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GRIOT
In
West African music tradition, a griot
is a musician/singer/poet/storyteller who sings songs about the history of
his people and then passes them on as part of an oral tradition.
The word itself is from the old French meaning “symbol” as in
the symbols used in the language of poetry, song and other writing.
The word came to me in a dream and for me refers to the powerful
communal sense of music.
The community of music was never so important as in the days after
September 11, 2001. I had been playing in the western United States with the
Kerry Kearney Band and after an incredible series of shows, awoke on the
11th to the news of that tragedy. When
I arrived home, I turned to music for strength to help me deal with
personal loss.
The new album was released in late October of 2001. I
was joined by some very special and inventive musicians indeed - Chris
Marshak on drums, Bakithi Kumalo on bass, Richie Guerrero on percussion,
Matt Marshak on guitar and John Ward on the African djembe
are just some of the players who contribued unique colors to Griot.
Griot
is dedicated with love and respect to my mother. (The song Gaia-o most directly speaks of my feelings towards her.)
Each of the songs here expresses something of the grace I feel in
her presence as well as the shared strength with which she and I dealt
with the loss of my father, her husband.
In addition, Griot celebrates the emotional depth of other relationships in my life.
LISTEN
TO TRACKS FROM "GRIOT" IN MP3 FORMAT:
COLD
RAIN GAIO-O
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TRACKS
Love
is the One Thing
She Ran
Cold Rain
Caught in
a Lie
Bella
Griot
La
Senorita de mi Suenos
Gaia-O
Life
I Believe
in You
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