Kalani
Performance
Kalani has performed and/or recorded with such music legends as Kenny Loggins, David Sanborn, Max Roach, Barry Manilow, Vic Damone, John Mayall, Chante Moore, Dr. John, Michael Kamen, Melissa Manchester and is the featured percussionist on the Yanni Live at the Acropolis video and CD. He is featured on recordings for Disney, Warner Brothers, Tri-Star Pictures, Paramount Studios, The Nature Company and Jim Hensen Records.
Presentations
Kalani has presented at several MENC state and regional conferences including Georgia, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, California, Virginia and Rhode Island. He has been a featured clinician and speaker at the Taipei Percussion Institute, The International Percussion Festival (Belgium), The World Rhythm Festival (Seattle), several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the International Music Products Industry (NAMM) conference, the American Orff Schulwerk convention, and the American Music Therapy Association National conference.
Media
Kalani has authored several books for Alfred publishing including All About Congas, All About Djembe, All About Bongos, Together In Rhythm, and The Amazing Jamnasium. He has produced over 15 instructional videos for a variety of instruments including congas, bongos, djembe, hand percussion and drum set, available through MVP Home Video. He is the founder and director of Drumlesson.com, an educational drumming web site that has been featured in the New York Times and CNN Live. He is a contributing writer for Percussive Notes Magazine, Modern Drummer and DRUM! Magazine.
Education and Awards
Kalani received his Bachelor of Music degree from California State University Northridge and is a certified (level III) Orff Schulwerk specialist. He has received numerous awards from DRUM! Magazine for his work as a performing artist, percussion clinician and drum circle facilitator.
Current
Kalani is a keynote presenter, speaker, clinician, performer, author, and educator. He is a consultant for the Kaman Music Corporation, Peripole-Bergerault Educational Instruments, The House of Blues foundation, and other state and national arts advocacy organizations. His company, Kalani Music, is an approved continuing education provider for music educators, music therapists and health care professionals and offers levels training in Drum Circle Music» facilitation. He continues to develop instruments and accessories in association with several of the music industries top companies. Kalani teaches children and adults in the Los Angeles area and abroad.
Endorsements
Kalani is sponsored by Toca Percussion, Gibraltar Harware, Vic Firth Sticks, Evans Drum Heads, Paiste Cymbals and Audio Technica Microphones.
Ryan M. Camara
Education and Training
Ryan earned an Associates degree in music from Orange Coast College and received his formal training in ethnomusicology as a student at UCLA. Ryan studied intensively in Guinea, West Africa since 1996 with Mamady Keita, Ousmane Sylla, Lansana Camara, Boka Camara and Ballet Matam. Ryan under went a traditional West African apprenticeship to Master Drummer M. Lamine Dibo Camara and was formally adopted into the Camara family of the Susu ethnic group.
Performance
Ryan has performed with many of West Africa's most famous artists including Prince Diabate, Mouminatou Camara, Yamoussa Soumah, Boka Junior, Ballet Matam and members of Les Ballets Africains and The National Ballet Djoliba. As a member of M. Lamine Dibo Camara's, Company For¸-Fotˇ, Ryan has helped spread the high-energy music of the West Africa throughout the world. Ryan also directs his own music and dance ensemble, Wakili and Denbaya.
Presentations
Ryan has presented at several MENC state and regional conferences including Maryland, California and Texas. He has been a featured clinician at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and several PAS Days of Percussion. Additionally, Ryan has been a featured lecturer and/or Artist in Residence at major universities including Univeristy of California Santa Barbara and the University of Colorado. Ryan has conducted workhops for numerous elementary, middle and high schools around the country in tours and workshops sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Montana Arts Council, Arts Council of Southern Oregon, and the House of Blues foundation.
Media
Ryan has numerous recordings to his credit including, Fore-Fote's acclaimed,"Wonbere" and the "Denbaya Instructional CD Series." Ryan is co-author of "West African Drum and Dance: A Yankadi-Macrou Celebration" from Alfred Publishing and founder and director of djembelesson.org - an online training center for traditional West African music.
Current
Ryan is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music at Southern Oregon University where he directs the SOU West African Cultural Ensemble. He is also an Artist in Residence for the Arts Council of Southern Oregon, the Artistic Director of the non-profit cultural performance organization, Denbaya, Inc. and a featured instructor and Kalani's World Rhythms! Drum Camp.
Endorsements
Ryan is sponsored by Peripole-Bergerault professional and educational Percussion instruments and Alfred Publishing.
