By Donna Novak
As a young boy in West Africa, Lamine Touré knew that one day he
would become a master drummer. Born into a long line of percussionists who are
masters of the sabar drumming tradition, Touré's family taught him to play the sabar
when he was 4 years old. His ancestors were griots, a
caste of musicians and oral historians among the Wolof people of Senegal,
who played percussion for centuries.
Saturday at Springstep in Medford,
the Senegalese master drummer will share with audiences his talents through the
two groups he leads, Ramblax MIT and Group Saloum.
An hourglass-shaped drum carved out of a tree trunk, covered
with stretched goatskin and held together with intricate lacing, the sabar is played by Touré with one
hand and one stick. He is the sole sabar percussionist
in Group Saloum. Ramblax
MIT consists of all sabar drummers.
Drums, vocals, violin, keyboard, two guitars, a trumpet, and
an electric bass harmonize to create the lively jazz and salsa-based sound of
Group Saloum. Formed in 2004, the group performs
popular Senegalese mbalax music fused with elements
of jazz, funk, reggae, and Afro beat.
''When I came here, I mixed the music from Senegal
and United States jazz," said Touré.
''I am happy to oblige my culture here."
Sarah Swanson, director of marketing and development at Springstep, says the mixed music shows how a cultural
traditional music form has carried into the 21st century.
''We want to show how traditions move forward and how
they're not static," she said. ''You'll be able to see how this very
traditional drum has been incorporated into very contemporary music."
Patricia Tang, an ethnomusicologist specializing in
Senegalese music, lived in Dakar
from 1997 to 1998 conducting research among Wolof griot
percussionists. She agrees with Swanson.
''It's very upbeat, energetic, and good to dance to,"
said Tang, of the music of Group Saloum. ''It's not
just focused on vocals; it's very rhythmically based."
After moving to Dakar
in 1986 to exploit his talents in the popular mbalax
style, Touré joined the group Xiis
in 1991. After playing with Keur Gi,
Diaspora, the Ballet Ousmane Cissé,
and the Orchestre Nationale,
Touré joined mbalax star Mapenda Seck's band in 1995 and
made his commercial recording debut with ''Jamilou."
Two years later, he left the band to become a percussionist
for Alioune Mbaye Nder et le Setsima Group, playing
sabar, djembé, and tama
(talking drum), as well as showcasing his talents in taasu
(rhythmic poetry, similar to rap). The group toured, playing in Paris,
London, Montreal,
and New York.
The desire to pursue a solo career led Touré
to the United States
in 2001. Since fall 2002, he has been artist in residence at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, where he directs Ramblax
MIT.
Consisting of students interested in learning the art of sabar, the drum ensemble Ramblax
MIT has 19 members including Touré and Tang, who is a
professor in the music and theater arts department at MIT. Approximately eight
members of the group will perform at the Springstep
show.
''I think this is going to be a pretty vibrant and
exhilarating performance," said Swanson.
Swanson said she is looking forward to this concert because
it is a new culture that Springstep has not yet
explored.
''Part of our mission is to provide opportunities for people
to learn about other cultures that they might not have otherwise had exposure
to," she said. ''I think it's a great opportunity for people to learn
something new and be exposed to the diversity of our society."
Posted: 3/11/06
The New York Times
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