The principal ingredient of the DE JIMBE sound is found
in a blend of traditional Irish music and ethnic drumming cultures of faraway
shores. Availing of all kinds of percussive instrumentation including djembes,
congas, djoun djouns, talking drum, and basically any other vulnerable
object which projects sound, DE JIMBE mix world rhythms with traditional
Irish melodies and traditional Irish instruments.
Brian Fleming formed DE JIMBE in 1995. In the same year DE JIMBE led
the St Patrick’s Day Parade with Macnas in an award winning entry.
An outfit
held with high regard, DE JIMBE have performed explosive sets on such shows
as The Late Late & Kenny Live, and have even brought their innovative
sound & brightness to the grounds of Aras An Uachtarain on several
prestigious occasions.
DE JIMBE have also experimented on collaborative projects with bohemian
tradsters, Kila, Afro-Celt vocalist Iarla O’Lionaird and Riverdance choir,
Anuna.
In 1999 DE JIMBE formed the core band for ‘The ESB Millennium Drum Carnival’
and performed nationwide with the Millennium Drum (the largest drum in
the world), which Brian had created specially for the show (Guinness Book
Of Records, p12). The band & drum travelled to Hanover in 2000 to represent
Ireland in ‘The Week of Drums’ at Expo, and have since performed at ‘The
World Drum Festival’ in Korea, ‘The International Year of the Volunteer’
in Dakar, and more recently at ‘The Queens Parade’ in New York. The band
will return to Dakar in November to collaborate with the Senegalese group
'Freres Guissees'. In the past, DE JIMBE have also travelled to Cuba and
West Africa to teach and perform and have even brought artists from these
countries back to Ireland.
When DE JIMBE was first formed, the idea of fusing rhythm
based music from Africa with melody based music from Ireland
seemed like a curious and exciting experiment, the resulting
fusion and tension between the pulsating, hypnotic rhythms and
the intricate airs is what gives DE JIMBE their original,
immediate and exciting sound. This fusion is celebrated on DE
JIMBE’s debut CD which was released on July 21st, 2001 with
a memorable performance at Dublin’s Vicar Street venue.
At a time when Ireland is coming to terms with many new foreign influences,
the music of DE JIMBE not only celebrates this diversity, but offers listeners
a multi-cultural barrage of enveloping music & haunting vocals, so
whether you're driving a bush taxi into Banjul or a Massey Ferguson to
Belmullet, this recording is a prerequisite summer companion.
For Further Information Contact:
Check out De jimbe’s website at:www.dejimbe.com
