Anyone watching the World Music Percussion Ensemble prepare for its concert this Saturday sensed the contagious energy of the group.
The ensemble, led by music department professor Hafiz Shabazz, stands apart from the department's other student performance groups.
"We're the only ones who play non-Western music," explains drummer Sabirah Kasule '09. "We play authentic African drums and have a lot of guest artists come in as well."
In this Saturday's concert, professional vocalist and pianist Carol Daggs, also known as "Jazzage," and her brother, bassist James Daggs, will join the group on stage.
Performing four original selections from Jazzage's Brown Girl Blue collection, the Daggs siblings and the ensemble will integrate various influences from groove to jazz.
Despite the Daggs' obscure repertoire, Leah Scrivener '11 is sure that Dartmouth will enjoy the array of styles.
"Modern R&B evolved from West-African traditional music," she says, "which is why Hafiz decided to juxtapose the two. They actually mesh really well together."
To showcase this juxtaposition, the ensemble has invited vocalist Stephanie Morales '09 to perform two contemporary songs, one of which is Mary J. Blige's hit single "Family Affair" (2001).
Morales, a member of the Dartmouth all-female acappella group the Rockapellas, encourages students to attend the show.
"Seeing what [the ensemble] can do with just drums is absolutely amazing," she said.
Morales enjoys working with the ensemble because of its similarities to acappella. Like the Rockapellas, the percussionists rely on beats to carry their music.
The World Music Percussion Ensemble proves that great music does not always require a melody, and members like Kasule hope that concert-goers will leave the show feeling "pumped" after witnessing the versatility of percussion music.
I want them to leave with as much energy as we came in with," she said.
Ron Smith, a music teacher and director of the jazz band at Northfield Mount Herman Academy in Massachussetts, will also be joining the ensemble on bass. An accomplished musician in his own right, Smiith has performed with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Bala Bala and Dizzy Gillespie.
Carol Baggs has worked as a music educator, as well. Teaching throuhgout New York State during the last decade, she now serves as director of choral and instrumental ensembles at the Wilbraham and Monson Academy in Massachusetts.
Previously, the ensemble's performances have featured artists ranging from the Burlington Taiko Group to renowned saxophonist Odean Pope.
The student percussionists bring varying amounts of musical training to the ensemble, but Max Lifson '11 points out that, even though levels of musical knowledge vary among the members, the diversity has not hindered the overall performance of the group in the slightest.
"The diversity has actually been a great thing for us, and being in the ensemble is a great way to gain experience," he said.
In fact, the main force that motivates the ensemble's power-packed sounds has nothing to do with musical knowledge.
"We play with a lot of energy," says Kasule. "I think people want to watch that."
The World Music Percussion Ensemble will perform this Saturday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. in Spaulding Auditorium at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
