Curtis Andrews
Artist in Residence | May 2025
@theecurtisandrews
www.curtisandrews.ca
Percussionist/composer/collaborator Curtis Andrews is a Canadian musician with global persuasions, who creates music that is informed by his many years of experience with West African, South Indian and jazz traditions, yet manages to transcend easy categorization. His personal musical journeys over the years have extended to villages and metropolises of Ghana, India, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and he has developed a deep knowledge of the history and performance of music from these areas. His personal mentors have included (the late) Don Wherry, Trichy Sankaran and Humegbeda Kwasi Dunyo. He continues to study and perform with these masters whenever possible. He has released two albums of original award-winning music with his own ensemble The Offering of Curtis Andrews, collaborates regularly with South Asian and African musicians/dancers and with various world music and jazz artists in and around Vancouver, BC. Besides being an eclectic performer, he also holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology.
INTERWEAVE
INTERWEAVE is a transcultural vision that brings together global rhythms and percussive timbres into a new listening reality, featuring masterful performances by drummers representing Turtle Island, Indonesia, Ghana, Cuba, Japan, India, and Guinea. INTERWEAVE is a fully improvised meeting of these musicians responding to each other in dialogue, both synchronously and asynchronously. Recorded over several sessions in April/May 2025 in Vancouver, BC at Afterlife Studios, what you will hear is a continuous piece of music that travels through various times, places, tempos, textures and moods. "Transcultural" in this context refers to something that goes beyond individual cultures to create a shared cultural experience that respects constituent elements, but allows for something completely novel to unfold. Conceived of and led by Curtis Andrews and mixed for LOBE Studio by Ruby Singh and Andrews, this project was Lobe Studio's first percussion-focused residency, combining a variety of rhythm cultures in an avant-garde context. The recording is edited and mixed for Lobe's immersive 4DSOUND system, offering an unparalleled and immersive multi-sensory auditory experience. By leveraging advanced 4DSOUND technology, this project promotes deep, contemplative listening and somatic experiencing, aligning with Lobe's mission to explore the health benefits of deep listening and its potential for enhancing contemplative and meditative practices. Featuring: Curtis Andrews: gakogui, axatse, mridangam, kanjira...and more Israel “Toto” Berriel: bata, bonga, shekere, conga, tumba Kocassale Dioubate: djembe, dundun, krin Kage: chu-daiko, uchiwa-daiko, shime-daiko, atarigane Kwashie Kuwor: sogo, kidi, kagan, axatse, gakogui, voice Sunny Matharu: tabla I Putu Swaryandana Ichi Oka: kendang, ketuk, cheng-cheng Russell Wallace: pumáka7, k̓wéxmen
