drumatiCymbalism is 3 of America’s stylistic masters of the drum kit blending styles of Rock and Roll, Jazz, and Free Form drumming. It’s spellbinding how these percussionists fuse these forms into one creative force that lifts audiences to a new understanding of the drum, as music. As the performance unfolds young drumming sensation Alex Craver and long standing Jazz drummers Sadiq Abdushahid and Mike Burgevin explore and invent. Performances are never exactly the same. Yesterday’s show was just that.
As they layer daring polyrhythms and tonal colors that reflect every mood known to man, a drumatiCymbalism performance is one your audience will long remember. On occasion themes are called to mind for inspiration such as “Curious Curly-Q’s”…“The Chase”… “Sudan”…“Lion’s Roar”…or “Susquehanna Summer Storm.” Concerts run approximately one and a half hours in performance time. An important, but brief, statement by each drummer introduces the show.
The three musicians who make up this exciting group live within a 10-mile radius of one another. That itself is a happening! All three have a passion for the drum.
All three play in bands or orchestras where they provide driving support for frontline guitars or horns. During the summer of 2003 they arranged a session to hear what they might create together on 3 drum-kits. Spontaneity was the rule of the day. They explored trading measures that evolved into a fusion of stylistic polyrhythms and layers of tonal colors. All agreed it was a fantastic afternoon. They wondered- Would an audience enjoy a show such as this (?) with no melody line, no harmonics, and no lyrics... all rhythm, tonalities, shadings, dynamics, and moments of whispers quiet percussion… six hands and six feet in action! Their question was answered at a Jericho Art Council Variety Show summer fund raising event. The audience of about 200 was ecstatic and expressed their appreciation with a standing ovation.
The biographical information illustrates why there is such an interesting and diverse mix between them and why you’ll hear/see one terrific show when you invite these three drummers to perform.
Performances to date: Jericho Arts Council “Variety Show”- 2003 / “The Night Of The Drum, Take One”- 2004 / “Street Beat” performance, City of Oneonta Day Market, 2004 / Chase Memorial Nursing Home, New Berlin, NY- 2004, 2005 / “Night Of The Drum, Take Two”- 2005 / “Night Of The Drum, Take Three- A Tribute to Alex Craver”- 2006. City Of The Hills Art Fest, Oneonta, NY. 2007 / Susquehanna Jazz Festival #1. Bainbridge, NY, 2007 / Art & Soul of The Catskill Festival, Delhi, NY, 2008 / NYS Veteran’s Home, Oxford, NY, 2007, 2008, 2009 / “Street Beat” performance, Cooperstown Farmer’s Market, Cooperstown, NY, 2009.
