Welcome to a new
section of my web site dedicated to world music. For the past
several years I've been collecting my experiences in this realm,
and it has been very rewarding - musically and otherwise.
What is world
music? Well, that depends on who you ask. Rather than try to
define it, I'd rather just show some very good examples from
right here in our backyard of Bloomsburg PA.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
We'll start with the Bloomsburg
Fair which, for as many years as I can remember, has been a
great place to catch Andean folk group Agua Clara. They play
pan-pipe music with a distinctive sound best heard in an open
environment like this. This picture was taken on 9/26/06.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
9/23/06 - Roma musicians, KAL, from
Serbia played an energetic session at the Milk Parlour Ballroom.
The group's name,
KAL means "Black" in
the Gypsy (or more properly Rom) language. The group performs
high-energy dance music for all generations drawing from a number
of Eastern European traditions, Balkan blues and modern rock.
The lighting in the barn is conducive to forgetting about the
outside world and transporting you to another place and time,
but not so much for my digital camera. Use your imagination.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
4/09/06 - Nandini Sengupta, Bangladesh
Night Bloomsburg University, PA -
Nandini performs at most of the events held by the Bengal Assoc
of Bloomsburg (BABA). She specializes in Tagore song which often
features nature and spiritual themes. Nandini is working on
her debut CD at Mothership Studios.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
2/18/06 - Stan Merzanis - Whitaker
Center, Harrisburg, PA
We met Stan during the premiere of one of the Whitaker's IMAX
movies about Greece. The movie was sold out, but we got to meet
Stan and talked with him about music a bit. He was very cordial
and willing to talk about his experiences as a musician. Here
he is playing the oud.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
3/26/05 - Tibetan Monks
of Drepung Loseling Institute, Harrisburg PA. This picture was
taken during the closing of the Mandala ceremony where the sand
from the sand mandala is poured into the Susquehanna River. The
procession of onlookers and monks is accompanied by the baying
of trumpets and clamor of cymbals. Dumping the sand into the
river represents impermanence and the cycle of all things.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
10/10/04 - Zakir Hussain - This was
from a performance with the Rhythm Experience at the Painted
Bride in Philadelphia, PA. I've seen Zakir there twice, and thanks
to Bulu's persistence got to meet him and get his autograph.
What a humble artist. It was like being backstage at any local
gig.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
5/30/03 - Lyra, a Russian choral
ensemble performed in Weatherly, PA at Zions Evangelical Lutheran
Church. I attended to not only watch the performance, but also
to record it for the group. It was a beautiful selection of songs,
and the deep resonance of the hall helped create a sense of place
that you don't often find at many venues.
Photo by Audra dePrisco
5/2/2003 - Béla
Marssó (Violin) & Katalin Tamás (Viola) - Also
known as The Bodó Band, they are pictured here during
a jam session at the Stables Eatery, a now defunct,
but truly atmosphereic venue that once hosted live acoustic music
in Danville. Béla and Kata play Hungarian folk songs and
gypsy music.
Photo by Jeremy dePrisco
2/28/03 - Elementos - From a workshop
and performance by Alex Torres y Orquesta Los Reyes Latinos at
Bloomsburg University's Kehr Union Ballroom. The group performed
Merengue and Salsa/Latin Jazz, with plenty of room for dancing
and audience participation.
To contact Jeremy about
world music happenings, please contact him at 570.387.0479
