CONCERT & DANCE LISTINGS • CD REVIEWS FREE BI-MONTHLY Volume 6 Number 6 November-December 2006 THESOURCE FOR FOLK/TRADITIONAL MUSIC, DANCE, STORYTELLING & OTHER RELATED FOLK ARTS IN THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA “Don’t you know that Folk Music is illegal in Los Angeles?” — WARREN C ASEY of the Wicked Tinkers LIFE,LIFE, DEATHDEATH ANDAND DRUMMINGDRUMMING ININ THETHE HEARTHEART OFOF AFRICAAFRICA inside this issue: BY RIC ALVISO inside this issue: In the Kirundi language of Burundi the words for drum and king are the same. BobBob Dylan:Dylan: t was near the end of Peter Gabriel’s set at the ModernModern Times,Times, WOMAD Festival on September 18, 1993, in Dominguez Hills, California, where I, along with Ancient thousands of others, had gathered to sample sounds Ancient from some of the world’s finest musicians. There I was a sudden prolonged silence in the middle of a FootprintsFootprints song. For a moment I wondered if there were tech- nical difficulties on stage. Then I heard it. At first a low rumble from the back of the stage, it grew stronger and stronger until it thundered in my eardrums. Then, as the audi- PLUS:PLUS: ence watched in amazement, a line of men began to appear on stage, swaying from side to side, with enormous barrel-shaped Ross Altman’s drums balanced precariously on their heads. Without missing a Ross Altman’s beat, the drums were lowered to the ground in a large semi-cir- HowHow CanCan II KeepKeep FromFrom TalkingTalking cle, and one-by-one each drummer took turns ferociously pounding the largest, most-colorful drum placed in the center. LarryLarry Wines’Wines’ It was my first introduction to the Royal Drummers of Burundi. In Africa, drums are much more than rhythm. Drums are TiedTied toto thethe TracksTracks life. Each drum, rhythm, and movement of the drummers can be symbolic- imitating language, birds, and animals, repre- NEW!NEW! DirtDirt senting agriculture, fertility, regeneration, royalty, and com- menting on events in everyday life. The layers of rhythm are interconnected, representing the communal fabric of African NEW!NEW! ForkloreFolklore society. Yet this music and society allows space for individu- alism and the improvisational freedom to create a unique CalendarCalendar ofof EventsEvents moment never to be repeated exactly the same way again. In my travels to study music in Senegal and Zimbabwe, the depth && muchmuch more...more... DRUMMING page 22 Page 2 FolkWorks November-December 2006 EDITORIAL Hi Folks, ular culture. An amusing clip, show- PUBLISHERS & EDITORS Leda & Steve Shapiro Can you believe it is already the ing how popular Square Dancing LAYOUT & PRODUCTION end of 2006? Where did the year was, is a “campy” Lucky Strike Alan Stone Creative Services go? At the beginning of the year, we commercial with cigarettes doing a FEATURED WRITERS began a new concert series at the square dance. Check it out. Brooke Alberts, Lookaround Craft and Folk Art Museum. It has As we march into the holiday Ross Altman been a great series with terrific per- season, it is easy to get wrapped up How Can I Keep From Talking formers and wonderful audiences. in its commercial nature. Instead, David Bragger, Old-Time Oracle We did find that, while the concept in the folk spirit, think outside the Uncle Ruthie Buell of having concerts in an intimate box. Use materials found around Halfway Down the Stairs museum space seemed ideal, in real- the house and create your gifts Valerie Cooley, That Reminds Me... ity, it was a challenge for us and the from scratch. It might not be as Linda Dewar, Grace Notes museum staff. So, as this season and cool as giving someone an iPod but Richard Gee, Law Talk PHOTO BY SONYA SONES PHOTO BY SONYA series comes to an end, we would BY LEDA & STEVE SHAPIRO your friends and family will really Roger Goodman, Keys to the Highway like to thank all who made it possi- appreciate it. Or cook something David King, Dirt ble, particularly the volunteers who different. Our newest writer, Michael Macheret, Forklore Dennis Roger Reed, Reed’s Ramblings shlepped chairs, setup sound and Google Videos (www.google.com). Michael Macheret has a new food We first discovered YouTube while Dave Soyars, Dave’s Corner lighting and prepared the refresh- column. His first exploration Larry Wines, Tied to the Tracks ments. We want to thank all the surfing the web the day after the includes food of the season from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young con- EDITORS musicians and the museum staff. around the world. If this interests David Ascher • Mary Pat Cooney As the year comes to an end, cert. Do you know that you can see you, go to your computer and find video footage of CSNY as a group Diane Sherman • Chris Stuart some of the writers and friends have a new recipe or take a cooking CONTRIBUTING WRITERS put together their “TOP TEN” lists. or as individuals from concerts 30 class. There are a few around town. Ric Alviso • Rex Butters Perhaps it will inspire you to pur- years ago. It’s incredible. There are And, when you are thinking of Tom Cheyney • Audrey Coleman chase recordings of their favorite a huge variety of videos available what to give, think of FolkWorks. Pat MacSwyney • Joel Okida artists, either for yourself or as gifts for viewing. There is footage of the Give a gift of a FolkWorks mem- DISTRIBUTION for friends. It is a time for sharing young Bob Dylan. There is even bership (see Page 27). Brooke Alberts • Ross Altman and rejoicing. footage of old 1950s Square From all of us at FolkWorks, Ric Alviso • Beverly/Irwin Bar Dancing from Bob Osgood’s Sets in Anna Byrne • Judy CaJacob Speaking of sharing, a couple of we wish you all a happy Audrey Coleman • Jim Cope the best technological things that Order. The 15 minute clip brings Chriskwanukah. Mary Dolinskis • Marge Gajicki have come to our attention are you back to a time when Square Sharon Gates • Cliff Gilpatric YouTube (www.youtube.com) and Dancing was an integral part of pop- Ken Helms • Sue Hunter Holly Kiger • Stan Kohls Amy Masumiya Bill/Mary Anne McCarthy Russ/Julie Paris Larry Rainwater • Milt Rosenberg Doug Moon • Daria Simolke BECOME A MEMBER Alaina Smith • Sylvia Stachura SEE PAGE 28 Mimi Tanaka • Larry Wines Lynn Worrilow LOGO DESIGN www.FolkWorks.org The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of FolkWorks Tim Steinmeier Thanks to all those who have supported and inspired us, especially Warren Casey of the IN THIS ISSUE Wicked Tinkers. Published bi-monthly by FolkWorks a 501 Music at the Skirball EDITORIAL ................................................... 2 (c)(3) non-profit organization an affiliate of Cuartetango BOB DYLAN: MODERN TIMES, Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS). dancers ANCIENT FOOTPRINTS............................. 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEDIA SPONSOR: KEYS TO THE HIGHWAY ......................... 4 THE PYTHAGOREAN COMMA, THE SPIRAL OF Brooke Alberts • Ric Alviso FIFTHS Kay Gilpatric • Roger Goodman Promoting NEW! FORKLORE ...................................... 5 Don Kiger • Holly Kiger Folk/Traditional Arts DINING AT THE INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAY TABLE Teresa Modnick • Gitta Morris www.FolkWorks.org TIED TO THE TRACKS ............................. 6 Lisa Richardson • Steve Shapiro THOUGHTS ON THE BEST (AND WORST) OF 2006 Mimi Tanaka • Monika White NEVENKA-WHEN MARIGOLDS SING ....7 Leda Shapiro, Executive Director DAVE’S CORNER OF THE WORLD ........ 8 ADVISORY BOARD Héctor del Curto ON-GOING STORYTELLING EVENTS ....8 Richard Gee • Howard & Roz Larman MUSIC ON THE RADIO ............................. 8 Sabrina Motley • Colin Quigley SEEKING THE ROOTS OF SALSA........... 9 Cait Reed • Tom Sauber REED’S RAMBLINGS ............................... 10 WHADDA YA MEAN YA NEVER HEARD OF…? CONTACT INFORMATION CD REVIEWS ........................................ 10-12 P.O. Box 55051, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413 Phone: 818-785-3839 INTERVIEW..................................................13 Wednesday, November 1 [email protected] • www.FolkWorks.org CUARTETANGO WRITING ON THE PURPLE SAGE: CODY BRYANT 8:00 p.m. ©2006 FolkWorks All Rights Reserved $30 General Featuring guest bandoneonist Héctor del Curto NEW! DIRT ................................................. 14 $25 Skirball Members ON-GOING MUSIC HAPPENINGS ..........15 $20 Full-Time Students Experience all the passion of Nuevo Tango when string quartet CALENDAR OF EVENTS ................... 16-17 AD RATES Cuartetango, takes the stage. This triumphant ensemble brings ON-GOING DANCE HAPPENINGS ........ 18 together the best musicians and dancers of Buenos Aires and New Size 1 X 3X 6X TOM CHEYNEY’S TOP TEN 2006… York, under the direction of premiere tango violinist, singer, and Full Pg $700 $660 $600 SO FAR.......................................................... 19 1/2 pg $415 $375 $325 dancer Leonardo Suarez Paz. At the Skirball, the band will welcome as OLD TIME ORACLE ................................ 19 1/4 pg $265 $245 $200 their guest the world-renowned bandoneón player Héctor Del Curto. HINDU WIZARD RINGS AND MAGICAL BEANS 1/8 pg $175 $155 $125 UNCLE RUTHIE’S TEN BEST LIST....... 20 1/16 pg $95 $85 $75 “Enchanted, inspired, and creative.”—Legendary tango lyricist Horacio Ferrer UNCLE RUTHIE ........................................ 20 SPECIFICATIONS “I LOVED IT, BUT THE COMMITTEE SAID….” Sunday, December 10 Full Pg ........................................ 9.5 x 15" HANUKKAH FAMILY FESTIVAL ...THAT REMINDS ME... .......................... 21 1/2 pg H ................................ 9.5 x 7.375" 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. AS THE TWIG IS BENT $8 General With musical performance