Is Your Heart In It?

So many times we come across folks who want to belong or fit in. See here in the West, we have a lack of Mentors, Leaders and so on. When there is a shortage of said people, the rest of us look to someone to mentor us. It's becoming quite the epidemic.


As a result, we begin to look at other cultures to see what we can "borrow" from our brothers and sisters around the world to make us feel whole. This begins the action of Cultural Appropriation.


Here's where I'm going;


One of the many ways we play the CA game is by learning the music and dance of a culture we like because that culture has color, rhythm, beat, dance and connection. These are the things we lack and desire and in order for us to feel as though we belong AND to look like we're doing something different and cool to others, we "learn" these incredibly beautiful cultures.

Cultural appropriation is a superficial interest in another culture just for the purposes of fulfilling egoic desires. Whereas, a true love of another culture involves respect, embrace, and diving deep into a learning driven by a higher passion.

So many people are showing interests in African drumming. Now hang on before you say anything! I LOVE and truly RESPECT African style drumming. As a matter of fact, African and Haitian drumming is what introduced me to the world of drumming that I do today and have done over the last 15 years. I was a rock drummer for many years (30 to be exact) before learning the indigenous styles. But check this out, here's what I learned playing the minimal amount of rhythms that I've learned. These rhythms have actually taught me to find my true self. What I call, my PowerRhythm.

My goal here is to aim people in that same direction. I couldn't fathom the idea of taking folks away from the African drum practice by any means, especially if they're in it for the right reasons. For growth, expansion, community, love, Spirit, family, the list goes on. For to me, THAT is what African drumming is about. It's not a latest trend, or the next cool thing to learn just because it makes you look cool to your friends. Do it for the right reasons. Or, like me, play the beats you learn from these indigenous traditions with a full heart and the purest of intentions and actually watch something inside of you manifest! 

So is your heart in in for the right reason? I get it, drumming is fun. Trust me after 36 years of playing, I know just how exciting and empowering it can be. The African rhythms that are being spread everywhere are to be respected, honored and revered as a very high means of Spiritual connection. Not the latest thing.

So I ask you to challenge yourself. Is your heart in the right place when it comes to the drums?

I say learn whatever style you can, from any culture. But then use that style to achieve the actual purpose of the rhythms you're learning. Those rhythms you're learning are for the greater good of humanity. Show respect to ALL drumming styles and watch the bliss unfold in front of you!

My next blog will be about Spirit Drumming, which is a conglomeration of various world rhythms fused in with our own "Soul Inspired" beats. Love the rhythms you love to play.

Drum on!!!!

Hi gang! This is the first BlogSpot post for the Rhythm Café. I'm excited to be here. All things drumming for health and wellness, community, spiritual connection, team building events.


I'd like to introduce myself and what I do;








    I have been a drummer since the age of  10. Exploring all styles up through my adolescent years, joining many Rock and Club bands in my hometown of Dallas, TX. As with most musicians I found great joy in playing. A satisfaction in making people smile and feeling good.

After playing and experiencing several styles from around the world I knew there was something greater behind the drum. In 2004, I traveled to Haiti to study the indigenous drumming used for community and connection with Spirit. This hit me like a ton of bricks! My journey to the "truth" behind the drum had been opened. Rhythm and vibration as a means of communicating with the invisible forces of energy and nature. So my journeys of learning took me back to Haiti several times, Mexico, the Caribbean and other exciting places.

My blessed position in the world of Drumming has expanded over the years, along with creating magical music and rhythms either Solo or with a group, I now use the drums and rhythms to energize and heal. These techniques are a mixture of ancient teachings I've learned from various elders along with "Soul Inspired" rhythms and knowledge. The term soul inspired refers to improvisational rhythms that come to us based on the energy, environment or what we feel moved to express. 

My vision is to unlock the power and knowledge that resides in us all to help increase our awareness, raise our spiritual, mental and physical health and transform one's energy to a field of positive vibration. Unlocking our true self manifests abundance in our daily lives, and one of the powerful ways this can be done is by becoming one with rhythm and asking the vibrations to open the pathways for us while we lay down the rhythmic foundation. My playing has been occasionally called "Ecstatic", "Revolutionary" and "Empowering". I bring my love and passion of spirit and drumming with force to every event. My goal is to share my love, passion and knowledge with groups and individuals from all walks of life.

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The above is an exert from my website. I'll be posting much more in the days ahead. Looking forward to connecting with everyone. Please feel free to reach out! Drum on y'all!!