Bark in the Dark

On the night of an extremely bright Full Moon:

going Eastbound on Oak Street

the event: "Bark in the Dark"

It was another dog walk in Fort Collins. This time it was to benefit the Search and Rescue Dogs of Colorado.

The African drum group "Fale" provided entertainment

In addition, the World Famous Samba band "Bloco em Foco" performed (i.e., even more drum music!)

Grooving again

At the Foothills Drum Circle:

The Bugman leading the group with conga drums

Facilitating drum circles is not new. I used to do it in Palatine for years. I thought that I would be doing it in Colorado too, and apparently I am. It's the second and fourth Tusedays of the month at 7:30 pm at the Foothills UU church. I didn't come up with the name "Foothills Drum Circle" but it looks like the name was not used anywhere before, so it is officially the "Foothills Drum Circle™ " and since the "Foothills" could mean a fairly large area of Northern Colorado, this could get out of hand.

Tribal Drums

At the Catalyst Tap Room:

Candid Drum Photo

On the First and Third Wednesday there is a crowd of drummers at the Catalyst Tap Room. I placed my Minolta DiMAGE Z1 digital camera on the head of my djembe drum to take this picture.

Ringing in the New Year!

It's 'Bloco em Foco' in Old Town Fort Collins:

The Surdo line

This worked out well. We were outside, and a whole lot of music fans needed something to do before midnight. New Years and samba bands seem to go together! Beleza!

Paul leading the band

It started with a little bit of marching samba to the Art Lab for a 30 minute gig. Then some more marching around Old Town for a bit. Finally ending near the 'Transcend' statue for the fireworks display.

Eight Bubbas Drumming

At Catalyst Coffee in Fort Collins:

The Drum Bubbas

Starting in December the Drum Bubbas will introduce an open drum circle at the Catalyst on Wednesday nights!

Once they start, they don't ever want to stop!

...and they even let me play along side! It gives me a chance to try out some of those home-made percussion instruments I have in the garage! TUA!

Noite Brasileira !

Back into Laramie, Wyoming:
It was a benefit concert for Partners of the Americas' breast cancer prevention program

Gisele Dias was there!

...and Bloco em Foco !

FOCO gone BLOCO

The group photo:

Maybe half of the group represented here

Some more lingering in the Art Lab....

The latest art is this wall art paint by numbers!

Fort Collins Police break up Brazilian party

News at 11. But for now, let's look at some art:

Featured this week at the Art Lab

there are works on display

by graphics artist Nikki Arnell

As part of the merging of various arts per the concept of the Art Lab, the premier Fort Collins Samba band 'Bloco em Foco' also appeared for a short performance, much to the dismay of some of the other tenants in the building. The Fort Collins Police were called and some sort of new arrangement was made so that 'Bloco em Foco' could continue into the night.

Police visiting the Art Lab on Saturday

The official Fort Collins Police blotter recorded this as incident # 092830258 on 10/10/09 at 15:29. Location: 150 W. Mountain. Disposition: Necessary Action Taken.

So, this is the second time in two weeks that someone called the cops on 'Bloco em Foco'. Hopefully we will try again tonight at 6:00 pm and see what happens!

Bloco @ Art Lab!

We were playing at the Art Lab

in Fort Collins!

We used the location for practice on Wednesday night and we liked it. The Art Lab let "Bloco em Foco" play one evening in Old Town. People came in off the street to listen ( they could hear us on College Ave!) We are going to attempt to play maybe twice a month at this location if possible. More details to follow...

Agogo Solo, et alia

At an outdoor festival:

Levada Solos!

Bloco em' now have matching shirts and have been seen performing in public. Breaking out some solos even! We even have some gigs lined up! We are an offical Fort Collins Samba band!

They don't play banjo in Samba bands, so I have decided to play the agogo; it's easy to carry and can fit into a pocket just like the shakre.

Beleza!

Samba Dance

We played in the park again:

Bloco em Foco

Along with dancers this time! Including Gisele from Laramie who teaches dance and was able to talk a few bystanders (and some children) into learning a few dance steps!

Bloco em Foco practices in City Park near the trolly station every Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Check their website for the latest news!

Eiee ! Beleza !

At the Civic Center:

Euforquestra!

Hey look! A band playing Surdo and Caixa and it's not Bloco em Foco! It's Euforquestra and they are playing a SAMBA! Eiee!

From Reggae to bluegrass I guess you could call what they play "World Music"; They will be back in Fort Collins for New West Fest on Aug. 16. Look out for them!

African Drums of Fort Collins

and Dance!

We heard the drumming and found our way to the Council Tree Library

where there was dancing and drumming!

Here's a sort video

We went to the library to get some books on decking! It looks like another project is in the works! We love home improvement!

Returnin' to de island mon!

We just had to go back...

Not to worry... those are Christmas lights in the eyes of that mask!

and Marcus was there to make sure we didn't sway (in the wrong direction)

Check out those Surdos and the Timbau

it was a great venue for drumming

The ashiko and djembe players are looking and sounding fine!

You could leave the island if you had to, but we all stayed!

Look! The boat is bringing more drummers!

There is this half-tailed cat living on the island it seems.

...but he didn't mind as we recorded our Island Samba!

I guess I could get back in the groove and run the shekere a bit, but I'll have to finish my piña colada first. I do have my priorities!

Surdos @ the backbone

We be drumming near this venue:

It's the Devil's Backbone Open Space near Loveland!

No more plastic buckets for us! Our order of caixas and surdos has arrived!

OK, a few djembe players were welcome.

Keith jamming on a surdo!

estamos felizes!

Beat barn! Bloco em FoCo!

Our drum order has not come in yet:

Here in the barn, we are working into a samba beat!

with djembes and plastic buckets!

Marcus will be back in June to help us out.

By then we should have something to show him!

This kid was grooving to our sound!

We are looking forward to having  Sunday practice in City Park and Wednesdays in the Beat Barn. Vamos ficar bêbado ! Beleza!

The Beat Farm!

Marcus and Bloco Em Foco at the "Beat Farm" or "Beat Barn" or whatever...

From an event on April 23rd.

That night we learned three new songs: "Gutchaka", "Levada" and "Muvuca".  That's probably enough for now! 

Horses diggin' the beat!

Dog puttin' up with all of us!

More drummers come!

"Welcome to Bloco em Foco! Como vai você?"

The Beat Barn

the beat continues...

Marcus on the Surdo!

World renown percussionist Marcus Santos is shown here demonstrating the proper method for Surdo! This is our first real instruction in Brazilian rhythm!  Fantástico !

Bloco Em FoCo Agogo

We're not there yet but:

First Circle

This month we put petal to the metal and attempt Samba Agogo com Bloco Em FoCo. A translation will follow soon we think. Just wait...

Winter Solstice '08

Today in Wiltshire, UK:

About 1,900 Druids and others gathered at Stonehenge for the sunrise.

Also overlooking Dixon Reservoir near Fort Collins!

Somewhat less than 1,900 Druids braving the low temps in the foothills. Note: I am trying to beat on the Old Goblet Drum. Maybe 10 degrees F ? Brrrrrr!

Drum Archives #709

There's work to be done! No time to screw around town with the camera! Here, listen to this guy:

City Park

We went to City Park today and did NOTHING!
There was a Greek Fest in town but we decided to pass on that...

Here's a little bit from yesterday's drum thing:

If I get a new gadget, it's going to be a good digital audio recorder. I could get better sound quality and add it to the video. 

1K Drum Symphony!!!

The Symphony is now over! And we had a grand time!

Thanks to our composer:

Halim El-Dabh

And our Director:

Grant Marquit

Analysis of the Symphony for 1000 Drums

Jeanne and I participated in the symphony. We brought with us a gig bag full of various percussion instruments including: claves, tambourine, tar, vibratone, rain stick, and cow bell. I also brought along my Canon GL1 digital video camcorder so I could take some candid frame shots of the action.

The composition was called 'Symphony for 1000 Drums'. Some anal types might ask 'Were there really 1000 drums at this symphony?' Well, were there?
It probably does not matter. Why couldn't you play the symphony with 900 drums, or even 500 drums? Hell, I play musical pieces clearly labeled 'FOR PIANO' on my banjo! Does it matter?

Oh, well, let us look at some pictures and review the evidence:

Clearly not every person there came to drum.

Sometimes as many as six people beat on ONLY ONE DRUM!!! How inefficient !

...and what the hell is this? That ain't no drum!


Hmm, lots o stuff here... probably 150 percussion pieces right there!
Native American drums, frame drums, ashikos. 20 more drums!
Perif- drums, about 100 or so.
At least 4 kit drums. With cymbals, that's gotta be 500 percussion instruments right there!
Djembes! Don't forget Djembes! Maybe 100 more!
I'm gonna count any noise making thing as a DRUM!
Four kettle drums!
The dancers clapped their hands! Add 12 more!
Rattles, sticks, etc. How about 200 of them!
They all had a great time making music!
All kinds of hand drums!
Frame drums!
Congas, Djembes, whatever!
Traps, dumbecs, tamas, dondos, tambours!
Talking drums, ashikos, bodrans, steels drums,
Dong sons, dhaks, cajons, log drums,
congas, bells, snare drums,
Casabas, tom-toms, maracas,
Even more Djembes!
another doumbek
wood blocks and washboards!
and more djembes!
Shakers!
At least 1000 drums, to be sure!

..and after the performance, a little ovation for the composer!

Symphony for 1000 Drums: The Rehearsal

Here is our first gig in Fort Collins!!! This evening was the rehearsal for an event sponsored by the Peace Corps Reunion Committee.

See if you can spot Jeanne drumming!

Drum Circle

It's my last drum circle in Palatine. Here's a weird vid of me playing the big old goblet drum that I built in 1995. See A Circle of Drums for details.