FIELD RECORDINGS MADE BY MARK SEIDENFELD (FOUNDER OF THE CENTER FOR SHAMANISTIC STUDIES) DURING A FUNERAL PROCESSION OF THE EWE PEOPLE IN CENTRAL GHANA. THESE ARE SEVEN PRIMARY DRUMMERS ACCOMPAGIEND BY MANY VILLAGERS ON SMALL PERCUSSION AND OCCASIONAL VOCALIZING. WHILE FIVE OF THE DRUMMERS MAINTAIN TRADITIONAL (AND USALLY QUITE COMPLEX) RHYTHMS, THE TWO MANNING THE LARGEST DRUM ARE FREE TO IMPROVISE, ONE ON THE SKIN, ONE ON ITS WOODEN SIDES. THE FIRESTORM THESE MUSICIENS ARE ABLE TO CONJURE UP AND CAN BE NOTHING SHORT OF INCREDIBLE WITH INTRICATE RHYTHMIC MATRICES GETTING SUBSUMED INTO PASSIONATE POUNDING THAT EXPLODES ORGASMICALLY. RAW SPLENDOR.
DRUMS OF DEATH (AFRICAN VOODOO FUNERAL) GHANA FUNERAL FIELD RECORDINGS (TZADIK/AVANT, 1998)