Gerald Achee

Gerald Achee (born November 15, 1952), passed January 12, 2021 was known by his stage name Gerry Drums, was a Trinidadian drummer and the leader of the Village Drums of Freedom.

Gerald Achee
Background information
Born (1952-11-15) November 15, 1952
St. James, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
OriginBrooklyn, New York
DiedJersey City, NJ
GenresWorld music, Calypso, Free jazz
Occupation(s)Musician/drummer
InstrumentsDejembe drums
Years active1969–2021
Associated actsVillage Drums of Freedom

Biography

Gerald Achee was born in St. James, a suburb of Trinidad and Tobago's capital Port of Spain. He was introduced to the traditional Afro-Caribbean music at an early age. Achee started his artistic career as a limbo-dancer. Later he began to play djembe. In 1969 Gerald Achee founded the free improvisation percussion band Village Drums of Freedom.[1] From 1970 until 1980 he travelled with his ensemble and a group of dancers through Europe, South America and US and then finally settled in Brooklyn, NY. His band grew bigger and now consists of more than a hundred drummers all over the world.[2] Every year Village Drums of Freedom plays a leading part in the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. In 2003 Gerald Achee and VDOF released an album Historic Travel: cultural rhythms. In 2009 he recorded an album Three Neighbours with Perry Robinson and Joel Chassan. And in the same year – Night Train For Lovers And Thieves with the Gypsy Groovz Orchestra, which was nominated to the Best Album of 2009 in World music on BBC.[3][4] Gerald Achee was a member of the Rastafari movement.[5]

Style

Gerald Achee (Stage name Gerry Drums) was a Calypso musician and djembe drummer. In his music, Achee develops traditions of Count Ossie, Andre Tanker and Babatunde Olatunji. His works with clarinetist Perry Robinson and other jazz musicians characterised him as a free jazz, avant-garde djembe drummer.

Discography
  • 2003: Historic Travel: cultural rhythms (Village Drums of Freedom)
  • 2009: Three Neighbours (Gerald Achee, Perry Robinson and Joel Chassan)
  • 2009: Night Train For Lovers And Thieves (Gerald Achee and Gypsy Groovz Orchestra)

See also

References
  1. "Village Drums again | The Trinidad Guardian". Test.guardian.co.tt. May 29, 2012. Archived from the original on April 16, 2015. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  2. Jon Pareles (August 3, 1990). "New York's Carnival, All Grown Up". Nytimes.com. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  3. BBC Music's Best Albums of 2009 Bbc.co.uk
  4. Jon Lusk (December 8, 2009) Gypsy Groovz Orchestra Goes TuttiMundi Night Train for Lovers and Thieves Review Bbc.co.uk
  5. "The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0". Legacy.guardian.co.tt. February 22, 2005. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
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