Kalimba Community

Bantu Camp: Northern New Mexico, May 21-30, 2009

Chris Berry and friends are bringing together great players of African music, both white and black, for their annual Bantu Camp gathering in northern New Mexico. There will be drumming, dance, song, marimba, and daily instruction in Mbira, Kalimba and/or Nyunga (i.e., Karimba).

Instructors include: Djian Tie, Dr. Djobi, Eric Gore, Djeneba Sako, Abdoul Doumbia , Onye Ozuzu, Titos Sompa, Mabiba Baegne, Constance Massengo, Tendai Muparutsa, Lucky Moyo (pending visa), Rujeko Dumbutshena, Zivanai Masango, Maputo Mensah, Mauwenyega Mensah, Koffi Toudji, Shea Berry (kids dance), Kelly Pederson (kids crafts), Elise Gent (dance), Wendy Arenson (yoga), Frank and Pilar Leto (Orisha song and dance), Armando Ortega (guitar, hosho), Heidi Alina (drum), Ben Isaac (drum), and many others!

Participants camp, and adults can attend for $150/day (meals included). I am very familiar with this part of northern New Mexico. Daytime temperatures will be warm during the day, but the high elevation will make the nights delightfully cool! For more info, go to http://bantucamp.com.

Andy Wilson on Traditional Karimba Tunes in KTabS

Andy Wilson runs a World Music Shop in England called Knock on Wood, which carries Hugh Tracey kalimbas and some of my books. Recently, Andy downloaded the 10 Traditional Karimba Tunes in KTabS format. I asked him if he had downloaded the collection for a client. Andy replied:

They're for me - I already know about half of them but was intrigued to try some more using the KTabs system - it seems very useful on first impressions. I love this music and the other traditional styles.

I first fell in love with mbira and karimba after stumbling across the record Soul of Mbira [Paul F. Berliner, a companion LP to the book of the same name] in a second hand record shop in the late seventies. It took me a while to track down the source of this wonderful sound, but once I did I was entranced. As a self taught pianist from an early age, the two hand combination came naturally, but each kalimba I found had its own unique voice to be coaxed into life. After many years in the kalimba wilderness trying to teach myself from books and records, and experimenting with kalimbas ancient and modern, I found some fellow travellers, and a great teacher in the Zimbabwean Chartwell Dutiro, ex Thomas Mapfumo band but now based in rural England. The karimba however is not his main instrument, that being the powerful mbira dzavadzimu and I continue to tread a slightly lonely furrow with the karimba, hoping for encounters with enthusiasts for sharing and exchanges.

I recently downloaded the KTabS karimba package from Kalimba Magic and it looks like a very useful tool for learning some traditional pieces. It provides the basic notes and the form of a piece, in an ingenious, dynamic chart. I would urge everyone to use it in association with some traditional recorded examples to get some idea of the raw spirit of the music. As with any notation, it's a great shorthand, but not until you get that piece of wood in your hand can you give it your own voice.

Lenox Mayes, Welcome to the Kalimba Community!

Lenox began his music career 25 years ago as a percussionist and kalimba player while growing up on the south side of Chicago. Lenox gained confidence and a local following by winning numerous talent showcases. His kalimba would entice every audience with its unique charm. Lenox Mayes' music is contemporary smooth jazz/world music with rhythmic and melodic nuances from Africa, the motherland. He combines strong percussive beats with crisp synthesizer sounds and tops them off with vocals and of course, the kalimba. You can contact Lenox at hurmayes ("at") sbcglobal.net and you can hear his music at his MySpace page.

More about Kevin Nathaniel

Last month, we had an interview with mbira/karimba master Kevin Nathaniel. We've got a followup note from Kevin, and a comment from one of his students.

Kevin Nathaniel writes:

I wanted to let you know that I will be facilitating Congolese Kalimba (kisansi) workshop with Titos Sompa in mid May here in NYC. Write me at kevinmbira ("at") hotmail.com

One of Kevin Nathaniel's students wrote to us about Kevin's interview in the Kalimba Magic newsletter last month:

Thanks so much for the inspiring interview with my Teacher, Kevin Nathaniel Hylton! Especially when teaching children, Kevin is one of those rare teachers who can engage a group of all different levels and abilites and make sure that each one of them feels engaged on a very personal level.

This special gift is reflected in the article, which has something for everyone: artists, musicians, cultural conservationists...kids of all ages!

It is also very humbling to read of his gratitude to HIS teachers, especially Zeleka Jenkins, who I was blessed to have known.

Thanks again for reminding us that sometimes the most arresting voice is a quiet one.

Blessings,
Jeneba

Brazilian Kalimbas

Brazil has some truly great kalimba players. Take, for example, Decio Gioielli, one of the great players of the Hugh Tracey Kalimbas.

Another great player is the spiritual icon Chandra Lacombe, who plays a kalimba made in Brazil. In fact, there is a whole movement of people in Brazil who play with their fingers as Chandra does. And there seem to be a lot of people in Brazil playing kalimbas closely modeled after the Hugh Tracey Alto kalimba.

Player Daniel CaiXao in Brazil sheds some light on the Brazilian kalimbas:

Sergio is a kalimba player friend from Sao Paulo - his kalimba, and one of mine, was made by Otavio Jr.

My kalimba from that video in the forest was a gift from a master of Yoga in Brazil, Prof. Hermogenes - one time he was in South Africa and bought that one there [a Hugh Tracey].

I want to share one of Chandra's artisans: Marcio Vieira. This luthier makes all recycled instruments for a circus company "UdiGrudi". And he also made the kalimba I play on my videos!

Another Beautiful Kalimba from Lucinda Ellison

Last month, we featured a beautiful kalimba made by artist and artisan Lucinda Ellison. We've got one more to show you.

In case our message was too subtle last month, I'll spell it out for you:
famed kalimba creator Lucinda Ellison is retiring from the kalimba-making trade, and her works of art - her kalimbas - will, from here on out, become more rare. She has a limited number of kalimbas left in her posession, and if you would like one, now is a good time to contact her: harmonicjourney ("at") gmail.com

Isn't this kalimba one of the most beautiful you've seen? Thank you, Lucinda, for a life of giving the gift of beauty.