Weedie Braimah is widely regarded as the premiere voice of the Djembe. Born in Ghana and raised in East St. Louis with deep roots in New Orleans, he was first introduced to West African culture and drumming and began performing at the age of 2 years old. Braimah continued his lifelong quest and professional career in the study of African folklore and cultural music of the African diaspora. A maverick performer of the highest caliber, Braimah is endowed with an innate ability to draw entire audiences into his groove. Utilizing his amazing speed and dexterity, breathtaking skill, and breadth of knowledge, he ushers listeners through a rhythmic journey of Africa and the Diaspora. As Offbeat Magazine noted, his “skill at adapting to an array of styles” has made him an original and in-demand talent.
Braimah descends from a long lineage of drummers/composers, which includes his mother, Ann Morris, a respected Jazz drummer, his father, Oscar Sulley Braimah, a world-renowned composer and master drummer, and great-uncle, Jazz drumming icon, Idris Muhammad. Braimah honed skills learned through study with greats including Mamady Keita, Famadou Konate, Abdoul Doumbia, and Sylvester Sun Shine Lee among others. He excelled musically and became one of the leading exponents of the West African diasporic drum and dance world in his teenage years. For more than 25 years, Braimah has been a performer, teacher and preserver of African culture who continues to traverse new musical pathways.
Currently, the Grammy nominated Djembefola records and tours with Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Baaba Maal, Trombone Shorty and Bokante, as well as others. Braimah also leads his own band, Weedie Braimah & The Hands of Time, through which he elevates percussion as the front-facing music of the diaspora focusing on instruments such as Kora, Ngoni, Balafon, Djembe, Dunun, Tama, Sabar, Bass, and Electric Guitar to create a compelling Stretch Music sound to claim new musical territory. As the publication AfroPop succinctly stated, “Braimah’s trademark approach to using the djembe drum as the centerpiece of a contemporary ensemble,” which culminates into “enfolding African folkloric music within a modern fusion ensemble in which all the instruments mesh into a tight, thrilling singularity.”
Braimah exemplifies tradition, evolution and soul as he brings his vision of building a reverence for folkloric West African music to life. His mission? To have the evolution of this folkloric music recognized as relevant, respected and as the essential root of Jazz, funk, fusion, global music, and hip hop. And for his style of Stretch Music to take its rightful place as one of the pillars of modern music rooted in the African percussion continuum he has spent his lifetime championing throughout the world.
credits
released September 24, 2021
1) Full Circle:
Weedie Braimah - Djembe, Congas, Sangban, Cabasa, Bells
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set, Vocals, Programming
Luke Quaranta - Dunun Set, Kenkeni, Tambourine
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Shea Pierre - Clavinet, Rhodes Organ
Sam Dickey - Electric Guitar, Djeli Ngoni
Courtney Smith - Moog Bass Synthesizer, Moog Synthesizer
Alvin Ford Jr. - Soundscapes
John Michael Rouchell - Soundscapes
Oscar Sulley - Sample
Babatunde Olatunji - Sample
Kimati Dinizulu - Sample
Featured Artist(s): The Hands of Time
Recorded at The Parlor Recording Studio - Engineered by Reginald Nicholas, Jr.
Additional Recording at Neutral Sound Studio - Engineered by Andrew Block
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
2) Weediefoli:
Weedie Braimah - Djembe, Claps
Hatouma Sylla - Vocals
Mumu Fresh - Vocals
Petit Adama Diarra - Djembe
Bassidi Kone - Djembe
Karim Coulibaly - Dunun, Kenkeni, Bell
Lamine Tounkara - Djeli Dunun, Bell
Nigel Zuniga - Sangban, Bell
Sinaly Papus Diabate - Electric Guitar
Madou Sidiki Diabate - Kora
Cherif Soumano - Kora
Lassana Diabate - Balafon
Cheick Diallo - Flute
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Sam Dickey - Djeli Ngoni, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Luke Quaranta - Kenkeni, Sangban, Calabash, Claps, Bells
Munir Zakee - Programming
Max Moran - Electric Bass
Featured Artist(s): Mumu Fresh, Hatouma Sylla, Bassidi Kone, Petit Adama Diarra
Recorded in Bamako, Mali at Studio Bogolan - Engineered by Yaya Diarra
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
3) Express Trane to Bamako:
Weedie Braimah - Djembe
Sam Dickey - Electric Guitar
Shea Pierre - Piano, Rhodes Organ, Organ
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set, Djembe, Vocals
Luke Quaranta - Dunun Set, Karignan, Triangle
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Cheikh Ndoye - Electric Bass, Piccolo Bass
Courtney Smith - Moog Synthesizer, Moog Bass Synthesizer
Featured Artist(s): The Hands of Time
Recorded at The Parlor Recording Studio - Engineered by Reginald Nicholas, Jr.
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
4) Sackodougou:
Weedie Braimah - Djembe
Cheikh Ndoye - Electric Bass
Sam Dickey - Djeli Ngoni, Ngoni Ba, Electric Guitar
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Luke Quaranta - Dunun Set
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set, Djembe, Kryn
Dave Eggar - Cellos
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Trumpet
Cory Henry - Keys
Featured Artist(s): Cory Henry, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, The Hands of Time
Recorded at The Parlor Recording Studio - Engineered by Reginald Nicholas, Jr.
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
5) Back to Forward (An Ode to Bontuku):
Weedie Braimah - Djembe
Cheikh Ndoye - Electric Bass
Shea Pierre - Moog Synthesizer, Rhodes Organ
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Sam Dickey - Electric Guitar
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set, Programming
Luke Quaranta - Dunun Set
Wayne Matthews Jr. - Synthesizers
Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews - Trombone, Trumpet
Featured Artist(s): Troy ‘Trombone Shorty’ Andrews, The Hands of Time
Recorded at The Parlor Recording Studio - Engineered by Reginald Nicholas, Jr.
Additional Recording at Neutral Sound Studio - Engineered by Andrew Block
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
Additional Recording at Buckjump Studios - Engineered by Charles Smith
Recorded & Engineered by Jackie Sharp
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
7) Hippos in Space:
Weedie Braimah - Dunun, Djembe, Vocals
Courtney Smith - Keys, Synthesizers
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set, Djembe, Accessory Percussion, Claps
Joe Cleveland - Bass
Alvin Ford Jr. - Soundscapes
John Michael Rouchell - Soundscapes
Aankha Neal - Vocals
Terrace Martin - Saxophone
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Trumpet
Featured Artist(s): Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
Recorded at Stagg Street Studio - Engineered by Tony Shepherd
8) When Clouds Kissed 2/5/15
Weedie Braimah - Djembe
Shea Pierre - Backwards Piano
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Sam Dickey - Acoustic Guitar
Munir Zakee - Vocals
Rhabi - Vocals
Featured Artist(s): The Hands of Time, Rhabi
Recorded at Neutral Sound Studio - Engineered by Andrew Block
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
9) Send for Me:
Weedie Braimah - Djembe
Courtney Smith - Moog Bass Synthesizers
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Sam Dickey - Electric Guitar, Djeli Ngoni
Shea Pierre - Moog Synthesizer, Rhodes Organ, Piano
Cheikh Ndoye - Ngoni Bass
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set, Programming
Luke Quaranta - Dunun Set, Sangban, Triangle
Wayne Matthews Jr. - Synthesizers
Frank Moka - AfroAmericana Percussion
Tarriona Tank Ball - Vocals
Pedrito Martinez - Congas, Bata, Vocals
Featured Artist(s): Tarriona Tank Ball, Pedrito Martinez, The Hands of Time
Recorded at The Parlor Recording Studio - Engineered by Reginald Nicholas, Jr.
Additional Recording at Neutral Sound Studio - Engineered by Andrew Block
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
10) Ships Come In (A Lullaby):
Weedie Braimah - Dunun, Sangban, Kenkeni, Bells, Djembe
Munir Zakee - Sangban Set
Raja Kassis - Electric Guitar
Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah - Trumpet, Synthesizers
Elena Pinderhughes - Flute
Magatte Sow - Sabar Drums
E’Lon JD - Electric Bass
Featured Artist(s): Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Elena Pinderhughes, Magatte Sow
Recorded at The Champagne Room West - Engineered by Dave Weingarten
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
11) Rompe El Cuero:
Weedie Braimah - Djembe
Adonis & Osain del Monte - Vocals, Congas, Clave, Cajon, Snare, Kata
Alain Perez - Electric Bass
Victor Campbell - Piano
Munir Zakee - Dunun, Sangban, Bells
Sam Dickey - Djeli Ngoni
Luke Quaranta - Kenkeni
Featured Artist(s): Osain del Monte, Alain Perez
Recorded at Egrem Studios in Havana, Cuba
Additional Recording at Neutral Sound Studio - Engineered by Andrew Block
Additional Recording at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
12) Sworn to the Drum:
Weedie Braimah - Vocals, Djembe, Dunun, Sangban, Bells
Shea Pierre - Piano, Organ
Max Moran - Bass
Dave Eggar - Cellos
Katie Kresek - Violin, Viola
Luke Quaranta - Djembe, Kenkeni, Bell
Dwayne Muhammed - Bass Djembe
Wey Simba - Djembe
Josh Kagler - Vocals
Rome Washington - Vocals
Ashley Alexis - Vocals
Airrielle Waivers - Vocals
Recorded at Artisound Production - Engineered by Keenan McRae
