DrumRise - Performances

DrumRise offers high energy West African drumming performances that are great for:lan

School Assemblies
Corporate Events
Festivals
Private Parties
And more…

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DrumRise director Amy Jackson is the musical director and soloist of ConunDrums, a 10-member, all-women percussion ensemble. ConunDRUMS is available for anything from 20 minute to 1 hour performances composed of a mix of drumming, singing, dancing, and storytelling. Our performances always invite interaction and we can tailor the amount of audience participation to your group and your occasion. They have played for a wide variety of events including festivals, community celebrations, worship services, birthday parties, and school assemblies.Smaller combos of 2-5 musicians and/or dancers for smaller venues and budgets are available. Contact us to find out about a performance option that’s right for your event!

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Amy is also a performing member of The Crustaceans. The members are native Atlantan’s and have been friends since grammar school. Amy plays West African drums, conga, and various percussion with the group and sings harmony.

SPECIAL GUESTS

BOLOKADA CONDE

One of Guinea’s most premier and prolific Malinke Djembefolas, Bolakada Conde has performed for thousands of people and at the highest level. A spellbinding Grandmaster Djembefola, Conde takes pride in sharing the Malinke rhythms, songs, and culture with sheer passion, patience, and remarkable zeal.

Drum godfather Mamady Keita calls Bolokada “a brilliant and entertaining performer, a patient and precise teacher, and one of the few masters of his instrument. Few are able to captivate his audience as he does, and even fewer are able to clearly and concisely teach this music.”

MONETTE MARINO KEITA

monette

Monette Marino is a world percussionist. She spent most of the the last 20 years studying under Master Drummer Mamady Keita from Guinea. In 1999 she received her Teaching Certificate and opened a branch of Tam Tam Mandingue USA in San Diego, California. From 2004–2012 she managed Mamady’s world tours, assisted him in teaching master classes, and performed with his ensemble, Sewa Kan. She received her diploma from Mamady Keita & Tam Tam Mandingue in 2011.

NASIRA KEITA

Nasira Keita is the daughter of Mamady Keïta Djembefola and Monette Marino. She plays Djembe and Dunun, (west African drums) bass guitar, and flute. Nasira has been traveling, playing and teaching with her parents virtually her whole life.

Bill Scheidt

Bill Scheidt spent more than 15 years as a close personal student ofMamady Keita, and is a Senior Certified Teacher in Mamady’s international school of the djembe, theTam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy (TTMDA).

Bill Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor is a Senior Instructor in the Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy school of djembe. He has studied, performed and/or recorded with a wide range of artists and organizations on 6 continents (nothing in Antarctica yet), including Grand Master Drummers Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Bolokada Conde, members of Les Ballets Africains, Ballets Djoliba

Robin "Bountourabi" Leftwicht

Robin “Bountourabi” Leftwich of Happy Beat Drumming, has been a student of West African art and culture for over 25 years. Bountou has studied in Guinea with Fode Moussa Camara and various teachers from the Gbassikolo Ballet. She has also studied with Aly Camara, Mohammed Decosta, Bolokada Conde, Nansady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Mamady Keita, John Scalici, Jim Donovan, Ubaka Hill, Bill Scheidt, and Tom Harris.

Christan Carter-Poret

Christan Carter-Poret, a New Orleans Native, has had the opportunity to learn and instruct students throughout the South and Southeast. Since the tender age of 6, this bubbly lady has used dance to minister, heal, revive, and enlighten all those who encounter her spirit. Christan is a founding member & Executive Director of Djoli Kelen, Inc. and is very active Atlanta African Dance and Drum Community. To know and work with Christan is to know love for the African Dance and Drum Cultures, communities, people, music, energies, and characters it brings together.

MAMA YEYE

Iyalosha Yeye Olori Oriyomi is "MAMA YEYE", best known as the Sekere Woman of Atlanta. She is a Yoruba Priestess of Obatala/Oshun, and has traveled throughout the U.S. and Africa as a Sekere percussionist, educator, performing artist, playwright and dance/theatre instructor.