November 16th, 2009
Rebel Tumbao Educational Programs
Matt Jenson and José Claussell are both gifted teachers with an amazing amount of experience to offer students as Matt has been teaching at the Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) for 9 years now while José has been travelling the world in the role of timbale player for the maestro Eddie Palmieri.
MATT JENSON
1) The Music and Life of Bob Marley 3-4 day intensive performance studies workshop
3) Lecture demonstration, “The Music and Life of Bob Marley.” A 1-2 hour multimedia presentation designed for the non-musician in which Matt gives an overview of Marley’s life and message with video footage and rare audio examples with inspiring insights into today’s socio-political-economic climate.
4) Private instruction in improvisation (Jazz, rock, blues, Latin styles), composition, theory, arranging.
JOSE CLAUSSELL
1) Lecture Demonstration (info TBA)
2) Private instruction in Afro-Latin percussion
MATT AND JOSE
1) Both Matt and José are available for ensemble coaching sessions
February 12th, 2010
Towards the Rebel Tumbao philosophy
We feel that the human race has largely given over its fate to an economic system, “with its materialistic premise and insulting assumptions about human nature, [that] can’t satisfy our higher selves’ yearning for transcendental meaning.” We feel that markets alone have never and never will be able to create livable societies and that for a true Democracy to flourish the power of money must be removed from governance. Our one rule economic system, that in which wealth is returned to the (tiny few who are) wealthy, works tirelessly to create an unfathomable cycle of production and consumption that amounts to a subtle (or not so subtle!) form of slavery, wreaks havoc on a healthy sense of self, undermines our sense of security and destroys the environment. On all levels; financially, emotionally and spiritually, we say that this path is UNSUSTAINABLE.
(- the quote and general essence of the above paragraph come from Francis Moore Lappe’s amazing book, “Getting a Grip: clarity, creativity and courage in a world gone mad”)
Rebel Tumbao is expressing the cry of the positive side of human nature against the greed and fear of the few that determine so much of our current reality. Through our music, to put it unemotionally, we are provoking a paradigm change that seeks non-market based and sustainable solutions. But really, we want you to groove and dance with us so as to ignite a higher sense of purpose!
To many, including us, this transition of consciousness is a matter of human survival.
So, we’re angry, angry at the recent insulting supreme court decision regarding campaign finance, we’re angry that our political leaders speak of helping the middle class but rarely say a thing about the poverty stricken classes. We’re angry that many of the world’s leaders do not have the courage and vision to put a halt to corporate control of nearly every aspect of life, we’re angry at the ridiculously unfair distribution of wealth in the world……this list goes on and on.
HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT STUCK IN ANGER and find our deepest inspiration in the faith that the POSITIVE side of humanity, found in a beautiful sunset, a purely loving gaze between two people, a poetically crafted musical phrase, will prevail.
We take tremendous inspiration from Bob Marley’s life and music which expresses some of the highest truths known to man kind. His music speaks volumes about, healing, truth, resistance and harnesses the transformational power that only music and art can. His music delivers a one two punch against oppressive systems of societal organization and unhelpful human mindsets.
Another inspiration comes from the late Howard Zinn (so sad to have to say farewell to him!!). He spoke and wrote volumes about a vision in which “national boundaries are erased, when the natural riches of the world are used for everyone, when the false promises from the rich and powerful about ’spreading Liberty’ can be fulfilled, not by them, but by the concerned effort of us all, as the truth comes out, and our numbers grow.” Mr. Zinn continually pointed to the fact that change has mostly come from the bottom up and not from the top down. It is well-known that throughout history, at times of deep crisis, it is the creative people amongst us, the musicians, poets, painters, playwrites, inspired educators and philosophers who often light a path towards a better way of living….from the bottom up.
We know there is a BETTER WAY. And you?
With a strength begotten by humility, awareness and many years of musical experience, Rebel Tumbao is joining the ranks of the visionary artists, both past and present, who continue to lead us to a more enlightened understanding and to help ignite the action needed to resist human greed and fear.
All of our work in developing Rebel Tumbao is aimed at creating transcendent moments on stage, in recordings and in our educational programs that ignite the innate beauty, humility and interconnectedness that we all carry.
In our minds and hearts, we feel this to be revolutionary…..REBEL Tumbao. In our instruments we cut deep grooves of dancing ecstasy into the souls of our listeners…….Rebel TUMBAO (“groove”).
We also have a hell of a lot of fun doing it!
