Hanging out at the garden/Back in Brikama

Yesterday was a great way to finish off a five day visit with Lamin and his family. Mike and David, toubabs from Maine came down from Serrekunda, where they have been staying- Mike since Dec. 1st, David since Jan 1st. Mike is a percussionist, playing various drums from around the region. He is quite good for a toubab, I will say. He teaches a class at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor during the spring quarter. David, a recent graduate, was a student in his class, and is continuing to study. The two of them played while Lamin, myself, and a young man known as "Sweets" danced and had a blast. We cooked fish and an assortment of various vegetables that Mike and David brought over an open fire in the garden area for lunch. It was delicious! The vegetables definitely hit the spot for me. They seem to lack quite a bit from the traditional diet of Gambians. There are a few veggies served in a traditional bowl of food, but they are overwhelmed by the quantity of rice and palm oil. I played a couple of tracks on Kora while Mike accompanied on drum....probably the best jam session I've had with anyone, I must say. He's definitely got the feel for traditional music here. I would definitely consider having him join me for performances on the east coast.

This morning (early afternoon), I arrived back in Brikama. I hung out with Moriba for a bit, played some Kora, had some lunch. After lunch, we walked for what seemed like a mile, to the compound of Kausu Kuyateh, another of many Kora players here in Brikama. I recorded him playing solo, just like I did with Jali Mady Susso, Moriba, Malamini, and Tata Dindin Jobarteh. He played very softly, almost too soft for my recorders, I had to move everything closer to his Kora a couple of times. His playing was decent, but the recording from Jali Mady Susso last week was far better. I would even go as far as to say that he is the best Kora player still alive here in Gambia, and as far as I know, he is practically unheard of outside of this area. I can't believe that he doesn't have a CD out in circulation anywhere!

Tonight I'm going to record Malamini and myself together. I'll be playing Kora while he will sing. Tomorrow, there's a Kora player called Tafa-Mustapha Jobarteh that Mike recommended I record, and I'm also going to get Moriba and me both playing tomorrow as well. That'll be the end of my recordings for the trip. Monday- Radio Gambia, then maybe back to Lamins for the last night. Tuesday- fly to London. Wednesday- back home!!

I'm exhausted!

I hope all is well back home.