Beating Heart

Photo & Text Copyright 2009 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

If you are a fan of hand drumming and percussion traditions from around the world and are visiting Seattle, John''s Music is a place you will want to drop in while you are in town. Located in the the heart of the Wallingford neighborhood and owned by percussion educator John Avinger, John's Music has a 30 year history of carrying a wide variety of hand drums and hand held percussion instruments that will delight and amaze you. John was instrumental in founding the Seattle World Rhytm Festival put on since 1994 by the Seattle World Percussion Society, to be held at Seattle Center April 23-25. In my old neighborhood there were several drum circles and also informal outdoor gathering places where two to ten hand drummers would be slapping the skins together, filling the air with amazing rhythms, learning from each other. I miss hearing that. It is very magical to watch and listen to. Here in Seattle, this shop is the heart of that community. Hey, did you see the film "The Visitor"? It is set in NYC, but carries the magic people new to drumming seem to find.

UPDATE FOR CDPB FRIENDS:  Rejoicing today with the news that our photoblogger friend Amir Sadeghi of Tehran 24 and Tehran Live daily photo blogs has been freed from Evin prison in Tehran.  Amir is free. What a wonderful day this is!