"When I Start to Play"

If laughter is the best medicine -- then music must be the best therapy. The CD "When I Start to Play" provides both. Heritage O.P., a New York City based group, began their collaboration in 1996 coming from a diverse background of excellent percussionists, many from an earlier group, Spirit Ensemble. The music and studio mix reflect a comfortable maturity and artistic professionalism that comes from a lot of experience and soul.

Heritage's core members are Victor Y. See Yuen, Hasan Bakr, Ron McBee, and Kevin Nathaniel along with special guests on this recording Farai Malianga, Urbano Sanches, Jayon Anthony-Jones, Kevin Jones, Renee Manning and Leon Thomas III.

The CD crosses a wide breadth of African Diaspora percussive languages and plays all of them fluently. Purists who are looking for an unadulterated, ethnomusical specific genre should look elsewhere. This is an authentic AfroAmerican gumbo and the listener is invited along on the patchwork quilt journey. In my opinion there's just the right blend of everything, from the driving conga and djoundjoun bass, triangle bell, shekere, handclapping and "who knows what else" accompaniments… interspaced with spicy djembe, and timbale solos. There's enough percussive variety of flavor in this creative Creole to suit every taste. The opening and title track, hits the ground galloping with Latin conga, and xylophone. In addition to the plethora of African derived drum features, Tracks 11 & 12 in particular highlight the band's passion for the mbira (African thumb-piano) and the last track turns the shekeres loose adding a finale of sweet introspection for the listener.

Heritage wisely allows the percussion to speak for itself and adds very little in the way of sophisticated vocals. Their strength is not in catchy love songs, political messages or complex phrasing of clever innuendos. The lyrics offer simple, repetitive, positive messages reflecting the group's commitment to music's joyous power. The call and response, harmony style incorporates a way-down-south feel. If that resonates with you, the music will work its direct magic from your feet on up into your heart and head, and by the second listening you may find yourself singing along. In short, as a rhythm fanatic, I recommend this bright, uplifting CD, but to really appreciate Heritage's dynamic charisma, the group must be experienced live in concert.

Earlier releases by Heritage O.P. include Heritage, Percussion Music for Dance , Exercise and Aerobics and Universal Healing (an inner-self global journey of healing, prayer, meditation, contemplation and celebration).

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H E R I T A G E O.P. Inc.
P.O. Box 6369, Bronx, N.Y. 10451-1705 USA, 212-591-1837

Contributed by: "Boo" Lynn Walsh