family – Page 41 – While Busy Making Other Plans …

Just returning from a New York/Cape Cod trip, brother Dennis sends along this pic of his three generations.
Back row, reading right to left: Dennis, his daughter Gabrielle, her sons Elijah and Toby.
Front row, reading right to left: Gabrielle’s daughters Joey, Kat, Tess and Hannah. Dog’s name unknown.

On the same day, Gabrielle sends me this photo of her six kids, telling us that this is the first time ever (and perhaps the last time) that all six have ever been assembled for a single shoot.

State of the Bluff

Kim wants to enhance the bluff. In particular, the recent freeze played havoc with some of the plantings. So at last night’s dusk we sneaked out to take a couple of “before” photos. Stay tuned for developments.

Dancing and Drumming, Epilogue

Hadn’t seen Ivi all day until she popped in this evening for a few minutes on her way to stay at a friend’s house. She was bustling with energy and enthusiasm, but reported that she was feeling some strained reaction in her muscles. She had started the day by running a few miles, then did yoga later in the morning. I think she did some zumba, too. For three hours in the afternoon, she danced under the instruction of Sarah Lee Parker, with the African drummers laying down the beat She tells us she loves this kind of exhilarating dancing! Now we know exactly why Ivi is trying for a semester or two in Africa.

Dancing and Drumming

Tonight, Ivi and Lawrence attend a performance of the EOU African Drumming Ensemble on stage with guest musicians One World Drum and Dance, featuring Guinea, West Africa fourth generation master flutist (with drumming and singing skills as well) Mamady Mansare and One World’s dancer Sarah Lee Parker and kora player Tyler (missed the last name). And, of course, the EOU Ensemble includes the drumming prowess of Olivia, Ivi’s close friend from high school band days.

Three One World performers on right; two EOU drummers at left

Ivi and Olivia Escort Olivia’s Drum Out of the Building

Ivi and Olivia Confer on Matters of Great Import

Mamady Sings As Tyler’s Kora Accompanies

This performance was a freebie in a small recital room, but was definitely worthy of an admission price. Lots of call & response audience involvement happened, too. I am a big fan of the kora (think Toumani Diatabe playing with Ali Farka Toure, or Bill Frisell’s The Intercontinentals), so we were especially taken by Mamady’s vocals backed by Tyler’s kora instrumentation. And Sarah Lee Parker’s dancing was truly something to witness. By the way, Mamady Mansare IV and his father, Mamady Mansare III, are all over YouTube in videos mostly featuring their flute work in African venues. Mamady also is a member of Les Ballets Africains.

At one juncture, the One World threesome stood on the stage, as Mamady spoke at length to the audience, while Sarah Lee translated from his French. Ivi reports that she especially enjoyed this interlude, as she could readily understand him sans translation.

Guess we will have to give you a taste of it all, if you can pardon the unfortunate OOF and other quality-deficient aspects of the unplanned video snippets from a pocket camera.