboard should have them ….. I think we know what he means.
If anyone would like to donate towards this gift that would be amazing.
Jerry Chapman (in the picture with me and one of his hand made drums), a wonderful drum maker in First Nations style, whose tribe is the Sto-Lo people invited us to an amazing pow-wow gathering. Here is a small sample of one of the songs being sung whilst playing the Abba drum.
A big thank you goes out to Jim and Cathy for lending us their 22 year old Cadillac whilst staying here in Amarillo. We have enjoyed cruising around …. even in the snow. We have had a fun week recording 2 projects at Third Ear music studio. A live album for Heidi Baker with all sales going to help her work with children in Mozambique, Africa and a studio project with Helen Burgess from England. Read More
It is always a pleasure to work with my good friends Tony and Sue Green from the USA. (Tony is in the picture at the computer) They were partners in crime on the Black Peppercorns live tour. They have their own studio in CA and help produce a number of eclectic projects.
Mingus and the Coyote
Well here we are in sunny California, where forest fires have burnt 850 homes some just a few miles from where we are staying ….. meanwhile at home in England there has been snow! Unfortunately the only tan we have is a studio one as we are finishing off recording with Mark Riley from Hawaii. Most of the week we’ve been recording with Kevin Penner at Green Bean studios, you can check out his studio here.
We also recorded a piano track with our good friends Tony and Sue Green at their studio www.eargallerymusic.com Tony and I have worked together for many years touring and recording and it is always great to get a chance to hang out with him and Sue. You can hear a track from Tony’s new recording below which we worked on together … just Bass and Percussion.
Mingus and the Coyote
Check out some of the traditional instruments that we used on Mark Riley’s recordings.
This is a pahu drum used in hula. I have seen two versions, a short one used in Hula (pahu hula) and a taller one, often called a temple drum (pahu heiau) apparently used in religious ceremonies. They play it with their fingers or hands or both. It is made from the bottom of a coconut tree or breadfruit wood and in the past often the skin was made of shark, nowadays hide and plastic are often used.
Carry Me On (Hawaii) CD - Exciting news - Remastered version available NOW
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Garlands for Ashes (Cambodia) CD & DVD - 100% sales to Cambodia
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Spirit of Four Directions (Native American) CD
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Steps and Stones (Hawaii) CD
Original price was: £7.00.£5.00Current price is: £5.00.
Wake Up Sleeping Giant (Stó:Lō Nation)
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Sing to the Well (Tanzania) CD & DVD - 100% sales to Tanzania
£15.00
We Face into The Wind (Northumbria)
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