Maliki Pandeiro in Uncle Jerry's Dashiki (Maliki Pandeiro no Dashiki do Tio Jerry)

Well, I recently inherited this dashiki from my Uncle Jerry who just passed away. So, this is a tribute to him.

On some level it's nice useful and enjoyable to take existing very seriously and focus on whatever is designated as important in our culturo-temporal context (yes, I'm making up words cause that's how I do), AND (not BUT but AND because this is about unification not distinction) it is also nice, useful and enjoyable to jump into an experience with a lot less preconception and simply play like a kid.

So, this play session is dedicated to one of the cats who laid the foundation on which I do my thing (and hopefully lay some foundations for other folks), my Uncle Jerry. I suppose you could say my Uncle Jerry was a sort of bridge in that he came out of Harlem NYC in an era that was, from what he told me, very much a different scene than what I am used to. It seems like competition (for resources, self-esteem and space to exist) was highlighted in the consciousness of that world, and, interestingly enough, the underlying unity and harmony continually found its way up through the cracks in the cement jungle (doesn't it always eventually?).

From that background Uncle Jerry bridged out to travel the world, explore Eastern religions, make up songs about how he was going to force us kids to eat oatmeal, tell us to feel how strong his biceps were and then catch our hand between his biceps and forearm and not let go, dress to the nines in white suits with butterfly collars, drink Gewürztraminer wine and smack his lips in spirals of excessive glee, hit on women half his age, stay in the ocean and pool longer than any land mammal should, write articles on African-American history and physics to try to educate youngsters, and generally tell everybody what to do and how to do it.

Thanks Uncle Jerry!

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Pandeiro
• Suzano
• Dashiki
• Miami
• Kangol
• Play
• Maracatu
• Samba
• Jungle

[rbuonfiglio]

Hey, Maliki! That was awesome!! Very nice grooving, a little capoiera tossed in, a really great sound! And a great tribute to your uncle, who sounds like a great guy, one I would have loved to chat with. Blessings!

[malikilam]

@rbuonfiglio Hey thanks for the kind words. I loved your pandeiro build. It definitely gave me ideas about making the hardware that I didn't previously know. (I thought I would have to hire somebody to weld the top ring.) Yeah, my uncle was a cool crazy character. All the best.

[Palmito]

Yo, sweet! I finally checked back into my site and saw your comment and link. Great playing dude (impressed with your solid left hand action :-)). Looks like your in Emeryville? I have not progressed too much on the pandeiro - but I've been doing a lot of maracatu (in Paris!).

'Ta logo

Greg "Palmito"

[malikilam]

@Palmito I never thought of that, but it does look like Emeryville! I grew up in the East Bay, but that is actually Miami.

Yeah, left hand. I think that is a hard thing to learn because it adds another dimension of complexity. At a basic level it can be conceived of as a simple back and forth motion that has to be coordinated with the right hand. But, experience (and a good teacher) brought me to the concept that it's not just a back and forth motion. Every time that the right hand ...

[malikilam]

@malikilam Every time that the right hand moves in a different way, the left hand has to move in a different way. I can think of 11 right hand moves off the top of my head : Jingle-Tip, Jingle-Heel, Tone-Tip, Tone-Thumb, Center-Pop-Tip, Center-Pop-Thumb, Slap, Flam-Slap, Flam-Tone-Tip, Jingle-Roll-Tip, and Jingle-Roll-Heel.

Add to that moves that are initiated (or driven) by the left hand like the common samba jingle accent on the 'E' and double-time jingle slur reminiscent of Drum 'n'Bass ...

[malikilam]

@malikilam Add to that moves that are initiated (or driven) by the left hand like the common samba jingle accent on the 'E' and double-time jingle slur reminiscent of Drum 'n'Bass and there are an astronomical number of combinations. And that is even before you get to rhythm, feel, phrasing and composition. It's a pretty amazing instrument that looks simple. (I guess that's like life in general.)

Maracatu in Paris sounds like Heaven. I need more of both in my life. Let's see a video.Cheers M

[rbuonfiglio]

Thanks so much for the kind words!

As for the rings, just go to a hardware store and get a "Bernz-O-Matic Multi-use" (Oxygen/Propane) torch, and then practice a lot. Not really difficult, but takes some practice.

You can use brazing rods, or silver solder, which works at a lower temperature and is a bit easier.

BTW, loved your vid enough to post a link on my fb page!

Regards,

Rob