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Groove for Shabbat
Uploaded .
12
384
A 7/8 improvisation on a set of 3 Bata drums, accented with afucha, tube shekere and cowbell.
The number 7 is a symbol for perfection or completeness: 7 colors in a rainbow, 7 musical notes in a scale, 7 days = a week, etc.
In Cuba, the bata consists of a set of three tapered cylinders of various sizes. Iya, the largest, is referred to as ‘mother drum’. Itotele, the middle one, and Okonkolo, the smallest, are called ‘father’ and ‘baby’, respectively.
Bata drums are primarily for the use of religious or semi-religious purposes for the native culture from the land of Yoruba, located in Nigeria, as well as by worshippers of Santeria in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and in the United States.
As I place no religious significance to these drums or their rhythms, my ‘non-sacred’ Bata drums are called aberinkula -profane Bata- and I don’t abide by the traditional rules and rituals governing the construction, handling, playing, and care of the sacred bata: Only non-castrated male deer’s or goat’s hides may be used–female goats along with bulls, cows, and sheep are not to be used; only an initiate may touch or play the bata, as only they have gone through the ritual of ‘receiving Ana’ which grants them the forces necessary to play them properly; before a ceremony the drummers would wash themselves in omiero, a cleansing water, pray, and abstain from sex for a period of time. In Havana, the bata are not played after sundown, while in Matanzas, ceremonies often begin at night.
More information on Bata drums here.
(For those who may be interested in collaborating on this, this groove is most easily counted like this: “1+2+3+4+5+6+sev-en”.)
7/8 140bpm.
Guest
said
Still love this!
Guest
said
You are one awesome rhythm machine!! NICE!!!
Drop D
said
I absolutely adore melodic drums...and while delicate...this is one HEAVY and head-bobbin' groove. Nice one...very nice one.
Reefwalker
said
This whole this is perfect. I think I like the additional perc at around :55, 1:55 ect the best.
Guest
said
Enticing and hypnotic!
richardlaceves
said
i always know i can fave one of your beats,,, even before i hear it.... there always that cool/interesting,, and thanks for the write ups you often do .. very nice
Guest
said
Very cool, cool enough to carry on into yom rishon!
Tharek Ali Mokbul
said
And oh man!!! Egusi Soup is so hard to get in London! This makes me Hungry for it!!!
Tharek Ali Mokbul
said
Shame it wont be heard till tonight..... Great Sabeth Tune!! My Ex Lady was Nigerian... E-bo.. Yoruba always had better beats... Howsa always had better food.... This is superb!
Guest
said
Really love the name norm! The percussion is spot on Ace as always. Shabbat Hamalka- the queen of the seventh dat of the week.
Movement To Contact
said
I would be most interested in working with this :) and all the other beats I have been messing with!! Love this one as well, esp. the 7 count. Now off to the studio for pizza, whiskey, and some sweet drums to jam to! YEAH!! Oh and FAV'd!
thetworegs
said
Excellent track Norm as always...i've jumped on this one for the ride ....Do your Dance...Cheers
vaisvil
said
Norm I really like it! Is there anyway I could you into sending me the TUBS for the main beat? I want to plagiarize it for a marimba part.
