gratitude for all the musicians and my family and friends who have supported me on this musical journey. What an honor. This is great inspiration to keep composing.

Playing it Close to Home

With winning songs from the Eric Stokes Song Contest plus music by local composer Yohannes Tona, Zeitgeist's annual Playing it Close to Home concert celebrates the wealth of musical creativity found right here in our own backyard. The program includes music by Eric Stokes Song Contest winners Debbie Cushman, Ryan David Stevens, and Dominic Cudd, plus new works by Ethiopian bassist and composer Yohannes Tona, including pieces inspired by Ethiopian folk music and works from his albums 1317 and Sand From The Desert.

]]>Tue, 11 Dec 2018 15:14:48 GMThttp://www.studiozstpaul.com/blog/interview-with-babatunde-lea-steve-hirshRhythm's Mama and Le Voyage, two bands that seek toraise the spirits and defy conventional notions of genres, will come together for performances this Sunday, Dec. 16 at Studio Z.

Rhythm's Mama is deeply embedded in the African roots of Cuba and beyond, playing Babatunde Lea's original compositions and jazz standards in the rhythms of the African diaspora. Le Voyage's music is composed in the moment, always aiming for the spirit that lies beneath the music.

I grew up in the New York City area and was exposed at early age to Afro-Cuban music and dance bands. I had nine aunts and they'd take me dancing. I knew how to mambo before I could walk. I started playing marching drums at age 11, congas at 13-14. A cousin who was 4-5 years older than me took me to NYC