Even at 74 years old, renowned Senegalese percussionist Doudou
N’Diaye Rose is on his second major U.S. tour. Outside of
wowing American audiences with dazzling displays from his 35-member
percussion orchestra, there’s one more thing he wants to do
before he leaves: watch an American band perform live onstage.
Chances are he’ll be disappointed. After all, the Drummers
of West Africa ensemble provide a concert experience different from
what’s normally offered in the States. The ensemble has a
highly visual and physical display involving an elaborate tapestry
of movement and color. Audiences don’t hear the music so much
as they see it, which is why Rose doesn’t feel properly
exposed to American music, despite his studio collaborations with
the likes of Miles Davis and the Rolling Stones. For Rose, a live
show can’t be compromised through a recorded medium for
satisfactory results, which may explain why the famed percussionist
has only released one album of recorded material over the last 10
years.
“For some audiences it’s just the music that
matters, but it’s still very important to have the visual
element and to see who is playing when,” Rose said.
“Maybe the audience knows the music in advance, but
it’s still a different experience to see the players in
action.”
Rose’s troupe of 35 drummers””mdash;all members of his
extended family, the youngest just 16 years old””mdash;perform the
ancient rhythms that once served as a valuable vehicle for oral
tradition. A self-proclaimed ambassador for Senegalese culture and
history, Rose is a true conductor on stage, leading the entire
company through the most intricate passages as they perform the
ancient sounds.
“These rhythms originated really before there were any TVs
or telephones,” Rose said. “The drum was used to send
messages from village to village. So the reason we’re able to
describe almost any type of situation, whether there was a fire in
the forest, there was a wedding or any other ceremony.”
Having a familial relationship with the other percussionists
adds to the group’s seamless performance style, which relies
heavily on the improvisational whims of its leader. Rose has shown
leadership in other ways as well, most notably by encouraging women
to drum and giving them the opportunity to do so in his ensembles,
a revolutionary move around the time when Rose just started to rise
in prominence. The current ensemble features 20 female and 15 male
drummers.
Unlike other percussion styles, like the more structured beats
of Japan’s Kodo, West African drumming is dependent on the
skill of its leader, and Rose’s illustrious past makes him
fit for the role.
“In France we have a saying that when an old man dies,
it’s a library dying also,” said tour manager Stefan
Brunet, who also served as Rose’s translator. “Rose is
like a library of rhythms. Ever since he was very young he has
learned different kinds of drumming patterns and the messages that
are included them. And still, at 74 years old, he’s a kid on
stage, he’s moving all over the place.”
The Drummers of West Africa performs tonight and Friday at Royce
Hall. Call (310) 825-2101 for more information.