SILKROAD’S GLOBAL MUSICIAN WORKSHOP 2016

June 19th – 25th, 2016 | DePauw University [Greencastle, IN]

“ The mission of Silkroad’s Global Musician Workshop (GMW) is to foster a community of globally minded musicians engaged in learning from one another’s traditions and incorporating them into their own artistic voices. An all-star artist-faculty will teach styles of music from across the world. GMW is directed by Silk Road Ensemble cellist Mike Block.

GMW will be taught by an all-star faculty representing a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, including Seamus Blake (jazz saxophone), Sandeep Das (Indian tabla), Hadi Eldebek (Arabic oud), Gamin (Korean wind instruments), Maeve Gilchrist (Celtic harp/vocals), Bruce Molsky (Old-time Appalachian fiddle), Balla Kouyate (Malian balafon), Edward Perez (Afro-Latin bass), Shane Shanahan (world percussion), Abigail Washburn (Banjo/Vocals mixing American/Chinese styles), and GMW Director Mike Block (multi-style strings). ” (from Silkroad GMW site)

This year’s Guest Artist is banjo virtuoso, Bela Fleck!

Pt. Sandeep Das leads a workshop on Tehais in Indian Classical music @ 2015 GMW. (Brian Grimm w/ guqin zither, pictured on the right.)

This year, I am absolutely thrilled to participate on cello and guqin zither in chamber ensembles led by Gamin (Korean wind instruments), Edward Perez (Afro-Latin bass), & Hadi Eldebek (Arabic oud)! I’ve always loved Korean music from afar, the treatment of space, pitch & rhythm fascinates me. I haven’t heard much of the wind music, so Gamin’s perspective, knowledge & mastery will be a totally new experience. Edward, or Beast-Hands as I liked to call him, brought so much dancing joy to our workshop last year. The Afro-Peruvian layering of rhythm coupled with the concept of when to be ‘inbetween a straight rhythm & a swung rythm’ was ear-boggling. When Edward plays the bass lines solo, the style-shift is instantly felt. You can almost hear what the rest of the band would be playing – ’tis mark of a true groove master! The Arabic music presence at last year’s workshop was the highlight of my year. So soulful & passionate; ranging from pure excitement to calming microtones. Having learned Flamenco from my brother AJ Grimm, I could immediately hear and see it’s Arabic music roots. Arabic rhythm stuctures enthrall me, I can’t wait to learn more from Hadi this year. It’s going to be another blissful week of cross-cultural learning and friendship making! ~ Brian Grimm