After more incredible drum solos than could be counted on one hand, Pheeroan AkLaff showed many Wesleyan students and anyone else lucky enough to come to the Feb. 26 New York Trio concert what drumming is really all about. Along with Yosuke Yamashita and Cecil McBee, AkLaff left the audience impressed and inspired.
The Yosuke Yamashita’s New York Trio concert was the end of a conference that brought Yamashita all the way from Japan to play at Wesleyan. Yamashita was born in Tokyo and is a well known jazz musician in his home country. He has received the Education Minister’s “Encouragement Award” and the Medal with Purple Ribbon Award for his contributions to the arts and education from the Japanese Government. In 1988 he started the New York Trio collaboration with McBee and akLaff. The Trio celebrated their 15th anniversary last year.
Cecil McBee released his first solo CD, “Unspoken,” in 1997. Raised in Oklahoma, McBee studied at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio for two years before entering the Army and conducting the “158th Band.” He has been part of the Paul Winter Sextet and has recorded with other famous musicians.
Pheeroan AkLaff, a popular drum and Afro-American music teacher at Wesleyan, has recorded with many famous musicians since the 1980s. He has toured throughout the world, including India, Syria, Jordan, Sudan and Morocco.
Friday’s performance commenced with Yamashita on piano, McBee on cello and AkLaff on drums, walking directly to their respective instruments and playing. McBee performed a beautiful solo on his cello with AkLaff supplying backup on drums during one portion of the first piece.
Afterwards, Yamashita addressed the audience. He recounted how he was here 6 or 7 years ago.
“I am very happy to be back,” Yamashita said.
The next piece, he explained, was based on Japanese kids playing games with soap bubbles. It was entitled “Soap Bubbles” in English. It was a slow happy piece, which again highlighted McBee on his cello.
The third song used themes from Japanese festival music. The piano played the children’s song melody, while AkLaff played a unique drum style speical to this style of music. There was also a drum solo which included AkLaff playing various drum pieces placed on the floor.
After a brief intermission the concert’s announcer accidentally messed up on Yosuke Yamashita’s name, starting the second half of the show off in a weird fashion.
“’Yosuke Yamas… Yama… whatever.’ Can you believe it?!” said Rob Cohen ’06. “The bumbling fool that was speaking on behalf of a week of Asian American cultural events that culminated in this event actually said that. This was the introduction given to the best pianist I have ever seen in Crowell, and it just goes to show the status of musicians in today’s world.”
After the slight hitch the show continued with more incredible pieces. Yamashita took charge on piano and seemed to throw his entire body into every song. An amazing drum solo was the culmination of the last piece, which left the crowd at Crowell cheering long after the song had recommenced from the solo.
All three performers seemed to be having a great time performing and worked well together.
“There was so much energy during the performance,” said Zach Frosch ’08. “The musicians were just so incredibly talented and passionate.”
A reception was held after the show to allow audience members to talk to the three musicians. All mumblings from the crowd were incredibly positive and everyone walked out with the feeling that they had gotten way more than their money’s worth at this marvelous concert at Crowell.
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