I left the Democratic Republic of Congo, then called Zaire, Africa just before my eighteenth birthday. I wasn't the oldest, but the first of five children to leave home and our place of birth. The memory is so clear—standing in Entebbe airport, Uganda with my family all around me—a peculiarly vivid, once-in-a-lifetime moment. I hugged everyone good bye. Life as we had known it was now ending…
Winter Solstice 2011
Sun enters Capricorn 9:30 pm, Wednesday, December 21, Pacific time
New Moon 2º Capricorn, 10:06 am, Saturday, Dec. 24
Full Moon, 18º Cancer, 11:31 pm, Saturday, January 8, 2012
TWO THOUSAND TWELVE…
by Lark Bowerman
“Not only is reality stranger than we suppose. It's stranger than we can suppose.”
—Terence McKenna
WHAT IS IT WITH 2012?
It's a funny thing…but somehow there seems to be this general agreement that This Is The Year
We've Been Waiting For.
Astrologically speaking, this June will be the first of seven exact squares between Uranus and
Pluto. But there will be six more of them up through March 2015. We've been feeling the effect for
quite some time now, like maybe beginning in the summer of 2007.
Neptune will be re-entering Pisces, but it's done that before…
So why 2012?
And the opinions about what will happen really run the gamut—all the way from instant world
enlightenment to Armageddon.
So once again the world ends…
We had a blast last night playing at East is East restaurant in Vancouver. Kris' original trombone and recorder solos in scales from the East—Mystic Quest CD—gave this performance a special new twist.
We loved the exotic cuisine and the luxurious Persian rugs and decor. But most of all we really appreciated all of our friends and students who came and gave us such warm and enthusiastic support! Thank you so much!
KUIMBA at EAST IS EAST restaurant
4413 Main St, Vancouver
Sunday, November 13th
8:00 — 10:00pm
Come join us and enjoy the music!
For more info, see UPCOMING PERFORMANCES & EVENTS to your right.
Here's the first of our two videos produced from our recent shoot. Enjoy!
Saturday before last we started taking our living room apart. The sofa got pushed into the dining area, the dining table having already been relocated to the middle of the kitchen. The T.V. took a ride into the bedroom along with...
Hi All!
We're excited today because we're video taping two of our songs with our new members of Kuimba, Jocelyn Demers and Jamie Perry (Bocephus King). On the slate are two of our most loved songs, Mawingu and Salimu! Heshimu!, the title tracks of two of our CD's. We'll post them on our website as soon as they are ready! Stay tuned!
THE DARK GYPSIES
September is the month of the Dark Gypsies
Wild vines along the canal
Growing determinedly without permission
Sprawling unceremoniously into the lawn
Challenge the Establishment
With thorny tangles of chaos
Don’t tell me you haven’t seen them—
This failure of the plow
To Dominate
Going their own way
They freely take air
And sunshine and water—
And land! Growing space!
Audaciously flowering
Without a gardener’s command
They seduce insects into their
Sexual organs
Becoming pregnant
They slowly bring their offspring
To fruition
Glistening gems of life’s wisdom
Their knowing dark eyes
Peer mysteriously from among the leaves
Reminding us of something we’ve forgotten
…something about how wildly exhilarating
Life can be…
And how profusely generous!
Offering themselves freely
These wonton scoundrels
Induce you to surrender
To their charms
And you do!
Risking thorn and sour rejection
You reach for their intoxicating sweetness
True to character
They now ask you
To learn some manners!
“Please respect our boundaries”
Is clearly spoken with
Scratches on your skin
And “Please don’t touch
Before you’re invited”
—Cringing sourness
On the tongue
Slowly they teach you
Timing…
And refine your sense of touch
And slowly you begin to learn
When just the right
Request from your fingers
Is answered
With dark, passionate fragrance
And the taste of wild sweetness
Such madness
Is not for civilized folk
Though we too…
Were we to abandon
Our fences
And our lawns…
Could travel freely
Like these dark Gypsies
—Lark Bowerman ©2011
Hi!
The Jam Fest performance we did was fun! Jocelyn Demers joined us again to make it a trio this time. AND... the weather was perfect with an appreciative audience attending. Looking forward to doing more local gigs soon! Cheers, Kris
As it turns out, Kuimba will be playing at 12:00 - 12:55pm on Saturday the 20th. Please see the previous post for more details. And don't that it's free. We hope to see you there. Kris
Hello!
Kuimba along with hand drummer Jocelyn Demers will again be performing at Earthwise Gardens. This time for their Jam Fest. The date is Saturday, August 20th from 12:30 - 1:30 pm. We hope to see you there.
Cheers, Kris and Lark
Check out this video from July 30th at the Sun Festival
What a great experience we had at the Sun Festival. The setting at Earthwise Garden was perfect! A big thanks to Jamie Perry (guitar) and Jocelyn Demers (Hand Drums) for joining us and kicking up the energy.
Hello Music Lovers!
The Tsawwassen Sun Festival is coming soon! Kuimba, myself and Lark plus a drummer and guitarist, will be performing for the festival on Saturday, July 30th, noon-1pm at Earthwise Gardens, Boundary Bay Rd and Third Ave, Tsawwassen. With our 'classic' African sound on many tunes being performed, and drummer Jocelyn Demers and guitarist Jamie Perry joining us, it is going to be a great set!
Cheers,
Kris & Lark
PS - Kuimba now has the Mystic Quest album on CD, so we'll have it at the Sun Festival. You can also purchase it from CD Baby or from our website
PPS - Also performing at the festival is The Jazzers on Friday, July 29th, 9-11:30pm at Illuminate Restaurant, 1077 56th St., #125, Tsawwassen. Some great jazz from local musicians Pat Gurr, Marty Hatlelid, David Barton and Kris Bowerman
Hello Music Lovers,
Kuimba will performing for the Tsawwassen Sun Festival on July 30th from 12 - 1pm at the Earthwise Gardens at 3rd Avenue and Boundary Bay Road in Tsawwassen. Check it out if you can!
Hello Fans of Kuimba,
We hope all is well with you as summer begins soon, though it seems to be slow coming here in BC.
We are happy to announce our New website design full of new stuff like 'live' performance videos (new and old), new (and vintage) photos, and an easy to use store, as well as general ease of use. If you have time, listen to selections of our newest recording Mystic Quest.
Oh, and before I forget, if you happen to be on Facebook, checkout our Kuimba page and please give it a 'like.'
Have a great summer!
Kris and Lark
Hello Friends!
Our new website is up. The design has been changed for ease of use for our fans. We have new videos, photos etc. Check it out!
Kris
Hello Friends,
We are excited with the release our sixth musical recording, Mystic Quest (Exotic Instrumentals) by Kuimba on CDBaby and itunes, where you can hear and download mp3's. You’re also invited to visit our website www.kuimba.com. You'll get a free download of one of the songs from the album if you sign up for our newsletter. Here's a little blurb about the album:
Alluring sounds of flutes, trombones, drums, harps and other whimsical instruments are used to make compelling melodies from ancient scales. Travel from India to China, to Africa and the Middle East, to North America, to special experiences inside…
ENJOY!! Kris and Lark
Kuimba's first instrumental album is ready for download: Mystic Quest. Listen to some of the tracks on this CD by selecting 'Music/Lyrics' on the menu.
Magical sounds of flutes, trombones, drums, harps and other whimsical instruments are used to make compelling melodies from ancient scales. Travel from India to China, to Africa and the Middle East, to North America, to a special experience inside.
Happy Holidays, Friends of Kuimba
Wow! It's been a while since we've sent out an email. The music is still happening. We've been working away at the finishing touches of our new album Mystic Quest.
It is an instrumental album comprised of new tracks as well as tracks from Kuimba's last three CD's. We've titled it Exotic Instrumentals and it is just that. Rich ancient scales spring to life in melody using various wooden flutes, such as the Xiao, trombone and Hu Lu Si. Different kinds of hand drums, harps and many other instruments make this full-length 74 minute CD both captivating and relaxing.
Actually, the master is in hand and ready to roll. So downloads from...
