I went out on a limb today and bought a djembe drum. I guess this wasn’t totally a suprise. I’ve been drumming on my body for a while now at the nameless church Sunday night gatherings, I’ve becoming the resident drummer, not by virtue of skill, or experience, but rather of just my compelling need to beat myself with my hands during songs of worship. Tonight I got a chance to use the new dejimbe drum and actually be in a …band? Am I a musician now? I thought it all stopped in 8th grade?

I’ve been heavily listening to what I refer to as musician’s music for many years now. Usually that includes tons-o-jazz, jam oriented rock, prog-rock, etc. Plus tons of other music. It is strange take the depth of my listening and move it into playing a piece of carved wood and hide that I just picked up, and to really here some music come out of it. Granted my beats waver in and out of the time signature, and I probably sounded like a crack addict with the way that I was playing, but it was real. I felt so comfortable and expressive behind this drum, it was like painting. It was totally like painting. Amazing.

I got the drum from a very cool place in Fredericksburg, called Eyeclopes studios. The owner Ken Crampton is heavily involved in the drumming lifestyle, hosting regular drum circles, lessons, and runs www.everybodydrum.com. He’s bulding a new place, and I highly recommend checking it out when it is open.

Check out some shots that Ryan took of me drumming.

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