Aram Demirjian, conductor

Indigenous Vibes African Drum Ensemble

REPERTOIRE:

JAMES P. JOHNSON, Drums: A Symphonic Poem

JAMES DeMARS, SABAR: Concerto for African Drums & Orchestra

DUKE ELLINGTON, Black, Brown & Beige

MAURICE RAVEL, Bolero

For our season finale, two of Knoxville’s most distinctive musical ensembles come together as Indigenous Vibes makes their KSO debut performing James DeMars’ exhilarating SABAR Concerto for African Drums, on a rhythm-infused program also featuring the most widely-known orchestral drum part in Ravel’s Bolero.

Why You Will Love This Program:

• Symphonic Drums: No strangers to Knoxvillians, drum ensemble Indigenous Vibes and their director Obayana Ajanaku are among the most electric performers in East Tennessee.
• Duke Ellington: Originally composed for his first concert at Carnegie Hall, Duke Ellington called his classic Black, Brown, and Beige a parallel to the history of Black people in America.
  
• James Price Johnson was the pioneer of stride piano and a strong influence on Duke Ellington. His Drums was originally written for the 1932 show Harlem Hotcha, and later reorchestrated as “Those Jungle Drums” with lyrics by Langston Hughes.

Musical Tasting Menu:

• Both Drums and Bolero begin with iconic drum solos that are on opposite ends of the dynamic spectrum.
  • • Listen to Drums
  • Listen to Bolero: