Tootie’s Tempo: A Drum Story is a unique multimedia journey that follows the migrations of drums and rhythms – from Nigerian talking drums to the innovations of jazz greats like Elvin Jones and Tony Williams. Designed for live presentation, it features as presenter the legendary Albert “Tootie” Heath.

Heath’s presentation includes commentary on each of the diverse drum phases he has selected, such as: Batá drums, New Orleans parade music, and early big band pioneers. Several of these units incorporate rare audio or video samples from the drummer’s own archive, as well as humorous and touching personal anecdotes from his experiences contributing to some of the most integral decades of jazz. Heath also accompanies the presentation with live demonstrations of various rhythms to reveal their timeless power in an intimate and personal setting. The presentation, lasting about an hour, is designed with some flexibility in mind, allowing Heath to tailor it to different audiences depending on their musical backgrounds, age, and interests.

Perfect for students of all instruments, lovers of music, and anyone with an interest in history, Tootie’s Tempo: A Drum Story can be booked through Vahagn Khachaturian of SoulPatch Music Productions (Soulpatchmusic@hotmail.com).

Tootie’s Tempo: A Drum Story