Hearn Gadbois
Prague
I am a percussionist specialized in various hand drums of the Middle East- goblet drums: tombak, darbuka, dumbek; and frrame drums: bendir, tar, daf. I am also a designer/builder/player of assorted foot percussion, Goblet drums, and wooden udus (the Heart of Jesus).
I grew up in the midwest and started gigging in funk bands at age 15 and eventually moved to New York where I became quickly absorbed in an amazing and cross-pollinating world that encompassed punk, funk, jazz, rock, psychedelia, and what was then known as "ethnic" music. I co-founded the bands Saqqara Dogs and Annabouboula and worked with a slew of luminaries that included Patti Smith, Meredith Monk, Suzanne Vega, and Sussan Deihim and backed a number of Persian pop stars. I have also collaborated with many new music composers- Carter Burwell, Robert Een, Frank London, to name but a few.
I left New York after the 911 attacks and now live in Prague, Czech Republic, where I have recorded three Cds ('Joinery', 'One Thousand and One Fingers' and 'The Clearing) and worked with assorted Czech musicians in addition to composing for and performing music with my students as well as dance theatre with my wife, choreographer Rena Milgrom. I teach hand-drumming as well.
At various times I have conducted my own (personal and occasionally chaotic) style of ethnomusicological field work in places such as Northern Brasil, Uzbekistan, Iran, Morocco, Rajasthan, and Turkey.
My musical philosophy could be most simply put as: If it feels right, do it and listen to the results, then if it sounds right, develop and perfect it, 'cause it's about as close as you'll get to knowing your true voice, no matter how odd the results.
The long-awaited album "The Clearing" is available for a decently-priced download: http://hearngadbois1.bandcamp.com/
Hearn Gadbois’s tracks
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
published on
