Bonga and the Vodou Drummers of Haiti. Atis ka p fe mevey pou Ayiti.

Bonga and the Vodou Drummers of Haiti
December 08, 2008 10:15AM

Here's another preview of First Night Morris County, coming to Morristown on New Year's Eve. More previews, schedules and maps are here.

Gaston Jean-Baptiste, known as "Bonga," is a musical virtuoso who has been performing and studying traditional Haitian drum, dance and song since the age of seven when he began playing drums in his hometown of Croix-des-Mission in La Plaine, an area of Haiti known for culture and history.

Regarded as a master of the Afro-Haitian drum, sought after for his extensive repertoire of pan-African rhythms, Bonga is a dynamic performer, accompanist, session player and educator. He is also one of the few drum experts and craftsmen outside of Haiti who continues to build traditional drums using techniques that are centuries old.

Bonga and Tiga of the Vodou Drummers of Haiti
As a core member of the seminal Haitian roots bands, Boukman Eksperyans and Foulà, Bonga was invited to the U.S. in the '90s when musicians were becoming a strong voice for the Haitian people.

Since then, Bonga has continued to play solo and in ensemble and at numerous worldwide venues. He has been a featured performer with Peter Yarrow, Grace Jones, Dan Zanes and Urban Tap, to mention a few. His drums opened the New York premiere of the Rolling Stones "Voodoo Lounge" tour and he is prominently featured on recordings by Wyclef Jean and Salif Keita.

Here are samples of Bonga's music.
Bonga's ensemble also includes his son, Tiga Jean-Baptiste, on percussion and woodwinds, Sheila Anozier (dancer, percussionist, vocalist) and Alisha Zebulon, (choreographer, vocalist, dancer).

Tiga was trained by his illustrious father and studied jazz with renowned Haitian jazz saxophonist Thurgot Theodat, from whom he learned circular breathing so helpful to his skills at Haitian bamboo, tin horns, and didgeridoo.
Tiga also developed exceptional mastery of the Shona Mbira (a type of "thumb piano"), attracting attention from Zimbabwe masters, Thomas Mapfumo and Stella Chiweshe, with whom he performed and trained, respectively.

Admired for his talent as a session musician and sideman, he has traveled extensively and performed with leading jazz and world musicians. Tiga is a teaching artist with the non-profit organization Global Kids and he been a featured accompanist with Pat Hall Dance, Urban Tap and Jean-Leon Destine.

Freestyle and Haitian dancer Sheila Anozier trained under Alvin Ailey alum Ella Thompson Moore and most significantly with Pat Hall before touring the world, from Asia and Europe to North America, as a dancer, vocalist and choreographer in multiple festivals, shows and at the Lincoln Center Outdoors and Dance Theatre workshops.

Similarly, choreographer and dancer Alisha Zebulon trained in jazz, tap and ballet, at the Joffrey Ballet School and then under the wing of master dancer/drummer Ladji Camara.
She holds a degree in jazz and has performed with many US-based African dance companies and lived/studied in Senegal. As an accomplished vocalist, Alisha has toured and recorded with leading African and American performers. Currently, she teaches dance to children in New York City public and private schools.

Experience the cultural riches of Haiti without leaving Morristown ---hear Bonga and the Vodou Drummers of Haiti performing at First Night in the Hyatt Morristown's Terrace Ballroom from 9:45-10:30 p.m. and again from 10:45-11:30 p.m.