Blue Moon Management Artists Claire Stuczynski and the GAHU Drum Ensemble embrace a special moment!!!

GAHU Performing Arts, founded by Choreographer/Dancer Nicole Ten Eyck, and Percussionists Rhonda Harp and T.R. McKotch, aims to bring the excitement and dynamic energy of African percussion and dance to wider audiences of all ages, ability and background. No-one is excluded. GAHU Performing Arts has recently added Katherine Petersen to the teaching/performing roster.

It is our aim to encourage participation in, and enjoyment of, the rhythms and dances of West Africa, the Caribbean, and the African Diaspora, whether in a workshop or performance.

Nicole Ten Eyck front left with Sankofa African Dance & Drum Ensemble

Katie Petersen in Medie in the Accra Region of Ghana

Katie Petersen at the Dagara Music Center playing the gyil

GAHU Drum & Dance is Katie Petersen & T.R. McKotch. Katie and T.R. facilitate African drum & dance classes at colleges, art centers, public schools, and more...Respecting the African cultures, Katie and T.R. share the beauty of the intereaction between drummer and dancer by demonstrating a traditional rooted song and dance. Their classes are interactive where the participants will have the chance to experience the traditional dance with Katie and traditional song with T.R. At the end of the workshop, the participants will have the opportunity to conduct the song and dance with the guidance of Katie and T.R.

GAHU Drum & Dance Ensemble: What happens when traditional West African grooves meet modern funk? You got the GAHU Drum Ensemble, a 5 piece drum ensemble from Jamestown, New York whose unique blend of West & Central African, Haitian, Funk and groove began to shake up venues in Western New York. GAHU combines the talents of Drum/Percussion Educator T.R. McKotch (Steve Johnson Band) drumset/djembe, Rhonda Harp vocals/percussion/arrangements/flute, Lydia Harp vocals/percussion, Katie Petersen vocals/dance/djembe, and Master of the Low-End Mark Smeltzer djun-djun/sangba/kenkeni to create a sound that is raw, energetic, melodic and far from contemporary.

Since its inception in the Summer of ’07, GAHU has developed into a festival/venue favorite, successfully weaving the searing melodic and harmonic vocals, combined with the thoughtful lead djembe rhythms and solid bottom-end rhythms into high-energy groove.

The ensemble has opened for National and Regional touring acts including John Waller (Reg Lenna Civic Center – Jamestown, NY), Smackdab (Crystal Ballroom – Jamestown, NY), 2007 Chautauqua County Music Awards (Crown Theatre – Jamestown, NY) and more.

The simplicity that runs through the ensembles upbeat, poly-rhythmic grooves is offset by melodic vocals & flute, which often takes the lead role, and the occasional funk-jam ambience of rhythm.

GAHU Drum Ensemble is one of the hardest working bands on the jam band scene today, leaving a lasting impression on anyone who has the opportunity to see them perform.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL BOOKING REQUESTS FOR GAHU DRUM ENSEMBLE TO:
Len Barry
716.664.2465 ext.209
E-Mail Len Barry

MEMBERS OF JOHN WALLER & GAHU DRUM ENSEMBLE AT REG LENNA CIVIC CENTER - JAMESTOWN, NY.

06/07/2008 - GAHU Drum Ensemble at the Essex Arts Center - Buffalo, NY
L-R: Rhonda Harp, Mark Smeltzer, T.R. McKotch & Lydia Harp