Search - Robin Adnan Anders :: Omaiyo

Robin Adnan Anders is a Sufi master drummer and Omaiyo is a drum CD full of stories. His playing reveals the power of percusion, whether it's rich, subtle tones of log drums, or the sound of the Egyptian tabla or the darabouka. Melodic lines are heard in the mbira and the talking drum. There are trance pieces such as "Tourra," which Anders describes as "fire in a gentle rain," and Kadar, a moving piece of drum meditation, with tablas and a clay flattop dourbakee. Where this recording really dances is on the opening track, "Omaiyo." Here Anders stirs the world music pot with a big stick and a backbeat. Filled with a chilling chant and lilting guitars, the drums drive the tale, a song filled with joy and lament. When the saxophone arrives, it is obvious Anders is a visionary, able to mix centuries of sound into a contemporary anthem. The CD packaging is a lovely compendium, each song accompanied by a short written fantasy story inspired by the music. These stories are exotic and fun. If you tire of reading, you can listen to the drums tell their tale. --Bob Boilen