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I met Papa Ladji at 3rd SJI.  He's so magnificent!.   I knew when I first spied him at the lunch table in the Cafeteria who he is.   He looked like Moses on Mt. Sinai, to me.  He was wearing the space-age wrap ski eyewear and white robes, trimmed in royal blue and silver.

I had been there a few days and was walking about with my digital camera, recording the 3rd Annual SJI, for the FAQ.  Other students had shared with me that Papa Ladji NEVER has his picture taken and that he was very adamant about that.  He did not allow any recordings of his classes and he was stern.

Whenever I get nervous, I tend to stammer and stutter, hands sweat, hair rises on the back of my neck.  I was feeling that as I walked over to where Papa was sitting.  I introduced myself.  "Hi. Papa Ladji, hmmm, err, my name is HappyShel and I'm from Dallas, Texas."  He said, "Hi, please sit down."  I said thank you and  sat down, next to him.  We chatted a while.  I told him I loved his Africa, New York CD and his opening solo, and that I hoped
someday to be able to play like that. I shared with him what I do in Dallas and Texas with African drumming and that I am also the current editor of the Djembe-L FAQ, [As I am writing, I am listening to Papa's Lamban. It's soo kule.]  and I was wondering if it'd be ok for me to take his picture during SJI.  He looked at me, from behind his space glasses, and
said, "Yes.  Advertising is good.  Let's others see what's going on.".

I was speechless.

And so, I took pictures of Papa Ladji, SJI, the other teachers and we all had a great time.   I met all the teachers, took everyone's picture and posted them to the FAQ.   And, of course, I had full permission of everyone I took pictures of.

This may have been where I went wrong with the academia of the List.  You know how I am?  Friendly, outgoing, community guy making friends, doing stuff.  As soon as the other 85 students knew I was there, they all wanted to drum.  I have this infectious personality.  It was a full moon that week on Wednesday or Thursday and the local community didn't have any full moon circles scheduled nor did Eric.  Let me back up a bit.  We  had a daily 3hr
break between classes to do nothing.  Eric had not scheduled a drum circle after lunch.  I asked him if he could set it up and he said, at first, that no body would probably drum.  I was shocked at his words.  Was he jiving me?

I wanted to say, "Hey, man, is this the Djembe Institute or did I make a wrong turn?"  But, I kept my cool, as best I could, and he set up 2 drumcircles after lunch, to accomodate us drum addicts and one on Saturday night before the performance.   Eric Charry is way kule. 

The teachers loved me, Papa Ladji, gave me a hug and said attaway in Sousou ...... and even joined in.  And we rocked Greensboro as best we could.

                  More Babble from Happy:

It's Sunday, February 21, 1999:

I came home from hosting the Saturday night "HappyShel & Friends drumcircle at Betwixt and Between, which was most incredibly good......we drummed well together.  My friends [Kent, Mark, Don] played together and helped each other stay on tempo.  We rocked the house with our last rhythm, Joli, that our local teacher, Greg Beck has been teaching us for over a year.  Anyway, I turned on the computer to check email (this is a thrice daily gig) and listen to voicemail messages.   To my surprise, there was a warm and friendly message from Babatunde Olatunji, my first mentor, and dear friend, saying, "How are you?"   "What are you up to?" And that he's "going to Ivory Coast Monday, 2-22-99 for a conference on Voices of Africa, then from Africa to Atlanta on Feb 26 and to Esalen in Northern California on Feb 27." 

Baba is 72 this April 9.  I only hope that I am as active as Baba when I am 72..

I returned his call, Sunday, Feb 22.  He invited me to join him at the World Rhythm Festival in Seattle, March 17 and that he's buying my airplane ticket.  WOW!!!  I am so pumped up!!!  Now looking for a cheapy airline ticket.

On March 13, I am taking  a small drumming contingent down to Corpus Christi to hang with Homer and Mario and the C.C. drum tribe.    If you want to join us, then email me happy@drums.org.

On April 17, Drums Not Guns, the organization that I founded, is doing the Art Car parade in Houston.  We are looking for a float or large trailer with rails to carry 25 drummers so that we can drum for world peace in the parade.

Drum, she is so good to me.  Keep drumming, ya'll....and I'll return soon with more drum info.

August, 1999

Where does the time go?  Since March, 1999, I've been out building drum community.  Corpus Christi, Austin, Houston, Dallas.    every other weekend, I am off to somewhere.

We were in the Art Car Parade, Houston, April 17.    That was loads of fun!  I invite everyone to join us next year.   Many thanks to Renato Decca and Steve Colvin, our Houston drummers for setting up the logistics and getting the trailer off and floating.

Summer Solstice, 99, I was in Corpus Christi to drum with the Family.  About 75 drummers and dancers came to the party.  Yin Yang Fandango owners, Irene and Robert are very supportive of the drumming - plus, my good friend, Homer Fernandez, the local drum focalizer is an inspiration.

The end of July, The Drum God-ess' (of which I am a member) went to Corpus Christi for a Beach Jam.  To our surprise, the San Antonio Clan joined us and so, we have a new city in Texas that is drumming and a place to go to hang.

August 7, the Drum God-ess' come to Dallas for my annual Leo Drum & Dance Bash.  If you are in the area, please stop by.  MAP TO HAPPY'S

Happy New Millennium.  It's now the year 2000. 

Where does the time go?

For years, I've heard great news about the Moon drum circles, in Austin, under the Mopac Flyways (named after the rail line, Missouri-Pacific that shares the land).

So, it was on Saturday, January 8, 2000, I decide to ride down to Austin for a dual purpose:

ONE:  to attend the first planning session of Burn Austin Flipside (May 25 - 28, 2000) Memorial Weekend at Recreation Plantation.  The theme this year is "Pyropolis."

TWO: New Moon Circle in the Tunnels.  It's nearing the drumming hour.  We    head off towards the Tunnels.  We park approx 4 blocks away, and carry our drums and chairs thru the park and towards the tunnels.  The park, set underneath the flyways, is both scenic & rustic with heavy plant and tree overgrowth.

It's quiet and dimly lite as the three of us walk thru the park.  As we approach the nearest tunnel, right off the walkway, we are the first ones there.  We walk the length of the tunnel.  No one is there.

The Tunnels are three 12' x 12' drainage pipes about 100 feet long and totally dark, inside, under the Mopac flyways.  They are there to collect the rain runoff from the upper level flyways and drain into a stream that runs parallel to the Guadalupe River.

We return to the front opening, set up our chairs and Bon begins playing his sangban.    Dun Dun echoes thru the tunnel. A few more notes of HeartBeat and I pull out my djembe and join in, playing softly.  We play a few more minutes, calling the drummers and within minutes, drummers, & dancers appear to join us.

The Tunnel Master comes with an armload of candles and lights them in the center of the drummers.  Drummers are sitting, across from each other, with the fire in the center, drumming together and listening to each other, adding their voice to the improvisational mix of rhythms.  The tunnel circle is non-ethno-specific and not facilitated overtly.    The is way kule!

The drums (djembe, ashiko, doumbec, dunduns) are playing pagopa, tagodopa, dundundun and godopatapa.  I glance around the circle, making eye contact with each drummer, we all exchange light and sound, creating a colorful spectrum of light, our drums talking to each other.  An accordion and flute player join in.  The music is incredible.    Dancers are outside the tunnel swaying to the beat.  I think, "WOW! This is tribal drumming."

In the center of the darkened tunnel, there's a new sound, "whoosh," and I as look there, I see a brief flash of light and realize that a fire spinner has lite up.    She begins to twirl the balls of fire, which are on long, metal chains that are firmly fastened to her wrists.  Intricate patterns of light are created as she spins to the drum rhythms.  Music is not only
heard, but seen.  I focus intently on her fire and see colorful rays of light, moving freely between us.

When her fire fades, another spinner lights up and we are carried away, again. This goes on for what seems like hours.

And, then, it's 1 am.  The circle is over.  Another New Moon has had its start.    Soon, they'll be back in the tunnels to celebrate the Full Moon. 

This drumcircle celebrates on the actual day of the New & Full Moon's.

Mid-January, 2000.....

Spirit comes to me and shares that's its time to connect the Austin/Dallas/Houston area drumming communities with African Village mini-camps - weekend retreats to study West African drum and dance.  So it is!    With the help of my friends, African Village is born.  The first one is held in Austin, at my friends, Jim and River's beautiful home, March 17 -19.
Pictures: www.drums.org/TexasDrums/AV1.htm.

The 2nd one will be held in Denton, June 16 - 18, on the Full Moon. More details at:
www.drums.org/TexasDrums/dentondrums.htm

 The 3rd one will be held at Recreation Plantation, Sep 15 - 17, 2000.  More details will be forthcoming.

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