The Griots Speak

The Griots Speak has roots which reach to the dawn of the improvised music community which sprang to life in 1960s New York City. Trail blazing percussionist Juma Sultan formed the quartet to help celebrate the life and work of Studio We founder James DuBois, a patriarch of New York's loft scene. The band's music is poetry in motion-simultaneously fluid, extroverted, light, confrontational, meditative, and comforting.  Daniel Carter - saxophones, flute, clarinet, trumpet, piano  Daniel Carter is an American experimental saxophone, flute, clarinet, and trumpet player active mainly in New York City since the early 1970s. One of the legendary masters of creative music.  Charlie Apicella - madal drum, Tibetan singing bowls, guitar  The guitarist studied composition and improvisation with musical titans Yusef Lateef and Pat Martino and was trained as a historian by Archie Shepp and Dr. Billy Taylor. He has recorded 7 projects with his band, Iron City.  William Parker - bass, doson ngoni, double reed: gralla, gembiri, pocket trumpet  Composer, bassist and multi-instrumentalist, William Parker has developed a reputation as a connector and hub of information concerning the history of creative music. He has had seven books covering philosophy, poetry, and the history of creative music and improvisation.  Juma Sultan - congas, shakers, percussion  Best known for his appearance at Woodstock, playing with Jimi Hendrix. His musical talents span jazz, rock, blues and spirituals throughout decades of performing, producing and recording.