Black Bear Moon Music and Cultural Project

African flute, balafon, djembe and dunun drums, bolon, and more combine in these skillfully crafted renditions of traditional Mandinka rhythms and songs, from Guinea, West Africa.

After 10 years of study, 6 trips to Africa, 2 bouts of malaria, 1 emergency evacuation on a cargo jet, and 7 months in the recording studio, I’m proud (and relieved!) to say that the new Black Bear Moon Rhythm Ensemble CD is finally here!

More info, sound clips, and purchasing information here.

Entitled Wading into the River Djoliba, the full-length CD features 11 of our arrangements of traditional Mandinka rhythms and songs, performed on the tambin (African flute), balafon (wooden xylophone), djembe and dunun drums, bolon, and more.

A copy is waiting for you here!

About the Black Bear Moon Rhythm Ensemble

“Dazzling renditions of traditional Mandinka music, from Guinea, West Africa. Performed on djembe, tambin (African flute), balafon, dunun drums, bolon, and more.”

The Black Bear Moon Rhythm Ensemble’s performances feature the tight rhythm work and earthy traditional West African grooves for which they are becoming known throughout the northeast. The group’s uplifting performances combine a timeless sense of spirit and musical adventure with a deep respect and understanding for the musical form and the tradition from which it comes.

The group currently consists of Dave Kobrenski, Kerri Biller, Audrey Garretson, Doug Santaniello, Keith Doran, Alexis Eynon, and Loa Bersen. Alexis Katchmar performed with the group from 2002 - 2006.

Having studied with masters in Guinea and Ghana, West Africa, the Ensemble skillfully works instruments like the djembe, sangban, dununba, and kenkeni drums, as well as the tambin (an African flute, also known as the Fula flute), the aslatua (a cool little percussion instrument from Ghana), the krin (log drum), and more — weaving together an evening of music that audience members talk about long after the show.

The Black Bear Moon Rhythm Ensemble was founded by artist and musician Dave Kobrenski in 2001 in New Hampton, NH. Kobrenski, an accomplished musician, artist, and educator, studied traditional Mande music styles in Guinea, West Africa, with master musicians such as Famoudou Konaté, Nansady Keita, and other drummers of the region, over a six-year period of yearly sojouns into the Malinké heartland in the Hamanah region of Guinea. Kobrenski also studied the tambin (know also as the fulani flute, a type of African flute) extensively with a master of the Malinké flute tradition, Lanciné Condé.

The Black Bear Moon Rhythm Ensemble released their first album of music in 2008, entitled “Wading into the River Djoliba”, which features Kobrenski’s own arrangements of traditional Mande music.