Planet Drum - Mickey Hart
Certainly the most popular one on my list. Incredible stuff, each piece completely different from the rest.
Heartbeat Drummers - Kodo
They're pretty popular, I think. Actually, I think Japanese drumming groups are MUCH better live, because the show - syncronization, power, etc - is great stuff. But still, the album is cool.
Ramana - Glen Velez
Velez is an extraordinary hand-drummer. He plays all kinds of different drums from all over the world, as well as things like African seed pods, Filiipino buzz sticks, foot bells, and other stuff. But even when it's just him playing one drum, like the bodhran, is amazing!!
Bougarabou: Solo Drumming of Casamance - Saikouba Badjie
The Jola live in Casamance. Bougarabou (boo-GAR-a-boo) drumming accompanies all Jola dance. Here's a few things from the liner notes:
The first time I heard this disc, I looked at the back to see who the various drummers were, and how many, but there wasn't any reference to Saikouba's co-drummers. Turns out he's the only one!! It took me a long time to figure this out, because, from the sound, there's no way less than three people were drumming. But it's all him. He has four or five drums set up, and I don't imagine you can actually see his hands as he plays. They're probably just a blur for hours on end.Performances typically start in the evening and continue until daybreak. While an assistant wipes the sweat from his brow and feeds him a fortifying potion of roots, Saikouba plays through the night without stopping. Some performances last for days.
Before playing, Saikouba puts on bracelets of banana-shaped bells (sijaowangas) and heats his drums in front of a fire to brighten their tone.
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Like other bougarabou drummers, Saikouba commands a repertoire of rhythmic phrases, called ropes (kanu). Each rope has a name and is often associated with a particular individual. For example, one Jola dancer's rope is called Tboj lit; takumunyup, Bakari (Step smartly; don't squat Bakari). A dancer will approach the drummer and ask him to "play his rope."
Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion - Bela Bartok
(For the record, the piano is a percussion instrument, because the hammers hit the keys.) This is a pretty awesome piece, with all kinds of things playing along with the pianos, even a snare drum. 20th Century music at its finest.