Entry for June 9, 2009

As well as the Circus Jams in Kensington, Tuesday nights alternate with a drumming circle in Trinity-Bellwoods park. Z- and I went there for the first time last Tuesday.
It was a fascinating scene. Vibrant polyrythmic drumming by a constantly shifting group of drummers. People coming and going - it was a tribal gathering of musicians and all sorts of alternative groups - Burning Man fans, hippie kids, goth kids, hipsters, circus folk, you name it. All swaying to a sinuous ever-shifting beat.

I can say this - drummers stay put better than hoopers and fire spinners. They do walk about a bit, but were congregating and so tended not to move too much. It makes sense- as a performer doing things with a hoop or swinging poi, etc- it would be dull to see someone planted in one place. Their choreography is part of their art, the art of being a visual spetacle. Musicians in this sort of setting are first and foremost about the sonic experience.

I found I was getting more relaxed, too, about setting down fast, loose stream-of-consciousness sketches. These ballpoint pen drawings all came from there, and are done on an 8 1/2 x 11 pad of drawing paper with a medium-point black ballpoint pen.

We didn't stay a long time, but it is a place I can see returning to.