Odadaa! to Perform Nov. 1 in Filene Recital Hall

Drum master, composer, and choreographer Yacub Addy and his Ga drumming ensemble Odadaa! will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, in Filene Recital Hall at Skidmore College.

Odadaa!, called ?irresistible?a treasure? by The New York Times, will present traditional Ghanaian pieces and new works created by Addy and group members. Admission is free and open to the public.

Senior among the famous members of the Addy family of drummers, singers, and dancers from Ghana, Yacub Addy bucked the status quo to play and live his rich traditional culture at a time when his country had turned its back on its heritage. Addy?s music took him from Ghana to Europe to America, where he created Odadaa!, combing hot African polyrhythmic drumming with bamboo flutes, guitar, balafon (wooden xylophone), rich vocals, and high-energy dance. The group?s repertoire includes classic traditional pieces and vibrant new works created by Addy and ensemble members.

Odadaa! participated in Addy?s recent acclaimed ?Congo Square? collaboration with Wynton Marsalis, as series of performances leading to the 2008 DVD, Congo Square. The jazz events commemorated the performances of music of their homeland by Africans who gathered there in the 18th and 19th centuries.