Master drummer coming to Palladium

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By Rick Morwick

In the time before telephones, long-distance communication was a challenge throughout much the world.

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Master drummer Kwesi Brown will perform at the Jan. 6 “Peanut Butter & Jam” session at The Palladium. (Photo by Kurt Anno)

But in Kwesi Brown’s home nation of Ghana, conveying messages to distant villages was never more than a drumbeat away.

“Before the telephone was in use in Ghana, we used to communicate through the drum,” said Brown, an Indianapolis resident who was born and raised in the tiny West African nation. “The drum can imitate the language of the people.”

No one knows that better than Brown, an enthnomusicologist and master drummer who will share his knowledge and talent during his Jan. 6, 10:30 a.m. performance of “Global Rhythms With Kwesi Brown” at The Palladium inside Carmel’s Center for the Performing Arts.

Part of The Palladium’s ongoing “Peanut Butter & Jam” children’s series, Brown’s show will feature an infusion of sounds from Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, the Caribbean, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, with a sprinkling of Western pop and soul blended in.

Brown, who plays an assortment of instruments, will be accompanied by his band in a high-energy performance that combines music, storytelling and audience interaction.

Dancing is not only allowed, but highly encouraged.

“We’ll teach songs I’ll be doing, and then I invite them on stage and show them how I learned to play music,” Brown said. “It’s like audience participation, and then we’re going to dance to the drums as well.”

Designed for children ages 1 through 7, “Peanut Butter & Jam” sessions encourage children to become interested in the performing arts. Launched five years ago, the series has been immensely popular and continues to grow. Organizers are already booking for the sixth season.

“The artists are selected for their ability to work with young children,” said Julia Shildmyer-Heighway, director of education and community engagement for the Center for Performing Arts. “Performances actively engage the children, and at the end of each, children are encouraged to ask questions and try their hand at some of the instruments. The environment of the performances are such that the children feel at home and comfortable.

“Many come to every performance and have for several years. They feel ownership of the series and their place in it. Parents and grandparents love it because it is an easy way to expose children to the performing arts in a very ‘low-risk’ manner.”

Engaging audiences is Brown’s chief objective. Besides drums, he plays trumpet, trombone, saxophone and keyboards. He also sings and tells the stories behind the music. And, he makes drums talk. Literally.

“I’ll play the different drums, talk about it, and then show them how to use drums to communicate,” said Brown, referring to the hourglass-shaped drums from his native Ghana that can mimic language by applying and relieving pressure with a tension cord wrapped around the instrument.

“We will learn how the drum speaks,” Brown said. “We’ll also introduce how this drum can speak English (and) even sing.”

Brown, who received a master’s degree in ethnomusicology from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, has performed for more than 30 years. He and his band, Sweet Poison, also play for adult audiences and convey a message of healthy eating habits. Their “Peanut Butter & Jam” session will be their first.

When: Jan. 6, 10:30 a.m.

Where: The Palladium, 1 Center Green, Carmel.

Tickets: $10 per child; two free adult tickets with every child’s ticket

To reserve tickets: Call the Center’s box office at 317-843-3800.


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