MICHAEL BAIRD’S AFRICAN ABSTRACTIONS & SPECIAL GUEST KONKIE HALMEYER
Michael Baird-drums, kalimba, Kofi Ayivor-percussion, Ousmane Seye-percussion, gongoma, Zoumana Diarra-electric guitar, kora, Jeroen van Vliet-Fender Rhodes, piano, synthesizer, Konkie Halmeyer-steelpans
The first time drummer/composer Michael Baird heard live music was in his country of birth Zambia. The vitality, power and inspiration that spoke from that, became the foundation for his musical development. Since then, he undertook an impressive expedition in search of his ‘own’ music in which he is not bothered by any boundaries between various African traditions or musical styles for that matter. In African Abstractions he brought together musicians that also enjoy crossing musical borderlines: Ousmane Seye from Senegal, who can be found in various jazz formations, Kofi Ayivor, master drummer from the Ghanese Ewe tradition, string specialist Zoumana Diarra from Mali and jazz pianist Jeroen van Vliet, now on Fender Rhodes, piano and synthesizer. Modern music on a Pan-African basis.