Hanging with John Scofield
Every feel like you know a a hero or celebrity? I often think I know what they’d be like in person from hearing their music and witnessing their stage persona.
For years I’ve listened to the music of John Scofield. I’ve seen him concert as well as enjoying albums that he has done. He has an instantly recognizable tone but is also a chameleon that can seemingly fit into any musical context. He has played with everyone from Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joe Henderson, Charles Mingus, Joey DeFrancesco, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Pat Martino, Mavis Staples, Phil Lesh, Billy Cobham, Medeski Martin & Wood, George Duke, Jaco Pastorius, to John Mayer. That's not even including everybody, what a resume!
Recently I had the opportunity and honor to meet, hang and talk with a hero, John Scofield. I picked him and Joe Lovano up from the airport and he jumped into the passenger seat and John immediately introduced himself. I let him know that I knew who he was. I dropped them off at their hotel. I was amazed at how much he was like what I thought he’d be like.
Later in the day I picked them up to take them to the venue where they were performing. We made a quick stop to pick up coffee at a place that was recommended to them.
At the venue they got to work sound checking. It was interesting to me that they hardly talked about what they were going to do. They mostly just played, playing a combination of standard and original compositions.
Their concert that evening was sold out. I heard many rave revues of the show. What a pleasure meeting this musical giant!
Guest teacher from Guinea, West Africa, Fana Bangoura
On Saturday Sound and Rhythm Drumming Stuio hosted Guinean drummer, Fana Bangora for a workshop. Fana was named “Master Drummer” by the Guinean Ministry of Culture in 2008. For over 8 years he was a featured djembe soloist for two national groups of Guinea, Percussions de Guinea and Les Ballets Africains.
I've know Fana for many years, ever since he moved to the United States. When he first moved to Portland we would go on hikes and I got to know him even though he was less then fluent in English. I was fortunate enough to play in his group Mounafanyi and would play dununs for his drumming class. I learned a lot from Fana, seeing the energy that he played with and expected from his group and learning from the depth of knowledge that he has and shared of "Ballet Style" drumming in Guinea.
Fana now lives in Rochester, New York where he teaches drumming and dancing. I hadn't seen him in a few years. Since seeing him last he is now fluent in English and his teaching style has matured and was very clear. He has always had great sound on the djembe!
Fana taught the rhythm from the umbrella term Guinea Fare (woman's dance), Yoki. This is a rhythm played by the Susu people and Fana is part Susu. Yoki is a ternary rhythm played fast and can be challenging to experienced players. The class had a wide range of playing experience and Fana did a great job teaching a complicated rhythm and giving everyone something. Thanks to Fana Sound and Rhythm students will work on this rhythm in the next Polyrhythms and Solos Series.