The partnership started in the early eighties, while Ray and Butch were studying music at Cal/Arts, with a common love for groove, percussion, and sound. Their self-titled album, "Damaru," is their first offering exploring a world of ethnic, eclectic, and experimental music. One of the most popular North Indian musical traditions is called "Solkatu" (vocal rhythmic syllables). In PIRU BOLE, written by world renowned percussionist John Bergamo, the boys do their rendition of Solkatu with a basis in ethnic purity but a slant towards the more modern.
Eclectically mixing art forms, Damaru brings the popular world of Djembe drumming together with Tap. Tap dancer supreme, Fred Strickler, joins Ray and Butch in a wild trio romp, on DJEMBE TAP, that will have your toes tapping and your fingers snapping.
Ray and Butch take us out to the driving range on THE EAGLE HAS LANDED for an experimental sound journey that finds rhythm alive and well in daily life. The tubular piece "Dambu" departs on a traditional rhythm journey reminiscent of many Island cultures, but blends into an exciting texture thats begins to sound melodic. Continuining on a melodic theme, Butch and Ray give us their own rendition of some traditional pieces played on steel drums. These instruments are the only acoustic instruments to be invented in the 20th century and "Stolen Steel" gives us a fresh new taste using this beautiful sound.
All along the way the sounds of Damaru will delight and excite.
VISIT:
www.myspace.com/raymcnamara
www.myspace.com/butchnorton
www.myspace.com/radarproof.com
www.myspace.com/dreamingferns
www.vater.com
www.paiste.com
www.remo.com
www.blackswamp.com
www.porkpiedrums.com
www.dwdrums.com
