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Lanston Hughes's "I Dream A World", by Word-Beat, live in NY

Video courtesy of Amir Bey, NY, NY.

Got a video clip? Send it in! We publish selected clips on this site.

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January 2008 Archive

Schedule

Jan 10-13 Word-Beat (Charles Williams and Tom Teasley) in Charles's hometown of Homer, Louisiana
Jan 23Tom and Tina Chancey at Shakespeare theater for a noon performance with silent movies and cartoons: Phone: 202.547.1122
Jan 30School performance with vocal group Singing A to Z.
Thru Jan All Souls Unitarian Church -- Music for Services at 9 and 11 AM
Thru Jan Roanoke, VA tour of "Drumming in a Digital World." This is made possible because of a grant from Young Audiences VA
Feb 2 Vocal group Singing A to Z concert at St Albans church, 7PM. 3001 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Feb 11-15 Word-Beat will tour Fayetteville N. Carolina made possible through the Fayetteville Arts Council.
Feb 19Word-Beat at UDC Jazz Alive concert 12:30 PM --Events Info/Tel: (202) 274-5803
Feb 21 Word-Beat school concert in Fairfax, VA
Feb 22 Original music performance for a production of "Off the Map" for the American group psychotherapy Association Conference.
Feb 26-29 Word-Beat tour of Richmond and western VA
March 3-7 Residency in VA Beach.
March 17-19 World Wind and Percussion tour Richmond through a grant from Young Audiences VA
Ahead  
March-AprilTom is taking part in a dance and drumming workshop in Tenerife in the Canary Islands late March to early April
June 24-28The Patagonia Percussion Festival in Argentina is having Tom teach and perform a festival concert ...stay tuned for more details

News

New raves for Painting Time

If you've been enjoying the latest CD release, so have the critics. Here are three quotes we're glad to share:

Reviewer Robert Doerschuk wrote

"Fusions between American and Eastern schools are old news, yet seldom has any percussionist drawn so deeply from both wells and come up with a blend as bewitching and original as this."

And DRUMHEAD Magazine states

"Captivating rhythms and sounds from Africa, Brazil, Bali and the Middle East meld seamlessly with sophisticated jazz harmonies...A wonderful tapestry in sound"

Joe Montague's Riveting Riffs review starts out this way:

"The first time that I heard Tom Teasley’s CD Painting Time, I wrote his publicist and raved about the music... "

While you read Joe Montague's review, enjoy some clips from Painting Time here:

Five tutorials teach powerful methods for hand drums -- from basics to flourishes

Tutorial on finger techniquesAmong the most watched video clips to date on this website is a clip from the Global Fusion Percussion video.

So, by popular demand, now you can see these brief tutorials on 5 essential hand-drum techniques:

  1. "doum" - how to produce a deep resonant sound
  2. "tak" - add spark with a sharp high sound
  3. "pad" - a technique to build a dazzling 1-hand roll
  4. "scratches" - add texture to your sound
  5. "Flamenco flourish" - a rippling sound-effect, borrowed from a technique for guitar

If you play or you've always wondered "How does he do that???" now you'll know...


 

Missed the sold-out Arabian Nights?  New Constellation Theatre collaborations bring you Brecht's Good Woman of Szechuan and Greece's The Oresteia

It's a great pleasure to work again with Allison Stockman and the Constellation Theatre Company. Their critically acclaimed 2007 production of Arabian Nights, with Tom's original music, enjoyed sold-out performances.

If you missed it -- you have another chance to experience great theatre and modern percussion music. Tom is creating, performing and recording original music for Constellation's production of The Good Woman of Szechuan by Bertolt Brecht, set for March 27-April 20.

Tom will also create music and perform live with Constellation for the Greek play, The Oresteia which runs May 9 -June 1.

Mark your calendar, stay tuned -- you'll get early notice here when tickets go on sale.

 

Thanks to our Sponsors

Tom proudly performs with instruments from these makers of high quality drums, mallets and percussion including

Video Clips

Enjoy your choice of video recorded Kennedy Center concerts

The Kennedy Center recorded several performances during Tom Teasley's term as Artist-In-Residence there. Listen to the recordings by visiting Tom Teasley's artist page at the Kennedy Center web site, and scroll down to play your choice of performances.