Tag: Pillar 3: Keeping An Open Heart
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4 Tips To Round Out Your Djembe Solos
4 Tips For Better Djembe Solos
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Pillar #3: Maintain An Open Heart & Mind
Maintaining an open heart when it comes to djembe music is the third of “The Endangered Three” – a group of three qualities that, when combined, embody Roots Djembe. And unfortunately, it’s becoming rare to find them all together in modern djembe music. In this context, an open heart is three things: Connection Humility Cooperation […]
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The Endangered Three – Oldstyle Djembe
Think of “Roots” djembe music like Roots Reggae, Classic Rock, or Oldies. It’s old-style music from a few generations back. Djembe music is changing. Today, younger people usually play modernized djembe music with a whole different set of tastes and motivations. The classic style is dying along with the old masters who grew up playing […]
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There is Only One Mande
Originally published August 2004 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. Many people in the djembe community are talking about “Guinea Style”, “Mali Style”, “Senegalese Style”, etc. It seems that separation has arisen in our community through an overemphasis on regional differences. We need to remember that this music is “Mande Style” in the end. […]
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Thank God for Our Djembe Community!
Originally published January 2005 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. What an amazing community it is! I have met so many interesting people through my studies of the djembe. I often tell my students and friends that djembe is not just about drumming. It is also about the life experience and wisdom that is […]
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1 Drummer, 2 Drummers, 3 Drummers MORE?
Originally published August 2004 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. How many drummers make a good ensemble? 3 djembes and 2 dunun players? Hmmm… How about 4 Djembe accompaniments and 1 soloist and one dunun player who can play really well? Determining how many drummers can play in a dance class can be a […]
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Don’t Tell the Master to Wipe Your Ass
Originally published August 2004 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. Never judge a person before you know them. I have heard so many incredible stories from Abdoulaye regarding embarrassing incidents where people have misjudged a person before knowing them. I have seen for myself students within the djembe community disregarding and disrespecting other students […]
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The Djembe is My Religion
Originally published August 2004 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. Why not? Everything that I have learned from the Religions of the world I have found within the djembe. Treat people kindly – the djembe taught me this. Respect others as you would yourself – the djembe taught me this. Though shall not kill […]
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Djembe Friends are My Best Friends
Originally published August 2004 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. My best friends have come through associations within my studies of the djembe. I have met so many wonderful people since I have started drumming. It seems to me that the type of person drawn to the djembe usually has a lot in common […]
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Humility : #1 Criterion for Djembe Master
Originally published August 2004 by Jeremy Chevrier on his Djembe Essays Blog. A true djembe master is humble. I have never met a master drummer who was not humble. I have met good drummers who were arrogant but never a master. To get to the level of being a djembe master you have to be humble, […]
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Series: Jeremy Chevrier’s Djembe Essays
We’re happy to republish a handful of articles originally written a decade ago by Jeremy Chevrier, founder of Rootsy Records as well as The Djembe Hotel in Bamako, Mali. Jeremy, and the recordings he released on his Rootsy Records label have been an inspiration to many students of old-style djembe music over the years. These […]