Review Text
D'Drum is a five member World Music group from Texas. Featured in an Emmy award winning PBS short film that documents their travels and observations relating to World Percussion, the group has performed and recorded extensively. D'Drum is heard on the National Geographic Film, 'Lions of Darkness', in addition to the award winning PBS children's show 'Wishbone'. The CD features music derived from traditional cultures of Bali, Africa, Persia, and other regions blended with the influences of Western Classical and Jazz forms. All of the instruments featured on recordings and in performance are acoustic, and of traditional and contemporary design. D'Drum's first CD, 'Village Beside Time', received the following reviews: "The group has made an album of almost overwhelming musicality... plenty of rhythm, to be sure, but the music on it also has a tonal quality (and appeal)...accomplished through the use of exotic tuned percussion instruments... collected by group members on their trips to exotic, beat-rich locales such as Africa and Bali -- like the cimbalom and tingklik.' -Matt Weitz, Dallas Morning News 'D'Drum... takes us on a world tour with brilliant arrangements, authentic acoustic instruments, and chops aplenty.' -David Licht, Modern Drummer 'Listening to 'Village Beside Time' is like taking a trip from the South Pacific Basin across Asia to the Middle East-all with a percussion soundtrack. The ensemble playing is very precise and clean-not an easy feat with some of the tempo changes and ritards in the music. There are some improvised sections, but most of the music is meticulously orchestrated. 'Village Beside Time' is a very enjoyable recording that mixes the percussion traditions of the world in an interesting and exciting way. -Terry O'Mahoney, Percussive Arts Society Ron Snider- Group leader, Mr. Snider has been with the Dallas Symphony as a percussionist since 1970 and is an active studio recording musician. As a cimbalom soloist, Mr. Snider has performed with the Dallas Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and others. He has been a featured soloist at the World Cimbalom Congress held in Hungary and has recorded on Hungarotron Records, Koss Classics, and Pro Arte. John Bryant- Mr. Bryant is a percussionist, music producer, and composer whose recent work is featured in the Emmy Award winning documentary film, 'The US-Mexican War' for PBS, and the National Geographic Television film, 'Lions of Darkness'. He has also been commissioned to compose and record the musical score for three original works for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre. In addition to working in recording studios as a producer and musician, Mr. Bryant has toured with Ray Charles and the Paul Winter Consort. He currently teaches drumset at Southern Methodist University. Doug Howard- Mr. Howard is the Principal Percussionist with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra. He has been a featured clinician at the international Percussion Arts Society conventions, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors. He has toured extensively with the Dallas Symphony, and has recorded with the orchestra on the RCA, Angel-EMI, Telarc, and Pro Arte labels. Mr. Howard has been the subject of a cover story that appeared in Modern Percussionist magazine, and is currently professor of percussion at Southern Methodist University. Jamal Mohamed- Mr. Mohamed has been a featured artist in many international music events including festivals in Europe, Egypt, Korea, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. Born in Lebanon, Mr. Mohamed is known for his virtuosity on the doumbek, incorporating many innovative Jazz and Latin styles with this ancient instrument. He has been a featured artist with Mark O'Connor, Sting, Trout Fishing in America, and many others. He has presented percussion workshops at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the University of North Texas, the American University in Cairo, Egypt, and the National
