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The name KDZ is an abbreviation of “The Kripalu Drummers(z).” We were 'dubbed' that during our recording process when a friend of the band wrote KDZ as an abbreviation on our many mixes when we recorded. The ensemble currently consists of 6 members:
Shaun J. Laframboise Bob Cronin Adrian Bennett
Allison Gemmel Henry Horning Kalpesh Alan Gaither
The 'Kripalu Drummers', as we have been commonly known, have played at Kripalu (based in the Berkshire region of the Northeastern U.S.) for almost 3 decades. The evolution of the drummers has seen many forms, yet none as long lasting as the current formation of band members, now know as KDZ. This formation, KDZ, has been performing together since the year 2000 with only one new recruit, Allison Gemmel, who has been with the band since 2006.
Drumming has been a part of Kripalu Center since the latter half of the 1980’s. Originally instituted by some of the dance teachers who wanted to add a drumming component to their classes, these primal rhythms managed to move instructors and participants in more ways than one.
As a result, drumming became a formal offering at Kripalu. It was through this avenue that the members of KDZ first came in contact with one another. We started by drumming together for classes at the Center’s famous Saturday Danskinetics™ sessions. Soon we were asked to do concert performances – at Kripalu, drum circles and other venues in the surrounding area, eventually leading to yoga & drumming programs, weddings, kirtans, birthday parties... and much more.
People started requesting copies of the group’s music that they could actually take home with them - that’s where KDZ’s recording career began back in 2002. These efforts culminated into our 1st album, KDZ Live. A recording from 3 nights concerts at Kripalu center.
Our newest Album, Slang Rhythm Speak is a completely self recorded and produced album, right in our own living room. We are continuing along the path we've forged, and also including a healthy mix of tradition and innovation.
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Bob Cronin
I began drumming in 1996 in Providence, RI with a great teacher named Annie Geissinger. In 1997 I moved to Kripalu and was fortunate to immediately hook up with an early version of KDZ, known in those years first as the Afronauts and then Primal Groove. Those early years we were lucky indeed to have Yamoussa Camara as our teacher. I've also played with Loretta LaRoche on PBS, Robert Gass, Babatunde Olatunji, Bob Bloom, Rama Berch, Bhavani Lorraine Nelson and Shubhalanda Larry Kopp at Kripalu, and was a member for years with the ethnic percussion ensemble Wakarusa featuring Vikki True.
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Shaun Joseph Laframboise
I had wanted a guitar... but I didn't have the patience, or the resources for one at the time. That was in 1994, I was in High School and frequenting the jam band scene when this drummer from a band GUSTER amazed me, the next day a friend and I bought drums and tortured one of our guitar playing friends until we could hold a beat. Like so many of us music has evolved through me, around me, beyond me... its truly been amazing all that it has offered me... physically, spiritually, mentally... the people we play for make it all worth it. All the people I've played with make it all worth it. The way in which it has allowed me to perceive life... makes it all worth it. My biggest influences know who they are and are hopefully reading this with a smirk on their face.
No doubt.
Peace.
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Henry Horning
Music permeates every stage of my life, from piano lessons as a boy growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, to drumset in a rock band in high school, to drum circles at Grateful Dead concerts in college.
My musical career catapulted
in '99 upon arriving at Kripalu Center where I began leading Sanskrit chanting and soon after joined KDZ.
Inspirations have been Mickey Hart, Babatunde Olatunji, Tom LeBlanc, and the cycles and
rhythms of Nature.
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Adrian Bennett
Music is life. Life is music. From the early days with drumset and garage bands, to school bands and symphonies, my feet were plenty wet. Off the springboard, and on to Suns of James, Legghead, and The Green Owls; the bands that started it all...exploring, gigging, recording, and deeper. The deep end is the many counted and fortunate hours I have spent with teachers that continue to inspire my life and live through me. Babatunde Olatunji, Gordy Ryan, Bob Bloom, Russel Paul, Bhagavan Das, Zakir Hussain, Ray Spiegal, G.S. Satchdev, Robert Gass, Rama Berch, Bhavani Lorraine Nelson, Shubalananda Larry Kopp, and all the jams and drummers I have immersed myself in. For now, leading community drum circles, practicing bhakti yoga through kirtans,playing with KDZ, along with new projects, while trying to practice and study, the soundtrack of life keeps me busy and fills my heart and others' too, with timeless rhythms for the soul.
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Kalpesh Alan Gaither
God bless my parents for recognizing my interest in music and supporting my accordion lessons from about age 6 through high school. In college(University of Fla.) I had some really good piano teachers, especially Russell Danburg. At Kripalu Center in Lenox, MA I had various people teach me how to drum for devotional chanting(Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare,Hare...). Later at Kripalu Tim Brenner(Jagadip) was heading up a drumming group for Saturday dance class(Kripalu Dancekinetics). I asked if I could join, and he said "yes" ! That was the group that evolved into KDZ.
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Allison Gemmel
I first studied rhythm as a kid when my piano teacher made me close the lid of the piano and tap the rhythm of a song with my hands. I had no idea that I was preparing to become a drummer. I have always been deeply moved by music and wanted to learn to drum for a long time. After working in public health research for 6 years, I found myself ready for something new. I joined a reggae band called Cool Side of the Pillow and the lead singer taught me some Nyabinghi rhythms. I came to Kripalu to become a yoga teacher and met the drum group KDZ. The rest, as they say, was history. I moved to the Berkshires to teach and study yoga at Kripalu and learned an exorbitant amount of drumming from KDZ. Eventually, they decided I could hang with the guys and invited me join the band. It has always been an enormous honor. Nothing lights me up more than exploring life through rhythm.
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Alumni
Tom Leblanc
Naresh Ron King
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