KIDS PLAYING DRUMS WITH THE PROS

Community drum concerts at 3 L.A. City Parks

Los Angeles - Three City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facilities hosted concerts in August featuring acclaimed musicians performing with children ages 8-14 who learned to play the drums through the Drum Days L.A. program.

Drum Days L.A. is a multicultural celebration of the power of rhythm, with the theme "Diversity through Drumming". The Department is partnering with Remo Drums, which is celebrating its 5oth anniversary in 2007.

Kids learned one of five styles of drumming from master percussionists during a series of workshops for low-income youth. The children got to show off their new drumming skills by being a part of a community drum circle at one of the three park concerts.

Hollenbeck Park hosted the first concert on August 11, 2007. The young drummers performed Middle Eastern style drumming with the Poncho Sanchez Jazz Band and Souhail Kaspar and the SK Near East Music Ensemble.

The second community concert was held at Sycamore Grove Park. Kids from Cypress Park performed with the Poncho Sanchez Jazz Band and played a Latin beat. The Taiko Drumming with On Ensemble drummed with a group from Alpine Rec Center.

South Park's newly renovated band shell hosted the last concert. Kids from William Nickerson performed with Leon Mobley and Da Lion and showed off their African style drumming skills. Youth from South Park Rec Center performed Brazilian style drumming with Linda Yudin and Viver Brasil.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jane Kolb: (213)928-9294, or cell, (323)816-6712

Harvey Drut: (213)928-9296, or cell, (323)816-6711