| THIS
MONTH Nina SHARES HER FAVORITE BOOK, MOVIE AND CD. |
• MOVIE
"FAILURE
TO LAUNCH"
Hilarious
- I enjoyed it tremendously! I love romantic comedies
because they make you feel good inside and laughter is great
for the soul. • |
• BOOK
"AWAKEN
THE GIANT WITHIN"
By Anthony Robbins
How to take immediate control of your mental emotional, physical
and financial destiny! Anthony shows you his most effective
strategies and techniques for mastering your emotions, your
body, your relationships and your life. This read will enable
you to discover your true purpose, take control of your life
and harness the forces that shape your destiny. I’m
reading it through a second time, just can’t get enough!!
• |
• MUSIC
"GLORIA
ESTEFAN: LIVE & UNWRAPPED AT THE COLISEUM IN LAS VEGAS"
There are singers who can captivate a community. There are
vocalists whose sound can penetrate deeply into your soul.
There are entertainers who can mesmerize, enlighten and entertain,
all in one breath. Gloria Estefan does it all, effortlessly.
The result is an amazing and distinct piece of work from a
gifted singer/songwriter and producer. Musicians who are not
yet household names also earned pride of place on Unwrapped.
Manu Katache, a drummer from The Ivory Coast who has played
with Sting and Peter Gabriel, performs on several tracks.
"His sound combines jazz, rock and African rhythms seamlessly,"
says Gloria. "Since we recorded together, just watching
him brought out something different in my singing." • |
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is
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OR SUGGESTIONS
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them to us, we are always attentive to what our readers have
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Hi all,
Well the first quarter is almost over and it still feels like I’ve
just finished celebrating the New Year. I guess it’s the old
adage, “time flies when you’re having fun” which
is ringing true for me. It has been a great year for The Drum Café
so far. It has been a continuous drum celebration up and down the
west coast and beyond, bringing interactive drumming into the corporate
world with a series of beautiful beats. Drum Café California
has enjoyed playing at events for 1200 people with Carpet One in Orange
County as well as with the more intimate events for Shea Homes, Chancery
Software and Cox. The common thread for these events is that each
person has walked away from the event, energized, focused, motivated
and most importantly transformed from participating in an
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interactive drumming event
facilitated by the Drum Café. This brings me to the article
I would like to share with you. It is called Heartbeats and it popped
up in my inbox one day from a website called the Daily Om and so I
felt compelled to share it with all of you (www.dailyom.com).
This article truly reflects all the benefits of drumming and how it
adds energy, synchronicity and harmony to your life.
The team member being highlighted
in this issue of Drum Café Rhythms is our west coast musical
director Nina Rodriguez.
Nina is based out of San Antonio, Texas and has a rich musical heritage
that she chooses to share with us. Nina is responsible for coordinating
all the different teams for our array of events statewide. She designs
rhythms and musical pieces and trains the team so each member gives
their strongest performance possible. Each event is custom catered
to the individual client and Nina’s impeccable musical taste
sculpts the event so it flows effortlessly and seamlessly from rhythm
to rhythm, ending in a crescendo that is an unforgettable experience
for each person that gets to bang the drum.
I want to thank all who have made the year so far such a great one.
I look forward to working with all of you again in the future. For
those of you that have not had the opportunity to participate in an
interactive drumming event, we will be holding a showcase event in
May. If you or anyone you know would be interested in attending, please
contact my Sales and Operations Manager, Selwyn Solomon at (858)
336-7601 or email him at selwyn@drumcafecalifornia.com.
I’d love to see all of you out there. |
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In
Rhythm
Yours
always
Natalie Spiro
| President |
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Heartbeats
| Drumming
That rhythm renews us is no secret. Drumming is the oldest form of
music on the planet. Virtually every culture that exists or has existed
on earth has practiced some form of drumming. In Africa, the beating
of a drum continues to be an important part of significant ceremonies
and holiday celebrations. Native American cultures use drumming as
a means to reconnect an individual's mental and physical selves. Throughout
history, drumming has been a part of performing rituals, marking significant
transitions, and celebrating life's cycles. Our lives are infused
with rhythm beginning at the very moment we first sense our mother's
heartbeat in her womb.
All manner of drumming has
the ability to put us in touch with our own natural rhythms, the rhythms
of the earth, and the rhythms of the people we choose to drum with.
The drum can represent the heart, and drumming awakens the mind while
stirring the soul. Drumming can take you to a place deep inside you
where you are keenly aware of your mind and your body, as well as
the vital bond between the two. Much like human beings, each drum
has its own vibration and voice. Drumming alone can help you release
tension, dispel stress and aggressive feelings, and restore your energy.
It can also give you an opportunity to reestablish your connection
to Mother Earth, as the beat of a drum can represent a crack of lightning,
pounding ocean waves, or the tumult of an earthquake.
Drumming with others brings with it many benefits. Taking part in
a drumming circle attunes us to the invisible energy that exists between
us while uniting us in a common purpose. Drumming can be relaxing
as well as energizing. It quiets mental chatter and can create a peaceful
meditative state. In Navajo lore, the drum is the Great Spirit's favorite
instrument. It is said that this is why all human beings were given
a heartbeat. The rhythmic beating of a drum can move us into new realms
of consciousness. There is no right or wrong way to drum, and everyone
has the innate ability to create rhythm. When you drum with intention,
you'll discover the rhythms that move you.
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•
Nina Rodriguez
| Musical Director
Nina grew up listening to the Latin grooves of her grandfather and
orchestra leader, "Papa" Henry Garcia. Greatly influenced
by the styles of Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66, Santana, Armando Manzanero
& Motown R&B, Nina developed her own style.
“I’ve always
felt that when you do what you are purposed to do in life –
you will succeed! Life is full of risks, but if you don’t step
out and take them, you’ll always wonder what could have been.
Step out – and you’ll never have regrets” Nina claims.
For Nina, drumming is her passion and her life. “I think I started
drumming before I started breathing! I am most fortunate and grateful
to wake up everyday and fulfill this gift within to drum”. Drumming
is full time for Nina and it requires a lot of travel, but at the
end of the day, the reward is overwhelming! “I have the privilege
and opportunity to be a part of such a magnificent force that allows
us to inspire, uplift and unite! It’s more than just drumming,
it’s spiritual for me. I believe music reaches down into our
heart and soul. I believe every heart in the audience receives from
the music in a very personal way. I know that everyone who listens,
really listens – receives, connects and re-ignites!
Nina plays all genres of music, from Jazz to Gospel, R & B, Latin,
Country and Rock. She recorded on Randy Travis' 2004 Grammy album,
"Rise and Shine," and has toured with Yehuda Glantz, world
renowned Jewish Latino Musician. Recently, Nina arranged and played
djembe on tracks produced by Bette Sussman, Music Director for Bette
Midler. Nina is Music Director for Drum Café Western United
States and is currently on tour for The Drum Café as well as
a Facilitator for KIDS Drumming Events. Nina’s drumming allows
her to perform throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and Israel.
When she plays, the audience instantly feels the heat of a heart on
fire and hands of lightning, as she becomes the music that she plays.
Nina is endorsed by TOCA Percussion, Kaman Music - a leader in hand
percussion instruments and accessories designed and developed to have
a different look and provide the "Afro Cuban" sound. Nina
plays Congas, Bongos, Cajon, Djembe, Drum Set and a variety of Percussive
Hand Instruments.
When not playing music, Nina enjoys her down time with friends and
family. Her favorite place in the world to travel to, is Jerusalem
in Israel. Nina has traveled to Israel on 12 different occasions for
a variety of different reasons. She has played and performed in Israel,
with renowned Israeli and Jewish musicians and is also actively involved
with helping people from other countries immigrate to Israel. Whenever
in Israel, Nina takes time out to visit victims of terror in hospital
and has also met with such dignitaries as former Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
Her other interests include dining out with friends, salsa dancing,
floating in her swimming pool with a chilled Corona, walks along the
beach, playing soccer, loving on her nephews and nieces, going to
the movies and hanging out at coffee bars with friends and a strong
cup of expresso and stimulating conversation! In her hometown of San
Antonio, Nina is a very in demand musician. As soon as she is back
in town, the local musicians start calling, inviting her to sit in.
“I love keeping in close touch with music here in San Antonio
– it keeps me connected to my Latin culture”.
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