PASIC.org : PASIC Artists

BataMbira (B. Michael Williams, Michael Spiro, Jesus Diaz, Sylvian Leroux, Colin Douglas and Adam Snow)
Batambira: A Marriage of Sacred Music from Cuba and Zimbabwe
World Showcase Concert
Saturday, 2:00 p.m.


B. Michael Williams	Michael Spiro

Jesus Diaz

BataMbira features the virtuosity of Michael Spiro and B. Michael Williams. The duo has been featured on National Public Radio, The Voice of America, and other broadcasts worldwide. Additionally, the duo has recently released a compact disc recording entitled BataMbira.

Michael Spiro is an internationally recognized percussionist, recording artist, producer, and educator known primarily for his work in the Latin music field. He is most known for his seminal recordings Bata-Ketu, Ilu Ana, and his work with Talking Drums. He has recorded and/or performed with such diverse artists as David Byrne, The Caribbean Jazz Project, Don Caymmi, Changuito, Frank Emilio Flynn, Ella Fitzgerald, Gilberto Gil, Giovanni Hidalgo, Toninho Torta, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. John, Mark Levine, The Machete Ensemble, Bobby McFerrin, Andy Narell, Ray Obiedo, Chico O’Farrill, Eddie Palmieri, Lazaro Ros, David Rudder, Carlos Santana, Grace Slick, Clark Terry, McCoy Tyner, and Charlie Watts. He has been a faculty member or artist-in-residence at over forty universities and has conducted clinics and master classes throughout North America and Europe for over twenty years.

B. Michael Williams is professor of music and director of percussion studies at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He holds the bachelor of music degree from Furman University, master of music degree from Northwestern University, and doctoral degree from Michigan State University. Active as a performer and clinician in both symphonic and world music, Williams has performed with the Charlotte (NC) Symphony Orchestra, Lansing (MI) Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Additionally, Williams serves as an associate editor for Percussive Notes. A composer of innovative works for percussion, his Four Solos for Frame Drums was the first published composition for the medium. Additional works to his credit include Three Shona Songs for marimba ensemble, Recital Suite for Djembe and Tiriba Kan for solo djembe, Bodhran Dance, Another New Riq, and Learning Mbira, all published by HoneyRock Publications.