DRUM-FM : Interactive Tribalistic Sessions DRUM-FM was conceived and created by musician/producer Marque Gilmore in the dawning of 1995 while transporting between the flats of East London and the streets of Downtown Brooklyn. The main influences for DRUM-FM are the UK pirate radio station and the primal energy of the 21st Century Rave. DRUM-FM fuses these elements with the impetus of the Jazz Musician (or rather the "Musical Alchemist") to create a "virtual" pirate station broadcasting directly to live audiences known as "Interactive Tribalistic Sessions." DRUM-FM was originally established as an "Interactive Jungle Club" in New York City as a means to expose the new musical movements from London, known as Drum & Bass/Jungle and Breakbeat Music in an interactive setting with the city's own special grooves. Letting loose the bounds of traditional artistic expression, this new musical platform allowed new talent, new music and a new type of performance setting to co-exist alongside various creative disciplines (i.e.: live band, DJs, poets, electronic musicians, and future-bound writers). DRUM-FM's performances expose the similarities of artists from various ethnic backgrounds through active collaboration. These collaborations are translated into what is known as "Tribal Broadcasts", creating new definitions for modern day ritual and community. From 1995, the project's musical focus is on the collaborations with Malian musician and historian Cheick Tidiane Seck (long-time musical director, arranger and producer for Salif Kieta, Mory Kante, Hank Jones, and many others). In the spring of 1999, musical director Marque Gilmore received grants from New Music Commissions, Combined Arts' International Initiatives Fund and Creative Music Program from the Arts Council of England and London Arts. In October '99, Gilmore's compositions and Seck's original and West African repertoire culminated in the World Premiere multi-media performance of MILLENNIUM MIGRATION at London's legendary Hackney Empire followed by a DRUM-FM Quartet UK tour. This work then evolved to the "CREATION STEP" double-bill concert with the Art Ensemble of Chicago at The Barbican Centre in May, 2001. In November 2002, DRUM-FM launched the Tribal Broadcast Recordings label and the 'drumfm.com' web-site and released the Hackney and Barbican concerts on the CD "CREATION STEP" and a special CD-EP "Vortex Extension." Marque Gilmore - Artistic/Musical Director D R U M - F M tribal@tribalbroadcast.com www.tribalbroadcast.com Tribal Broadcast Recordings ------------------------------------------------------------ M A R Q U E G I L M O R E - Musical Director DRUM-FM / tribal broadcast recordings / CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION ™ e: tribal@tribalbroadcast.com http://www.tribalbroadcast.com http://marquegilmore.bandcamp.com/ http://www.soundcloud.com/marque-gilmore http://www.mixcloud.com/inna_most/ http://www.musikcentrum.se/artist/gilmore-marque http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marque-gilmore/27/a79/6a0 http://www.myspace.com/marquegilmore http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marque3 YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/innamost THE CLF ART CAFE http://www.clfartcafe.org http://www.facebook.com/busseybuilding http://www.facebook.com/jazzheadchronicmickeysmith CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION 21st Century Humanitarian Arts Organization Website: http://www.clfplanet.com http://www.myspace.com/clfplanet FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/drumfm FACEBOOK NAME: Inna Most ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "CREATION STEP" CONCERT INFO: Marque Gilmore & DRUM-FM: "CREATION STEP" @ The Barbican Centre, London - 18-May-2001 With The Art Ensemble of Chicago THE CONCEPT: CREATION STEP is the musical evolution of DRUM-FM's Millennium Migration concert performed at London's legendary Hackney Empire in October 1999. This production is the continuing story of migrations expressed through the reinterpretation and "re-interpolation" of ancient Mandeng songs, Caribbean rhythms, African dance, Afro-Beat rhythms, Jazz, Indian Baul singing and Drum & Bass (UK). Musicians from Mali, London, New York, India, Nigeria and Ghana congregate on stage to explore various routes of composition and improvisation celebrating the millennium with a progressive form of sound language. This performance, like MILLENNIUM MIGRATION, was a world premiere performance of these collaborations. CREATION STEP blends experimental dance music with ancestral sounds resulting in a sonic landscape representing the future of Neo-historical Black art-forms with a view of inclusiveness while serving both the 2nd Generation Diasporic communities in the UK and their lineage. Interactive projections accompany the music as it traces the history of the drum and voice over the Diaspora and the new-world continents. This performance is principally based on Marque Gilmore's future-tribal compositions (with his hybrid "Acousti-Lectric" Drumz) translating and morphing West African songs and arrangements brought forward by Chieck Tidiane Seck (vocals and keyboards) from their on going collaborations since 1996. The CREATION STEP ensemble: MARQUE GILMORE [US] - ACOUSTI-LECTRIC DRUMZ, VOCALS, COMPOSITIONS, ALL ARRANGEMENTS CHEICK TIDIANE SECK [Mali] - VOCALS, KEYS, GUITAR, COMPOSITIONS, ARRANGEMENTS LANSINE KOUYATE [MALI] - BALAFON GRAHAM HAYNES [US] - CORNET & EFX PABAN DAS BAUL [INDIA] - BAUL SINGER / SUFI MUSICIAN NII TAGOI [GHANA] - DRUMMER & DANCE CHOREOGRAPHER FRITITI [various backgrounds] AFRICAN DRUM & DANCE GROUP JESSICA LAUREN [UK] - SATELLITE CONTROL / ANALOG KEYS IMANI UZURI [NYC] - VOCALS HILAIRE PENDA [CAMEROON] - 5-STRING BASS With SPECIAL GUEST Drummers: TONY ALLEN [NIGERIA] - INVENTOR OF "AFRO-BEAT" & DRUMMER FOR THE LEGENDARY FELA KUTI MARK MONDESIR [UK] - DRUMMER FOR BRITISH JAZZ PIANIST JULIAN JOSEPH DAVID GILMORE [US] - ELECTRIC & ACOUSTIC GUITARS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - THE HYPE : 18th May 2001 Live Recording @ The Barbican Centre, London Africa: Black Music Ancient to Modern Contributing to the Barbican Jazz's series of African concerts, where some of the most innovative musicians who have taken their inspiration from African music and stamped their own contemporary seal on it, are The Art Ensemble of Chicago and Marque Gilmore / DRUM-FM. In a special concert dedicated to the memory of the inspirational founder member Lester Bowie, The Art Ensemble of Chicago will be proving why they have been consistently considered one of the most extraordinary performing jazz ensembles in contemporary music over the past thirty years. Conceived in '67 as a political musical statement at a time of racial strife in the US, this unique co-operative group, have taken futuristic African culture, of the diaspora and homeland, and redefined the confines of 'black music'. Enabling its musicians to define there own role in music history and remain as innovative today as three decades ago. Kicking off the proceedings, Marque Gilmore brings his on-going DRUM-FM project to the forum. Following Millennium Migration, at the Hackney Empire (Oct 1999). This event entitled CREATION STEP furthers the exploration into various routes of musical creation in composition and improvisation connecting the migrations of rhythm from Africa and India to the rest of the world by reinterpreting ancient musical forms alongside the newest music technology. This current musical focus re-unites DRUM-FM in a collaboration with Malian musician / historian Cheick Tidiane Seck (long-time musical director, arranger and producer for Salif Kieta, Mory Kante, Hank Jones, and others) and special guest vocalist Imani Uzuri whose ethreal presence took MILLENNIUM MIGRATION to another level. Hosted by the cosmic supreme Mikel 'The Spirit-hood', he is further joined by Malian balafon player Lansine Kouyate, Afro-beat drum supremo Tony Allen, future cornetist Graham Haynes, sonic maestro Jessica Lauren, drummer Mark Mondesir, Aref Durvesh on tabla, his brother, the guitarist David Gilmore, 'Baul' singer Paban Das and special choreography and drumming from Ghanain group Nii Tagoi and FRITITI. PROGRAMME NOTES - CREATION STEP @ BARBICAN 18 MAY 2001 : To know one's lineage is a blessing in life. To touch "Living Lineage" is an honour for living. Tonight's event, and indeed the entire "AFRICA: Ancient to Future" series at The Barbican, is an honour and pleasure for our collective well being. DRUM - FM this is not a band....this is a Tribal Broadcast tuned to the 3rd Eye on the dial of the Soul. We communicate with our ancestors as our ancestors communicate with us.... through music and ritual. Combine the heartbeats of the Human race, hear the sound of Drum & Bass. Personal Message from Marque Gilmore: Many London peoples have and still ask me what I make of this "Drum & Bass thing." I usually respond by saying, "I am Drum & Bass." That is to say I'm a drummer, so my link is natural...and as a drummer my responsibility to rhythm, no matter where in the continuum it may be [or migrate to] is an ancestral one. I need my lineage, and as an African-American, that is something that continues to be explored and reclaimed. I've always described DRUM-FM as a "Tribal Broadcast" fusing the elements of the illegal UK pirate radio station, the "tribal village" aspect of the Rave experience, all fed with the impetus of the Jazz "muso" or "Musical Alchemist." Sharing this stage with The Art Ensemble of Chicago takes my dreams of music and my reason for living to an even closer harmony. I believe The Art Ensemble represent the pinnacle definition of Musical Alchemy with the Jazz tradition fully flexed and the call to the ancestors loud and clear. We aspire to this reality and step forth for The Sound. What do we really have to say about the connections between Drum & Bass, and Africa [and India]. My affinity to this sound and "physical need" for these rhythms has kept me here in London for almost 6 years now and I have always pushed the idea that this music and its rhythms are gifts from the ancestors. Just as the drummers in a village ceremony somewhere in Keyna are doing, the youth of East London circa '88, were calling the spirits when they first cut up the sample called the "Amen Break" and created that defining loop-of-life for London's underground peoples. CREATION STEP is the musical evolution from DRUM-FM's Millennium Migration performed at London's legendary Hackney Empire in October 1999. This event will be the continuing story of migrations expressed through the reinterpretation and "re-interpolation" of ancient Mandeng songs, Caribbean rhythms, African dance, Afro-Beat rhythms, Jazz, Indian Baul singing and Drum & Bass. Our Family from Mali, London, New York, India, Nigeria and Ghana will congregate on stage celebrating the millennium with cosmic-sound-language... "Science-Friction-Drum-and-Space." This concert is specially dedicated to the Living Lineage of Lester Bowie and to the birth of Zen Rain Supreme Riley-Davis. Marque Gilmore / DRUM-FM wish to thank: The Creator, My Gilmore Family, The MANNAFEST family + new baby Zen, Afua-Love, Mikel-The Spirit Hood; Cheick and all Creation Step Posse; The New York Crews; All True Junglists, DJs and Hardcore Ravers!; All of our supporters including London Arts and Arts Council, PRSF, Overtones; John, Dave, Kate and all posse at Serious; Ed & Bryn at the Barbican; Tina & crew at Zildjian; all the musicians and creative spirits that have given the blessing of their energy and light to the sound of our life. ---------- Aims & objectives: o To explore various routes of composition and improvisation celebrating the millennium with a progressive form of sound language. o Connect the migrations of rhythm from Africa to the Western World. o Bringing down the divide between more acoustic forms of music and the now popular 'underground' sound of the break-beat generation o To create a unique fusion of improvised and composed musical forms with world class musicians from Africa, India, America and the United Kingdom. o To reinterpret traditional songs with new music technology thereby maintaining this form of musical language into the 21st century and beyond. o Introduce into the international arena premiere performances initiated by a UK-based promoter with artists from the Diaspora. o To celebrate cultural diversity by bringing together young generations and their peers with both indigenous and electronic music simultaneously. o To create primary opportunities for young musicians and artists initiating a basis and direction for a professional career in the arts (i.e.: recording, performance, interactivity). MILLENNIUM MIGRATION CONCERT INFO: MANNAFEST presents: DRUM-FM: MILLENNIUM MIGRATION 14 - October - 1999 @ The Hackney Empire, East London OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT o Connecting the migrations of rhythm from West Africa, to the West Indies, to the Western World. o Bring down the divide between more acoustic forms of music and the now popular 'underground' sound of the breakbeat generation o To create a unique fusion of improvised and composed musical forms with world class musicians from Africa, America, and the United Kingdom. o To reinterpret traditional Mandeng songs (West Africa) with new music technology, thereby maintaining this form of musical language into the 21st century. o Introducing into the international arena a premiere performance initiated by a UK based promoter with artists from the Diaspora. o To celebrate cultural diversity by bringing together young generations and their peers with both indigenous and electronic music simultaneously. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT Millennium Migration is the continuing story of migration expressed through the reinterpretation of Mandingo songs (West Africa),Caribbean rhythms, and Drum&Bass(UK). Musicians from Mali, New York City, Paris, Guadaloupe, and London congregate on stage to explore various routes of composition and improvisation celebrating the millennium with a progressive form of sound language. This performance is the world premiere of this collaboration. Millennium Migration blends experimental dance music with the ancestral sounds from Mali and the West Indies. The resulting sound represents the future of Neo-historical Black art-forms with a view of inclusiveness while serving both the 2nd Generation Diasporic community and their parents. Interactive projections were created by Graham Brown-Martin of Digital Arts as the perfect accompaniment to the music as it traces the history of the drum over the Diaspora and new world continents. The performance consists of Marque Gilmore and his hybrid Acousti-Lectric drum set-up, with drum&bass artist DJ LeRouge with his turntables translating and collaborating with West African songs and arrangements brought forward by Chieck Tidiane Seck (vocals and keyboards) and Lansine Kouyate (balafon); additional accompaniment is provided by David Gilmore (guitar) and Dean Mark (bass), virtuoso percussionist from Guadaloupe Didier Juste, with future-jazz Cornetist Graham Haynes. May 1998 DRUM-FM was invited to Martinique by the West Indian Government for a cultural exchange event with Cheick Tidiane Seck to work with the local artists and their community to create awareness of their African Heritage. This groundbreaking collaboration returned to the Caribbean but this time for a 4-day tour in Guadaloupe, December 1998. This last trip cemented and identified the need to bring the Millennium Migration into fruition in London. DRUM-FM was the first international artist at Rhythm Sticks Festival in 1996. Marque Gilmore was also a featured guest with Nitin Sawhney at The 1998 London Jazz Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall. He has also been a featured performer with Steve Williamson and Project 23 at The Royal festival Hall. Also, DRUM-FM and Mannafest collaborated at Straight No Chaser Magazine 10th Anniversary event at Ronnie Scotts. This was the first drum&bass ensemble to take place at this legendary Jazz venue. THE 'Old-Skool' ARTS ADMINISTRATION LINK: The DRUM-FM arts organisation, alongside partners MANNAFEST, provide various services to the UK artistic community with various events featuring new compositions and innovative production; live interactive performances for clubs, concert halls, and cultural events; artistic consultation with London Arts, Community Music and Overtones Studio's "Musicians & Producers Programme"; diverse cultural collaborations and benefit performances to raise awareness for various cultural and social issues Our main beneficiaries are an audience of diverse young intellects, mature culture lovers, young musicians, writers, artists, record labels, associated bands, Arts companies, etc. DRUM FM's Artistic Director is Marque Gilmore. Khefri Riley of Mannafest serves as Co-Creative Director and Producer for joint projects. Mannafest has created a firm foundation and DRUM FM is centrifugal to its activities. Project planning and administration is conducted with a long-term strategy and partnership in view. Various consultants form a 'think tank', advising on day to day activities, marketing, and future projections [i.e., Paul Bradshaw, Straight No Chaser Editor]. Various partnerships have been formed within the creative industries to propel DRUM-FM into a wider marketplace, sharing creative and technical resources. Young interns at an administration level and apprentice artists are brought through the organisation. Projects also create opportunity for management participation from outside individuals and/or groups, in this case for example, bringing an organisational and performance opportunity to Nii Tagoi's FRITITI Drum and Dance Group. Funding from The Arts Council of England have assisted in bringing the particular brand of music DRUM-FM creates into a wider international market, aiding in the expansion of global communication and the critical placement of our vehicle as a cultural leader. Further press exposure afforded us by the nature of these funded projects has expanded the profile of DRUM-FM and has lead to inspired creative links with various media bodies and crucial trendsetters. Being able to deliver high quality initiatives produced 'in house' has empowered and expanded the production skills and strategic thinking patterns necessary to foresee local and global movements. This allows us to contribute to a wider "diasporic renaissance" inspired by the level of creative energy (current and potential) centred in London and emerging from the UK. IN ORDER TO: o Commission and deliver a high quality musical initiatives and work with internationally acclaimed musicians. o Give access to a wider audience, increasing our presence as directors and promoters of innovative and challenging multi-media musical work. o Present the work as large-scale productions, increasing the visibility of cross-cultural interdisciplinary art-forms, experimental and world music. o Bring down the divide between so-called mainstream presentations of musical theatre and the now popular 'underground' sound/reality of the break-beat club generation. o Develop dialogue across disciplines for the creation of an original piece of work that can be toured and presented nationally and internationally. o Create a unique identity for young artistic practitioners. Mannafest and DRUM-FM have a history of collaboration for the past 4 years, joint performances and promotions have taken place at The Royal Festival Hall, The Purcell Room, Jazz Cafe, Dingwalls, Double Talk Amsterdam, all with appropriate access to the disabled, etc. This production is a continuation of our commitment to deliver experimental forms of urban expression to a growing audience of opinion formers and trend-setters. It is also a first for the Barbican Centre as they are quite excited about including this performance among their long list of legendary shows and general public accessibility. "ABSORB & THRIVE....THRUST & CONTINUE" Marque Gilmore - Artistic/Musical Director D R U M - F M www.tribalbroadcst.com tribal@tribalbroadcast.com Tribal Broadcast Recordings ------------------------------------------------------------ M A R Q U E G I L M O R E - Musical Director DRUM-FM / tribal broadcast recordings / CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION ™ e: tribal@tribalbroadcast.com http://www.tribalbroadcast.com http://marquegilmore.bandcamp.com/ http://www.soundcloud.com/marque-gilmore http://www.mixcloud.com/inna_most/ http://www.musikcentrum.se/artist/gilmore-marque http://www.linkedin.com/pub/marque-gilmore/27/a79/6a0 http://www.myspace.com/marquegilmore http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marque3 YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/innamost THE CLF ART CAFE http://www.clfartcafe.org http://www.facebook.com/busseybuilding http://www.facebook.com/jazzheadchronicmickeysmith CHRONIC LOVE FOUNDATION 21st Century Humanitarian Arts Organization Website: http://www.clfplanet.com http://www.myspace.com/clfplanet FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/drumfm FACEBOOK NAME: Inna Most ------------------------------------------------------------------------