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Robin Adnan Anders JAMOLOGY

Percussionist, Composer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Educator, Performer, Sound Engineer and Producer. Owner and Director of DARBUKI KINGS RECORDS and DARBUKI ISLAND NORTH STUDIOS Off the Grid music production on a private lake in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota

robinanders.net
darbuki@gmail.com
8989 Pulkinen Rd., 55732
218-590-1713

Robin’s JAMOLOGY is an outline of his associations and encounters with musicians, music industry people and his activities of note in a career spanning over 50 years of world travels. Robin’s intention is to mention and honor the amazing musicians he’s come in contact with and their accomplishments as well.

The JAMOLOGY features the Artists Robin has had the honor of Performing and or Jamming with listed by Genre. In parenthesis are the musicians and bands these Artists have performed with.

WORLD MUSIC

Devon Evans (Bob Marley) Tim O’Keefe (Simone Shaheen) - Huun Huur Tu (Tuvan Shamans) - Adnan Sarhan (Sufi Master of 9 Orders) - Marcus Wise (Zakir Hussain, Robert Bly) - Annushka (Egypt) - Blagoj Lamnjov (Macedonia) - Stephen Kent (Baraka Moon) Mary Ellen Donald - Frank London - Ben “Hijaz” Mandelson (WOMEX)

Maha (Robin toured and made videos with “AL Camarani” Danse Oriental Troupe (Tokyo, 1999 – 2003) and performed all over Japan including the Japanese Rainbow Gathering. The troupe also performed at the La Bahia Carnival, San Salvador, Brazil. 2001)

Gloria Rivera (Gloria’s father Nino Rivera is a decorated Cuban National hero and arranged all of Mongo Santa Maria’s music). Robin was invited to perform with Tata Quine, Chu Cho Valdez and Changito in Havana, Cuba. (1998) Robin was featured on the Cuban T.V show “Contacto”. Gloria and Robin released a C.D and performed at the Cuban Embassy, New Year’s Eve party, in Washington D.C.)

Duvalki Orkestar Jove Stojilkovka (Serbia) - Robin along with 3Mushaphas3 performed 5 nights at the Tempodrome in Berlin with this 25 piece Serbian horn band.

Steve Tibbits - Abdul Alwan – Klezmatics – Reda Darwish – Suhailia Salimpour – Salah Fata Dean Magraw (Prairie Home Companion) – Antonio Albarran (Anton Darbuki) – Eli Bissonett (Whirled Muse) Face Dancer (Marcus Wise, Tablas - Celso Maldonado, Congas Rick O’Dell, Sax - Robin on Darabuka.)

3 Mustaphas 3 (Toured the U.S and Europe with and recorded “Heart of Uncle” at the Church Studios in London. This recording hit the top 10 on Billboard Magazine’s World Music Charts. Awarded #1 World Music Band at the NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Distributors) convention. See 3mustaphas3.com)

Boiled in Lead (Robin was percussionist and composer for over 20 years (1986 -2009) in the band. Awarded #2 World Music Band at the NAIRD convention. Boiled in lead’s version of “My Son John” was BBC’s Radio 1 Show D.J. John Peel’s theme song and opened every broadcast for over 20 years. Go to boiledinlead.com for more. Don't be confused by the time line chart showing musicians who have played in the band. Robin played drums on 90% of the shows in the history of the band.)

Mapenzi (One of 5 bands in San Francisco the term “Worldbeat” originated from.) 1986

The World Sacred Music Festival – Fez, Morocco. 1996 (Robin was invited to perform with World Class Sufi Master Musicians from all over the world. While on tour Robin visited the Master Musicians of Jajouka, who recorded with Brian Jones, the Rolling Stones and Ornette Coleman, in the Rif Mountains. He was later invited join and live with the group as apprentice and in time become a member of King Hassan’s Royal Court Orchestra. Robin is not clear if it was Bachir’s Jajouka or Mohammed’s Joujouka group.)

Robin was signed to the Interworld Music and Video label. The Sufi trance drumming C.D. “Blue Buddha” (1990) was Robin’s first release and was reviewed in Playboy magazine. The “Blue Buddha” video shot at Minneapolis venue 1ST AVE. , featured Jim Uray’s Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre and won Best Director at the Minnesota Video Awards for Dan Polsfus. This Trance video has been enjoyed all over the world and can be seen on “you tube”. The video “Voices of the Doumbek” (1995) can be found in most public libraries in the U.S. and abroad. It became the #1 bestselling Middle Eastern percussion video of all time and was distributed by Warner Bros. Robin’s label mates at Interworld included: Peter Erskine - Baba Olatunji - Glen Valez - Ed Thigpen - Swapan Chauduri (Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar)

Cheryl McEnaney (RealWorldRecords /EMI/Narada executive for Peter Gabriel, got Robin signed to a 6 record deal with RYKODISC (David Bowie - Frank Zappa) His first release “OMAIYO” (1998) was distributed to 47 countries.

Darbuki Kings Three C.D.s were released on Robin’s Darbuki Kings label that topped the CMJ (National College Radio) World Music charts for 2 years. (2006-2008) The video for the ”Darbuki Kings”, Doumtekastan was directed by Dan Polsfus.

Solo at Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis on the Uzbeki Doira for the Ethnic Dance Theatre.

T.V and radio appearances in Cuba (Contacto), France (Taratata), Denmark, England, Germany, Morocco, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and NPR’s Mountain Stage. (U.S)

Composer and percussionist for the National Geographic special “The Great Barrier Reef” (1986)

ROCK

Robin would like to clarify; He was known as Bob Anderson in his early career. 1965-’73 When he relocated to the East coast in ’73 the local musicians changed his name.

Robin’s band Copperhead (1969-’72) was signed to RCA Records by Jack Richardson (produced The Guess Who and Alice Cooper) The band later was discovered at Rush Up Bar in Chicago by Tony Stratton Smith. Tony was part of the entourage on tour with The Who. He was founder of The Famous Charisma Label and signed Genesis to a management deal around the same time Copperhead was signed. Tony’s business finesse saved Monty Python’s Holy Grail project. Copperhead was signed to Capitol/Emi by Bob Johnston, who produced Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Simon and Garfunkel and released the “Minnesoda” L.P. Copperhead was the first group in Twin Cities history to be signed to an International Major Label record deal. (Capital/EMI) Within a matter of days, after Tony Stratton Smith saw Copperhead in Chicago, the band was signed and flying to London. While there, the band was on the guest list at all the underground private clubs (also the Marquee Club) where they hung out with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Lead Zeppelin, Rod Stewart, etc. The band was also under consideration to be the opening act for the Rolling Stones upcoming U.S. tour. Copperhead was House Band at The Depot, later to become 1st AVE.

Bob Potter (sound engineer for Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, and Lindisfarne) - Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead, Todd Rundgren, and the Tubes) - Thomas Shaw (The Monks) Greg Inhoffer (Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks L.P.) - Earl Bulinski (The Electras) - Jef Cierniak (Jerry Garcia Band) - Al Oikari - Robin Trower - Boiled in Lead – Caribou – Rolling Stones Steve Kramer (The Wallets) - Champion

EAO (The Electric Arab Orchestra arranged and performed Arabic Classical compositions as Hard Rock) Auditioned for Journey. (1986) Signed management deal with P.J. Birosic of Musik International. (1990) P.J managed Paul McCartney and Guns and Roses along with many of the all-time greats.

BLUES

Robin was House Soundman and House Drummer at Wibeleski’s, later to become The Blues Saloon in St. Paul MN. (1991-’93) While there he mixed and performed with many all-time blues greats including: Long John Baldry – Lonnie Brooks – Valerie Wellington – Jr. Walker Sil Johnson – Cash McCall – Otis Rush – James Thunderbird Davis – Lynwood Slim – Willie Murphy – Rick O’Dell – Jimmy Anton

Also, Robin had the honor of subbing for The Mystic’s drummer Bill Lordan (Robin Trower, Billy Preston, Sly and the Family Stone) and played with bassist Willy Weeks (Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, The Doobie Brothers.) Robin’s band, Copperhead, opened for B.B. King and many other 60s Blues and Rock Greats, as House Band for The Depot. (Later to become 1st AVE. ) 1970.

JAZZ

Robin cut his Jazz chops in the Washington D.C. area in the 70s. At the age of 23 he became the first call Jazz drummer in an area that hosted 9 fulltime Jazz clubs. He was invited to be a guest lecturer at Maryland University by visiting professor Ron Elliston. The course was entitled “Jazz in the Streets” Many professional Jazz players of the day came and spoke about what it was really like to be a fulltime Pro. Robin’s real education came from seeing the All-Time greats perform. Elvin Jones (22 shows) - Jack DeJohnette - Lenny White - Billy Cobham - Michael Walden - Paul Motian - Art Blakey - Tony Williams and Robin was mentored by Duke Ellington’s favorite drummer, Louie Bellson.

Butch Warren (Thelonious Monk) - Bill Summers (Herbie Hancock, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, The Neville Brothers, Quincy Jones) - Anthony Cox (Pat Metheny, Dewey Redman, Horace Silver) - Marshall Hawkins (Roberta Flack) - Billy O. Peterson (Eric Gravat) - Ron Elliston (Professor of Jazz studies) - Buck Hill - Andrew White (Transcribed the recorded works of John Coltrain) - Bobby Lyle, Dennis Spears (Moore by Four) - Ronnie Wells - Jay Young

LATIN

Robin wintered for 10 years in the Yucatan, Mexico (1994-2004) and was fortunate to meet and jam with: Gabriel Hernandez (Joe Zawinul) - Celso Maldonado (Harry Belafonte) Rafael Artigulera (Cirque d’Soleil) and in Cuba: Tata Quine - ChuCho Valdez Sr. and Jr. Changito - Gloria Rivera - Anga - Los Van Van. Robin was also featured on the Cuban T.V. show "Contacto” in Havana. (1998)

COUNTRY WESTERN

John Ely (Asleep at the Wheel, Wille Nelson) - Russ Paul (Vince Gill) - Roy Buchanan Danny Gaton - Dan Lund - Sky Blue Waterboys - Bob Johnston (Michael Murphy and Ray Stevens producer) - John Vezner (Grammy Award winner Song of the Year and Nashville Songwriters Association’s Best Country Song award.) Robin was invited to perform on John’s PBS special along with Jeff Gilkinson (The Dillards) and also played with Jonathan Edwards (Sunshine) at NPR’s Mountain Stage weekend. (North Folk School’s “Unplugged” Grand Marias, MN.) 2013.

FOLK

Robin performed for 9 years (’89 to ’98) at the Winnipeg Folk Festival where he did 2 Main Stage shows (3Mustaphas3 and Boiled in Lead) and jammed with or hungout with Bonnie Raite, David Lindley, Ani DiFranco, and many International artists. Robin was also featured as the January Artist photo in the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s 20th Anniversary Calendar.
Pete Seeger - Arlo Guthrie - Ani DiFranco - Greg Brown (Robin toured and did 3 records including Dream Café (1992) with Greg) – Bo Ramsey – Jonathan Edwards – Boiled in Lead (NPR’s Mountain Stage) Boiled in Lead is named in The Penguin Books along with Bob Dylan and Billy Bragg, as one of the bands that changed the course of Folk music history.

FUNK/R&B

Willie Weeks (Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Jammed with Jimi Hendrix) - Bill Lordan (Billy Preston, Sly and the Family Stone and Robin Trower), Jimmy Anton (Johnny Lang) - Cynthia Johnson (Funky Town) - Wayne Cafarella and John Elms (Copperhead) Soul Package - Pride and Joy - Don Powell (The Jackson 5 – Stevie Wonder) - Southside Syndicate - Mystic Evolution 1968 (The horn section split from the Mystics and formed a new band) The Mystics made the Billboard Bubbling Over Chart at #116 with their hit “Pain”. They also won the first ever Twin Cities Best Band (Connie Awards) Copperhead/Minnesoda (Signed International Major Label deal with Capitol/EMI, 1971 ) A quote from the president of the Twin Cities Musicians Union: “Copperhead is the best band in the history of the Twin Cities, bar none.”

SPACE/EXPERIMENTAL/TRIBAL/THEATER/FILM

Brian Doyle Murray - Bill Murray – Harold Ramis - Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) - Rana Haugen (The Red Shoes) - Jesse Borrego (Con Air) - Fred Frith (Henry Cow) - Mars Everywhere – Clear Cell Fire (Orb Institute)

Robin has been invited to drum for rituals of many cultures worldwide including;
NATIVE AMERICAN - (Anishinabe Turtle Lodge with Phillip Hunter. Sundance drummer for Dakota (Galen Drapeau) and Lakota Ceremonies. A Lakota naming ritual with a Dream Walker medicine man revealed Robin’s Indian name to be “He who Speaks with the Voice of Thunder”,
Keith Secola (recording project)
SUFI - (Boujeloud ritual, Trance Drumming, Whirling Dervish and Chanting rites in Morocco)
SHINTO - (Taiko drumming at Mount Fuji, Japan, for the Yoshida Fire Festival)
MAYAN - (Coba in the Yucatan, Mexico.)
BUDDHIST - (ORB institute, Washington, D.C.)
INDIAN - (Bharata Natyam Temple Dance)
CUBAN - (Santeria Ceremonial chants and drumming. Havana)

LITERATURE

Neil Gaiman (Author of American Gods, the Sandman Comics and screenwriter of Stardust, Coraline, and Beowulf) Robin composed and performed the music for old friend Neil’s C.D. “Telling Tales” (2003) Neil also wrote a story, Desert Wind, (Authors, Ellen Kushner Emma Bull - Stephen Brust - Jane Yolen also wrote stories) to accompany a composition of Robin’s for his RYKODISC release “Omaiyo”.
Steven Brust (Acclaimed Fantasy writer Steven, based a character (Aybann) in his novel “Phoenix” , on Robin)
Robin wrote a feature article in “RHYTHM” magazine. (June, 1999, #6) and also wrote an ongoing series on Arabic percussion (Arabic Rhythm Workshop) for “DRUM” magazine.(2003)
His records, reviews, bands, interviews and writings have appeared in many publications internationally including: Playboy - Downbeat - Folk Roots - Dirty Linen - New Age Retailer Option - B Side - Wire - Q - Music Design - Time Out.
He was featured in the spiritual healing drum publication, “TANTRA” (Sekhmet 1993, Issue 6) where he wrote an article outlining his philosophy. Other spiritually based drummers covered in this issue included: Airto Moreira - Glen Valez - Zakir Hussain - Hamza El Din Baba Olatunji - Adnan Sarhan - Wallace Black Elk - Sule Greg Wilson - Layne Redman Gabrielle Roth - Mickey Hart

DANCE/PERCUSSION

Alvin Ailey (New York) - John Cage - Maida Withers (Georgetown University) - Seda Galenian - Al Camarani Danse Oriental Company (Tokyo) - Rana Haugen
Numerous concerts and performances with many internationally famous Middle Eastern Dancers including: Maha - Suhailia - Cassandra.
Clear Cell Fire (Sponsored by ORB INSTITUTE, Washington, D.C.) Robin toured Europe as a dancer, musician and special effects technician with this groundbreaking troupe. (1974),
Robin was a Guest Performer and Workshop Teacher at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention) Anaheim, Ca. 1997 and Austin, TX. 2006

RENAISSANCE FESTIVALS

The Renaissance Festivals were a learning ground for many performers over the years including: Penn and Teller - the Karamazov Brothers - Rana Haugen.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival (1978 - ’96) Arizona Festival (1988-’96) Bristol Faire (1990 - ’93) After a few years at the Minnesota show, Robin caught the attention of the entertainment directors and became director and talent scout for two of the main stages; the Gypsy Camp and the Drum Jam. (featuring Suliman’s Mystic Circle of Wonder)

He also directed and co-produced the Mid-East weekend, a special event that became a major show. Robin brought top talent from around the country and became responsible for hiring up to 400 musicians, dancers and crafts people a year. The Drum Jam eventually became the Favorite show at the Festival among the cast, crew and owners. The Jam became a gathering at the end of each day that everyone on site could participate in. Robin was the facilitator and applied his experience with Sufi Trance Drumming to engage 30 drummers, hundreds of dancers and thousands of people attending the festival in the Trance ritual. Robin received the Unicorn Award for outstanding service in 1993. The fact that these Festivals were All Age and Outdoor shows are what held Robin’s attention for so many years. Nature was always the balancer in his long career. (The Fishin’ Musician)

AWARDS

Certificate of Esteem from the U.S. Dept. of Defense for a USO tour of the Caribbean. (1982) For Patriotic Service in providing Entertainment to Members of the Armed Services.

Robin has been nominated for and won numerous awards including over 20 Minnesota Music Academy Awards nominations in 1989 alone. That year Robin’s band, Boiled In Lead, won Album of the Year (“From the Ladle to the Grave”) winning out over Prince - Soul Asylum - The Replacements - Babes in Toyland.

EDUCATION and EDUCATOR

Music Major (University of MN.) Robin’s students receive full credit at the U of M Robin studied subjects he was drawn to at several universities including; The Physics of Sound and Light at Georgetown University with Sagan and Electronics at George Washington University. (1972-’78) Robin also studied Projective Geometry, an esoteric branch of Geometry, and has had showings at Art Galleries and Universities of his Paintings and drawings.

Robin also completed the course at Arica Institute founded by Oscar Ichaszo of the Esalen Institute. (1974) Arica was a university for the study of human consciousness. It was an amalgam of the combined wisdom of all major religions, sciences, philosophies, martial arts and physical/mental techniques in the areas of self-knowledge and spiritual development known in all of recorded history. “Humanity is One Spirit” was the motto.

While studying at Arica Institute, Robin attended a special workshop featuring Adnan Sarhan. Adnan soon became the most profound influence of Robin’s life as a musician. Adnan is a Sufi Mystic of 9 Orders. He, without speaking a word of English, showed Robin the door to the deepest layers of musical consciousness. (Erfan) He demonstrated with his drumming the very source of all musical phenomena. When approached from a spiritual perspective, the drum becomes a tool for accessing enlightenment in the moment and healing. This lead Robin to embrace his true calling as a Shaman Healer.

Robin eventually realized his greatest work, recording the “Blue Buddha” Sufi Trance Drumming C.D. (as well as his Middle-Eastern percussion video “Voices of the Doumbek” available in Public Libraries worldwide.) This recording, released in 1990, is tangible proof of the healing power of the drum. Robin received endless letters and email with stories of major illnesses, most often psychological, completely eradicated. Rebirthing, insomnia, emotional balance restored and lives changed simply by listening to the recording. Many artists contacted Robin to report they used the Blue Buddha as a shortcut to inspiration and an actual energy source. This gave Robin the incentive to become a drum circle facilitator. Robin has since facilitated drumming workshops and circle gatherings of drummers all over the world. He has witnessed amazing transformations during these sessions and continues his quest to introduce knowledge and participation in this lost healing art.

Robin was president of the 501c3 non-profit corporation Arts for Life. (1990-2000). The organization gathered artists from many fields to create multi-media performances that crossed cultural borders to realize a truly original and unique vision.

Robin is currently continuing to record and produce compositions at his off the grid studio in the wilderness. With the endless inspiration of nature he has created a body of work totaling over 100 original compositions encompassing all the genres and countries he has experienced in his world travels. Robin hopes to share these musical gifts in the near future. Coming soon: Appendices and Links containing all the back stories in detail of the people and events contained in Robin’s JAMOLOGY.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

Minnesoda (Copperhead) Capitol/EMI – 1972
Blue Buddha Interworld – 1990
Omaiyo Rykodisc/Candescence - 1998

Boiled in Lead - From the Ladle to the Grave – Atomic Theory/Cooking Vinyl – 1989, Orb Omnium/Cooking Vinyl – 1990, Antler Dance Omnium – 1994, Silver Omnium – 2008

3Mustaphas3 – Heart of Uncle Globestyle – 1989, Friends, Fiends and Fronds Globestyle 1991

Greg Brown - Dream Café Red House – 1992, Bathtub Blues Red House – 1993

Gloria “La Nina” Rivera - Cantar, Tambor, Bailar – Darbuki Kings Records - 2002

Darbuki Kings – Doumtekastan Darbuki Kings Records – 2006 Lawrence of Suburbia Darbuki Kings Records – 2007 Been Laden You Too Long Darbuki Kings Records – 2008

Whirled Muse – Rhythm and Muse Darbuki Kings Records - 2015

Robin would like to apologize. It would be impossible to include all the amazing artists he has been involved with even if they could all be remembered. He wants to thank them for being part of his musical life. Robin welcomes any corrections in spelling or events and objections to being mentioned. Anyone who has a more accurate accounting of any information shared here, please email darbuki@gmail.com

Very special mention; Musicians; Rex King (Lifelong friend and world music collaborator) and Michael Sullivan (computer guru, and C.D / web site designer) Carol Igini (Patron and friend)

Robin would like to pay special homage to his drum mentors and teachers; Abdul Alwan Adnan Sarhan - Rick O’Dell - Mary Ellen Donald - Stanley Kipper - Bernie Pershey - Bill Lordan - Louis Bellson.