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FAMOUDOU DON MOYE |
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Famoudou Don Moye is one
of the most sought-after percussionists of our time. He is recognized
throughout the world for his artistic standards and his brilliant musical
abilities. With more than three decades of critical acclaim for his musical
achievements and exceptional technique, Moye also is equally respected as a
inspiring teacher, ensemble player, and exponent of African music.
As founding member and leader of
the Sun Percussion Summit, a group dedicated to the development and
traditions of African percussion music, Moye has recorded and performed
internationally. His concerts have won praise for "clarity, stylistic
breadth, rhythmic complexity and musical erudition. By evoking the sound of
Ancient Africa, nascent New Orleans jazz, vintage be-bop, post-60's
avant-garde and other musical languages, Moye's Sun Percussion Summit shed
light on the entire history of jazz, as well as music that pre-dated it...To
hear so many crisply articulated ideas fired off and developed at once, to
hear a single performer breaking out of the ensemble for an expansive solo
was to witness anew the West African origins of the jazz tradition."
Born in New York, Moye comes for
a family of musicians. During high school, he began playing the drums as
well as the congas and bongos. In 1968, Moye left the United States and went
to Europe with the Detroit Free Jazz Band. Playing all over Europe, he
eventually settled in Rome and worked at RAI (Italian Radio and Television).
During a visit to Tangiers in 1969, Moye met one of his major influences,
Randy Weston, and worked extensively with Moroccan musicians. Moving to
Paris later, Moye met and studied with yet another major influence, Art
Taylor. By 1972, Moye had moved to Chicago and was permanent drummer with
The Art Ensemble of Chicago (AEC),
since December 1969.
Moye has collaborated with
musical giants including greats such as Don Pullen, Von Freeman, Randy
Weston, Steve Lacy, Marcello Melis, Oliver Lake, Billy Cobham, Roy Haynes,
Sun Ra, Fontella Bass, Jay haggard, Dave Burrell, Arthur Blythe, Chico
Freeman, Hamiet Bluiett, Cecil McBee, Gene Ammons, David Murray, Pharaoh
Sanders, Juma Santos, Mor Thiam, Johnny Board, Muhal Richard Abrams, and
Henry Threadgill. In his ongoing position as co-founder and artistic director of the Art Ensemble of Chicago Education Foundation, Moye remains committed to the development of young musicians. "Through the discipline of music, I hope to develop myself to the highest level as a human being, to bring to the public a greater awareness of the value and role of Great Black Music as a universal art form and a vehicle of peace, and to create a legacy for future generations of musicians." His workshops at conservatories and colleges have attracted students from the University of Michigan, Malcolm X College, Yale University, the Australian Jazz Federation, Wolliaston Dance Studio (Paris), Antioch College, Northeastern University, The Norwegian Jazz Federation, Notre Dame University, Governors State University, Howard University, Vanderbilt University, the Jamaican School of Music, Williams College, the New Mexico Jazz Federation, the Pomigliano Jazz Federation, and the Association Jazz Punta Giara. This fall 2005 Moye travels to Germany, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and France for a series of concerts and workshops.
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