THE MUSIC: Flavors of Africa and the Americas coalesce in exotic rhythms and Swahili as well as English vocals in this World Fusion music by Kuimba for a mellow, upbeat mood. The clear, earthy quality of Lark’s lead voice is joined by Kris’ exuberant tenor producing an unusual and eminently lovely blend. Added to this are African harps and flutes, trombone, acoustic guitar, bass, spicy percussion, and throbbing African drums. Kuimba conveys the significance of cultural diversity and biodiversity through a colorful and informative style of presentation. This very unique music with its bold sensual rhythms, Swahili rap, trombone solos and warm, spirited vocals invokes the jubilant aura of village festivities. In African fashion, the audience is set at ease to clap, dance or sing along.
Kuimba has performed to enthusiastic response at intimate Home concerts, Universities, Community concerts and festivals, programs for Seniors and Youth , as well as for Environmental organizations, Campfire groups, Teachers conferences, Community colleges, Wedding celebrations and Art, Wine and Music festivals. They have also played on radio (KQED & KPFA) and television (KPIX & KTVU) in the S. F. Bay Area and other locations including Xi'an, China. They have recorded four CD’s; three full-length CD's, Mawingu — I Remember Africa (1990/94), Salimu! Heshimu! (2001), Mystic Quest (2011), and one EP-length disc, Mount Diablo (2009). They are now recording another CD, titled Blue Kuimba, that will have a bluesy style theme, the song When The Summertime Comes will be included on the recording.
Their Africa - Rhythm & Singing school assembly program was brought to over 220 schools and reached over 110,00 students up and down the West Coast of America from Chula Vista, California to Point Roberts, Washington (from border to border) from 1992 through 2002.
In November, 2002 Lark and Kris packed up for an adventure, left California, and moved to the Czech Republic, staying five months. Then in 2003 they moved to China for a twenty-six month stint. During this time they played for themselves and friends primarily. Though, they did perform in Xi'an many times, including The Manhattan Bar and The Music Man Club. 2005 found them moving to BC, Canada where they continue to perform and record.
THE BAND: Kris and Lark met in 1982 through their mutual interest in music and philosophy. Inspired by the great natural blend of their voices, they immediately began to collaborate as a vocal duo and songwriting team. It took a number of years of experimentation to combine the composing styles of a formally trained trombonist and an ear trained, self-taught vocalist but ultimately each of the two different approaches enhanced the other, producing some very unique music.
Their first major performance as a duo came as a concert in ’88 in the Oregon Shakespearean Festival’s Summer Pleasures Series (Ashland), and KUIMBA was born. The group was joined in ’94 by Bay Area drummer, John Waller and in the summer of ’00 by a long time associate of John’s, bassist and guitarist, Don Keller. John and Don played with Kuimba until Kris and Lark's departure to Europe in '02. In the summer of 2011 Kuimba welcomed hand drummer Jocelyn Demers and guitarist Jamie Perry (of Bocephus King) into the band.
LARK BOWERMAN, Born of caucasian Canadian and American parents in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaïre), Lark Bowerman belongs to a group of people known by anthropologists as Global Nomads. Far from being mere ex-patriots, people like her are a dynamic multilingual, multicultural force with the potential for healing wounds created by political, racial and religious misunderstanding. Her musical education has roots in the music she heard and sang in the Ituri Forest village where she grew up.
Lark’s original music and personal stories tell how she came to terms with many unusual and, often challenging, life experiences. Lark began to sing as a small child and to write poetry and play musical instruments at age twelve. She composed her first song when she was twelve years old. Her lyrics in both Swahili and English provide a large portion of the basic formats for Kuimba’s collaborations. She accompanies her vocals with African harps, guitar, and percussion.
KRIS BOWERMAN, a native Californian, began study of the trombone at age ten. His passion for improvisation was first ignited when he played in the Stan Kenton clinics in high school. During this time he made his first public appearances, including performances at the Monterey Jazz Festival, in Musicals, with The Jazz Quintet and The San Francisco Bay Bones, and in 1978, he received a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance from San Francisco State University. Kris continued to play in a large variety of groups and events including Musicals, Big Bands, Small Group Jazz and Renaissance music. He has performed with, among others, the Antiquarian Funks (Santa Cruz,CA), in the Oregon Shakespearean Festival (Ashland, OR), Sweet Papa Lowdown (Vancouver, BC) and The Jazzers (Delta, BC).
With Kuimba, Kris’ ability to pick extraordinary melodies “out of the air” as an improviser on either trombone, recorder or bamboo flute adds just the right feel to many of the songs. He also plays West African Djembe and Talking drums. Kris harmonizes his distinctive tenor voice with Lark’s lead vocals, sometimes composing and singing the lead vocal as well.
