Current Events

September 28 - Friday
8 PM Mandara in Concert St. Mary's Episcopal Church 521 West 126th Street (just west of Amsterdam Avenue) part of the series Famosos Desconicidos (Famous Unknowns) $10
contact The Taller Latinoamericano www.tallerlatino.org 212-665-9460

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO!

September 29 - Saturday
NBC/SNL season opener (Valerie's 12th)

October 16
8PM Tribute Concert to celebrate the life of Kakraba Lobi Ghanaian Gyil (solo marimba) master
Valerie, Barry, and others The Nuyorican Poet's Cafe 236 East 3rd Street, Manhattan, part of the "Women Take the Bandstand" Series $10 contact Jessica Valiente 973-759-1678

October 17- 26 Barry with Spanish Harlem Orchestra in Indonesia and Singapore

October 26 - 27 - Friday and Saturday
Valerie performs at the "Alaska Day of Percussion" University of Alaska at Anchorage
contact John Damberg johnd@cravin-records.com

November 7 - Wednesday
8PM Barry with Syotos at Williams College Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall - Williamstown, MA

November 19 - 20
Valerie and Barry at Northern Illinois University Dekalb, IL

November 19 - Monday
8PM Northern Illinois University Latin Jazz Ensemble Concert, feat. Barry Olsen and Valerie Naranjo

November 20 - Tuesday
- 11AM School of Music All School Convocation Duo lecture/performance
- 3PM Masterclass on Gyil, etc.
- 8PM Northern Illinois University Percussion Ensemble Concert, feat. Valerie Naranjo and Barry Olsen

Concerts and Convocation are all being held in the NIU School of Music Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. The Tuesday masterclass will be held in School of Music Room 153. For more information, contact Greg Beyer gbeyer@niu.edu

Browse past events below:

Kakraba Lobi gyil master from Ghana, with Valerie Naranjo and Barry Olsen

Tuesday March 20 9PM Concert $10 7PM free pre concert workshop
El Taller Latinoamericano 2710 Broadway at the southeast corner of 104th Street, 3rd floor NYC 212 665 9460 info@eltaller.org

Wednesday March 21 2:30 3:30 PM
Boyer School of Music at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA contact professor Stelle gsteele@temple.edu

Wednesday March 21 5:30- 6:30pm Workshop $10 7:30pm CONCERT $12 9pm Reception (after the concert)
"Crossroads Music" Calvary Center For Community And Culture 801 S. 48th Street Philadelphia, PA 19143 www.crossroads.calvary-center.org 215-729-1028

Thursday March 22 workshops all day, 4:30 PM concert
Lang Concert Hall Swarthmore college, 500 College Ave., Swarthmore, PA Phone: 610 328-8233 sfriedl1@swarthmore.edu

Friday March 23 all day
Gamble Auditoriium @ Baldwin Wallace College, 96 FRONT STREET, BEREA OH Josh Ryan jryan@bw.edu

Monday and Tuesday, March 26 and 27 all day and evening residency
Harper Hall, Lawrence University Conservatory of Music- 420 East College Ave Appleton, WI Lawrence.edu

Wednesday, March 28 all day and evening residency
Noel Fine Arts Center The University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point
Ryan Korb (715) 346-2229 office www.uwsp.edu/admissions/webpages/directns.htm

Thursday, March 29, 6-9 PM Clinic
New York University, Percussion Penthouse 35 west 4th street, nyc
contact: Jonathan Hass jonahaas@aol.com 917-887-5661

Saturday, March 31, 6:30 to 8;30 PM
Night and Day Performance Space (Back room of Biscuit Barbecue)
230 President Street and 5th Avenue
Park Slope, Brooklyn, 718-399-2691
Spaced is limited so you should RSVP to Maria Cangiano 718-624-4154

Sunday, April 8, 7:30 PM
Langston Hughs House
20 east 127th Street (between 5th and Madison Avenues)
#2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 trains to 125th Street stop 3 blocks from the 125th street Metro North Station
212 927 3413 events@langstonhugheshouse.org please SVP

Monday, April 93:30-4:30 master class / 4:45 - 5:45 clinic for composers / 6:30 - 7:30 concert /8-8:30 q and a
Purchase College Conservatory of Music- Choral Hall
735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, NY
www.purchase.edu/AboutPurchase/VisitorsGuide/Directions/
914.251.6000 shawn@intrinsicaudiovisual.com

Tuesday, April 10th 6:30 PM concert 8 PM clinic
St. John's University, Marillac Auditorium
8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica, NY 11439
from Manhattan: take the E or F train to Union Turnpike (in Queens) and then the Q46 bus to 170th Street.
Directions to Marillac Auditorium: www.stjohns.edu For (free) tickets and other information: Barrett Hipes, 718-990-5581

Wednesday, April 11 all afternoon and evening
Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
contact: kumore@kutztown.edu

Thursday, April 12 7:30 PM two sets
Tagine Dining Gallery
537 Ninth Avenue (at 40th Street)
no cover $15 minimum Reservations recommended
212 564 7292 Great Moroccan food

CD release performances: Kakraba Lobi, Barry Olsen, Valerie D. Naranjo "Da Yillena" and "West African Music for the Marimba Soloist" CD release performances:

Monday, Nov. 25 (For those in north/central New Jersey) "Concerts on the Hill" World Music Salon Concert Series Mount Tabor, NJ Please call (212) 866 2375 for directionsX

Saturday, Nov. 23 Record basic tracks for the second marimba CD. Kaleidoscope Sound, Jersey City NJ

Friday, Nov. 22 8 and 10PM - ONLY NYC PUBLIC PERFORMANCE "Da Yillena" CD Release Performance Tagine - Mahjoun Lounge 537 9th Avenue (at 40th Street) (212) 584-7292 $10 - 1st set, $8 - 2nd set Great Moroccan Cuisine! No reservations-First come, first served.

Wed. November 20 - Friday Nov. 22 "West African Music for the Marimba Soloist" residency Lafeyette University, Easton PA contact: Professor Kathryn Schubel (610) 330-5194 voice (610) 330-5193 dept. office

Monday, Nov. 18-Wed. Nov 20 "West African Music for the Marimba Soloist" residency Lawrence University, Appleton, WI contact: Professor Dane Richeson <dane.m.richeson@lawrence.edu>

Friday, Nov. 15 11:00 Am "West African Music for the Marimba Soloist" clinic/performance Percussive Arts Society International Conferecne" Hyatt, Columbus, Ohio

Sunday, November 10 4:30 PM concert Swarthmore College, Swarthmore PA contact: Professor Sharon Friedler sfriedl1@cc.swarthmore.edu (610)328-8257

Thursday, November 7 10AM "Lobi Traditions" St. Anne's Brooklyn

Wednesday, November 6 10:30 and 12, "Native American and African Traditions", Billie Holiday Theatre at Bed-Stuy Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn.

Thurs May 23 Gyil and Djembe Clinic and Concert Annual Percussion Festival
PUERTO RICO CONSERVATORY LAMAR 350 SAN JUAN , PR 00918-2199 contact JOSE ALICEA

June 21 (7:30PM) and 22nd (4:30AM yes AM, and 7:30PM) Summer Solstice Celebration with
The Paul Winter Consort The Cathedral of St John the Divine
contact: PWCLMR@aol.com for tickets and more information

Sun July 14 11AM Valerie and Barry St. John the Divine (Celebration for
the Nigerian head bishop)

August completion of "Song of Yillena" 3rd CD of Kakraba Lobi, Valerie
Naranjo, and Barry Olsen Kaliedescope Studios, Jersey City NJ
Kakraba Lobi, Barry Olsen, Valerie D. Naranjo "Da Yillena" and "West
African Music for the Marimba Soloist" CD release performances: Friday, May 10th 9pm Taller Latinoamericano 2710 Broadway (at 104th Street, The Entrance Is On Broadway, The Space Is On The Third Floor)$10 contact 212 665 9460
Bernard Woma - Gyil, vocals
Valerie Naranjo - Gyil, djembe, vocals
Barry Olsen - kuar, trombone, vocals

Fri. April 19 Concert 2 sets, 9 &11PM TAGINE 537 9th Ave. (at 40th Street) NY, NY.
Contact telephone (212)564-7292 Fine Morroccan Cuisine $10, $8 with reservation
(please mention which set you'd like to attend)

For new friends:
The gyil (pronounced JEE-lee) is a fourteen-barred West African keyboard instrument that is recognized as a healing force as well as a medium of complicated yet soulful music. It is well recognized gyil masters' extraordinary abilities take many years to attain, and that their role as both the gate to the spirit world in the sacred ceremony, and the world of joy and laughter in a simple dance is important in maintaining the health of each individual and in the bonding of the community.

KAKRABA LOBI is considered to be the gyil’s spokesperson by virtue of being one of the only living virtuosi to have mastered the instrument’s vast and difficult repertoire, and to have gained international acclaim as a concert soloist.

Valerie Naranjo is Ghana's first woman award-winning gyil soloist. (At home she plays in the SNL House Band, The Paul Winter Consort, etc.)

Multi-instrumentalist Barry Olsen has played with every Afro-Cuban star from Celia Cruz to Ray Barretto (and performed extensively in Africa).

RECENT CONCERTS and PERFORMANCES

Feb - March recording of basic tracks for "Da Yillena" CD of the music of
Kakraba Lobi on chromatic Marimba with various percussionists

March interview with Lauren Vogel-Weiss for feature article in Modern
Drummer Magazine

Sat March 23 9AM - 5PM "Native American Music for Health and Balance"
Healing Arts Workshop Montclaire, NJ

Mon April 8 6-8PM Gyil Music of West Africa Lecture Dem and Workshop.
Adams State College Department of Music, Alamosa, CO

Fri April 12 12:30 - 1:30 Music for Health and Balance "A Gathering of
Healers" (Western and Alternative Health Conference) Adams State College,
Alamosa, CO

Sat April 27 Barry and Valerie Concert: The Paul Winter Consort, the
Warner Theater Torrington, CT contact PWCLMR@aol.com

Fri May 10 Bernard Woma, Valerie Naranjo, Barry Olsen "Gyil Music of West
Africa" Taller Latinoamericano, 2710 Broadway at 104th Street, Manhattan
$10 contact 212 665 9460

Mon May 13 NBC Rollout with the Saturday Night Live Band

Sat May 18 Close the 2001/02 season Saturday Night Live Band

Sun May 19th 6PM Concert Valerie Dee Naranjo and guests: "Music for
Health and Balance" West Park Church, 165 West 86th Street (corner of
Amsterdam)

A joint event by El Taller Latinoamericano and the Project of Worship, Arts and Music of West Park Church
Sunday, May 19th 6PM - West Park Church, 165 West 86th Street (corner of
Amsterdam) $10
http://www.tallerlatino.org/index.html
(212) 665-9460
Special guests:
Barry Olsen (paino, kuar, ganga, voice)
Gina Ferrera (gyil)
Kathy Schubel (gyil)
Bernardo Palombo (voice and co-composition) and others

APRIL 2002 -Kakraba Lobi, Valerie Dee Naranjo, Barry Olsen:
Wed. April 17 5PM West African Mallet Music for Chromatic Marimba -
workshop and performance Queens College Department of Music contact Michael
Lipsey <LIPTAL@mindspring.com>

Fri. April 19 Concert 2 sets, 9 &11PM Tagine 537 9th avenue (at 40th Street)
NY, NY. Contact telephone (212)564-7292 Fine Morroccan Cuisine $10, $8 with
reservation THIS IS OUR ONLY PUBLIC CONCERT THIS SPRING

Sat. April 20 7:30 PM the New York Day of Percussion, final concert
Queens College contact <LIPTAL@mindspring.com>

Sun April 21 10:45 AM Earth Day Celebration, The Cathedral of St. John the
Divine, Amsterdam Avenue at 111th Street.

Sun April 21 3PM Concert and Workshop - The Long Island Children's Museum
11 Davis Avenue Garden City, NY

Tues April 23 9:45 - 1:25 Concert and three workshops The Rosemont School,
1344 Montgomery Ave. Rosemont, PA 19010 contact 610-922-1028
<jteb@rosemontschool.org>
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Saturday, October 20, 2001, 8:00 PM
The Energy Center Yoga of Sound Series presents:
A concert for healing dedicated to the victims of the World Trade Center tragedy and their families and to the indomitable spirit of the citizens of New York
Valerie Naranjo & Barry Olsen Traditional Keyboard Music of West Africa
53 Wyckoff St. near Smith St, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn “F” or “G” Train to Bergen St. $16; students (w/ ID) and seniors $12 Please purchase tickets in advance by calling (718) 243-1285 Visa and MasterCard accepted

Fri. Oct. 26 9 &11 PM
Tagine Dining Gallery, 537 9th avenue (40th Street)
NY. $10 1st set, $8 2nd set. No reservations. First come first served. Great Moroccan food. (212)564-7292 Presented by Tribal Soundz

Saturday, October 27 9PM
TALLER LATINOAMERICANO 2710 BROADWAY (at 104th Street) 3rd Floor $10

Sun. Oct. 28 8-10 PM
Radio Program with Kakraba Lobi, Barry Olsen, Valerie Naranjo, "Transpacific Sound Paradise - Popular and Unpopular Music from Around the World" with Rob Weisberg - WFMU, 91.1 fm in the New York City area, 90.1 in New York's Hudson Valley and streaming on the web at
http://www.wfmu.org

Wed. Oct. 24, 5PM Folk Arts Class Mindbuilder’s 3415 Olinville Ave. Bronx, NY

Thursday October 25, 9AM, Bank Street College 610 W. 112th St. NYC

Thurs. Oct. 25 5:30 - 7PM New YorkUniversity 35 W 4th St., 13th Fl NYC (212)998-5459

Fri. Oct. 26 3 -5PM Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Ave R 610

Tues. Oct. 30, Clinic 12-1:30PM - Concert 4-5:30PM Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA Professor Sharon Friedler (610) 328-8257

Friday Nov 2, 3 - 5PM Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Ave room 610 NYC (This has been rescheduled from Fri, Oct. 26)

Fri Nov 9. 5PM Folk Arts and Drumming Classes Mindbuilder’s 3415 Olinville Ave Bronx, NY (This has been rescheduled from Wed Oct 24)

TBA (9AM) Bank Street College 610 W. 112th St. NYC

August 5–September 3, 2001—Workshops and lectures (sponsored by The United States Information Service), The University of Ghana, The National Theatre, Accra, Ghana

August 4, 2001—Work with Stern’s representatives to promote Zie Mwea, London

July 11, 2001, 8 and 10PM—Bernard Woma, Barry Olsen, Valerie Naranjo, Live performance at Tagine, 537 9th avenue (at 40th Street) NY, NY. Contact telephone (212) 564-7292 (Sponsored by Tribal Soundz, tribalsoundz@hotmail. com)

July 8, 2001—6:30 PM—Bernard Woma, Barry Olsen, Valerie Naranjo, Live Performance at Sixth Street and Avenue B Garden Events, Concert Series, NYC. (Cosponsored by Tribal Soundz tribalsoundz@hotmail. com)

July 7, 2001—Radio program with Bernard Woma, Barry Olsen, Valerie Naranjo , "Transpacific Sound Paradise - Popular and Unpopular Music from Around the World" with Rob Weisberg - Saturday nights 7-9pm on WFMU, 91.1 FM in the New York City area, 90.1 in New York's Hudson Valley and streaming on the web at http://www.wfmu.org.

June 9, 2001, 9:30 PM— “Healing Hands” noteworthy percussionists drum circle, B'nai Jeshurun NY, NY

May 29, 2001—"Concerts on the Hill" World Music Salon Series. The lovely home of Glen Fitten a great setting for any music. Mount Tabor, NJ

May 26, 2001—The Taller Latino-Americano, 2710 Broadway (at 104th Street) 3rd floor, (212) 665-9460

May 23, 2001—Presented by Tribal Soundz at Tagine, 537 9th Ave. (at 40th Street) NY, NY, Contact telephone # (212) 564-7292

April 25, 2001, 7 PM—Concert, Mandara, Mindbuilder’s Creative Arts, 3415 Olinville Avenue, Bronx NY

August 2001—Release of “Nuor Wo Bro Wey” seventh transcription of gyil music for chromatic marimba, (design by Dancing Planet MediaWorks).

March 23 & March 24, 2001—“Healing Arts: Creativity as Transformation and Renewal”, a workshop for spirituality through the arts. Morristown, NJ Contact e-mail address: vereene@ aol.com.

March 16, 2001, 9:30 and 11 PM—Gyil performance with Bernard Woma and Barry Olsen. "Tagine" 537 9th Ave. (at 40th Street) NY, NY. Contact telephone: (212) 564-7292.

March 11-March 16, 2001—host Bernard Woma, master percussionist from Ghana, and coordinate his classes and workshops. 431 West 121, NY, NY

February 27, 2001, 6:00 PM—“Gyil Music of West Africa” The Julliard School, room 514, West 65th Street, NY, NY

February 26, 2001—Mix and mastering session of Zie Mwea (Natural Conditions) CD by Bernard Woma, ValerieNaranjo, and Barry Olsen at Dancing Planet MediaWorks, Cresskill, NJ

February 21, 2001, 8:00 PM—Performance on gyil solo and with “The Rhythm Monsters,” Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, NY, NY

February 3, 2001—Interview “Native American Artists of Accomplishment” for Silver Burdette Ginn Music Series.

February, March 2001—Mix sessions for “Song of Niraa” (second CD with Kakraba Lobi and Barry Olsen), Global Village Arts, Jersey City, NJ. Randy Crafton, engineer and co-producer.

January 18 & February 15, 2001—teaching individual and group classes to students of the gyil, 431 West 121st, #C, NY, NY 10027.

January 8, 2001, 4 PM—Interview for “Drum” magazine, March/April issue, (feature on hand drummers).

December 11, 2000, 7:00 PM—Oral presentation and performance on gyil, SGI Arts Division Meeting, 7 East 15th Street, NY, NY 10011.

December 2, 2000—Kopeyia School Fund Benefit Concert, The Underground Concert Series at Maplewood Public Library, Maplewood, NJ. Solo performance on gyil and marimba and trio performance on amadinda.

THE LION KING on Broadway

NBC’s “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” BAND

Nov. 8, 9 and 22, 2000—Record basic tracks for the second CD of Kakraba Lobi, Valerie Naranjo and Barry Olsen, Global Village Arts, Jersey City, NJ

Nov. 19-21, 2000—Kakraba at Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN, Concert, Private Classes and Master Class hosted by Joseph Rasmussen, Percussion Department Chair

Nov 18, 2000, 11 AM—Clinic and Master Class (also PASIC), Union Station Stationmaster, Hyatt Convention Center Dallas, Texas

Nov. 17, 2000, 2 PM—Concert: The Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Union Station, Grand Hall Hyatt Convention Center, Dallas, Texas

Nov. 14, 2000, 6PM—Concert And Lecture, The Julliard School Of Music, Broadway At 66th Street NYC, NY

Nov. 10, 2000, 9 PM—CD Release Party For "Song Of Legaa" (Lyrichord Discs), Tagine, 537 9th Avenue NYC, NY

Nov. 10, 2000, 2:30-4:30—PM Concert And Master Class, The New School For Social Research, Jazz Department, 13th Street, NYC, NY

Nov. 7, 2000, 8PM—Concert, "Concerts On The Hill" World Music Salon Concert Series, Mount Tabor, NJ

Nov. 3-5, 2000—Kakraba At University Of Northern Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Concert And Master Classes Hosted By Randy Hogancamp, Pecussion Department Chair

Nov. 1-2, 2000—Kakraba And Valerie At Lawrence College, Appleton, Wisconsin Concert, Clinics And Master Classes Hosted By Dane Richeson, Percussion Department Chair

Oct. 29, 2000, 4:30-5:30 PM—Concert, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA

Oct. 27, 2000, 8PM—Concert And Lecture,
One World Coffeehouse, Morristown, NJ

Oct. 27, 2000, 3-6PM—Master Class, Manhattan School of Music, 120 Claremont Ave NYC, NY

Oct. 25, 2000, 8PM—Concert, Taller Latinoamericano, 2710 Broadway 3rd Floor, NYC, NY