Life is very much like a drum circle; those who drum, those who dance to
the beat of the drum, and the audience who watches them both.
In early 2015 I published
A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos. In early 2017 it was followed by
Another Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos. This is the threequel containing, for now, photos from mid 2017 to mid 2018.
The videos will follow soon as they are too many this time. The conclusion then was to edit them to make one big YouTube video covering the entire year, rather
than having 10-12 shorter clips. It will take more time and effort, but it sure is worth it. I tried capturing every single member of the tribe; if not in the photos, then certainly in the videos.
So stay tuned and remember to re-check this piece shortly as well as my
YouTube Channel. Also make sure to watch this marvellous documentary some of us have worked on, which was produced by Alex Mannone and Steve Engel:
The History of the Venice Beach Drum Circle.
Now enjoy this year’s Magick!
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| Good to be back to the Playground — 17 June 2017 |
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When two school buddies, Ahmed and Ahmed, came visiting me in me element
— 2 July 2017 |
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As on all official holidays the Tribe gathering on July 4th
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This is how much larger The Circle gets on Sundays — 9 July 2017
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Edward, Sharon, and Barbara mid circle while Tim and Andy can be seen in the
background — 22 July 2017
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With Heather who currently lives in Kansas yet comes visiting us every now and then
— 22 July 2017
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David getting it on while Atusa dances behind him and Brian claps
— 23 July 2017
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Barbara kissing the sky, Edward Tillmon with his guitar, and Sonia in pink
— 29 July 2017
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Shoot The Shooter: The one and only fun soul and photographer David Healey
doing what he does best as we were surrounded by beautiful women
— 30 July 2017
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The sweet August sun — 5 August 2017
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Colourful Steve Engel grooving — 6 August 2017
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The white chair ended up breaking on day as I was drumming at Full Lunacy
— 12 August
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The day I hugged a dancer who then began to weep. This unicorn
cum is the result by Oliver Rossberg — 12 August 2017 | | | |
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Bryan, Kat and Leah — 13 August 2017
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Sweet Pooja all the way from India (I think it was her Birthday) dancing with Diane
— 19 August 2017
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Shot by Pooja — 20 August 2017
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Dylan with Sonia — 20 August 2017
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Our congueros Pino (left) and Ricardo — 20 August 2017
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David Healey just being himself — 27 August 2017
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Barabara is the Smiley Mermaid — 2 Sept 2017
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More Barby with open arms to the sky, Paul on the left and Scott on the right
— 2 Sept 2017
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A flower I earned from a dancer — 2 Sept 2017
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The girls were visiting from England — 3 September 2017
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Sunsational — 9 September 2017
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With 91-year-old brother Lonnie Jones who insisted on taking more
photos together using his phone — 16 September 2017
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Photo captured by Steve Engel since my shades, shirt, and vaporiser
all match — 16 September 2017
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Fear and Loathing in Venice Beach with Steve and Edahn looking like that
"This is Spartaaaaa" actor from the movie 300 — 16 September 2017
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Steve welcoming Lery — and her water mug — and her mom to the Circle
— 16 September 2017
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The white chair still alive — 16 September 2017
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Breaks are needed — 23 September 2017
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The sanity corner: Joseph (L), Andy, and Linda — 30 September 2017
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One of the landmarks of the VBDC and his peculiar way of dancing
— 15 October 2017
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Pino pinoing like an Italian king — 15 October 2017
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Sara from Canada in the middle, a 5-year old girl, and Lefty
(conveniently on the left) all doing their Thang — 15 October 2017
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Dancing Queen Soniella — 15 October 2017
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David sitting down while Bryan Conga on — 15 October 2017
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With Diane who’s illuminating Steve on his Birthday as Amanda (left) smiles on
— 15 October 2017
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More Soniella — 15 October 2017
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It is no wonder that “Heaven” is usually depicted as somewhere full of
beautiful women. Veronica and Eileen — 19 October 2017
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Lonny Jones playing on me djembe with Dan on the right on darbuka (tabla)
and David on the right — 21 October 2017
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Mid-wintering in Venice — 9 December 2017
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With Steve who just taking a fresh dip in the ocean and Mike — 9 December 2017
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David Healey posing after being back from New York — 16 December 2017
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Stunning view — 23 December 2017
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More mid-wintering with the new year — 13 January 2018
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Turning your head to witness such a scenery makes you feel grateful to be alive
— 13 January 2018
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Early Saturday — 27 January 2018
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Welcoming sparkly Eva Marie and shiny Rupali into the Circle — 3 February 2018
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The day the sun winked — 4 February 2018
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Go Gargantuan or Go Home — 11 February 2018
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The sweet kiddo playing on me djembe as her dad films — 11 February 2018
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Steve with his electric heart and Bazlur — 24 February 2018
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With Alex and Steve — 25 February 2018
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Sweet Kymberlee is one of our few female drummers who slowly but surely
became a regular — 17 March 2018
Beauties of all shapes and colours:
Diane (L), Julia, and Danielle Harris(R) — 14 April 2018
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I promise that 20 years from now I’ll recreate this photo by hunting everyone
down, starting with the hugging couple on the right who are the inspiration
behind the idea as they reminded me of the Woodstock couple who are still together
— 14 April 2018
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United Colours of Beauties: Juila, Diane, Danielle and one happy Djembefola
Dude — 14 April 2018
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Pino and Paul are two of the few voices of reason around — 15 April 2018
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Mesmerising Danielle flow arting while Steve in the background preparing to
take off on a Magick Carpet Ride — 15 April 2018
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Devine whom I haven’t seen for 4 years and who came to the Circle after
checking the photos of the stunning ladies. “I wanted to see for myself”
— 15 April 2018
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Shoot The Shooter & The Dancer. The renowned photographer Jerry Slade
along his distinctive telephoto lens exchanging a warm smile with our
hypnotising flow artist Danielleas he captures her on cam
— 15 April 2018
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Witch Doctor — 21 April 2018
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“Zen” by @valzzz_ani who came visiting along his son.
Zen simply means a state of meditative absorption. Whether meditating,
drumming,
painting, walking or doing the dishes, it matters not what
activity takes one up there.
— 21 April 2018
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*No Words. Shhhh* — 21 April 2018
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Joseph and Manny (R) — 28 April 2018
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Cops paying us a visit in their gold carts after MIA for a while and after their vehicles
were taken away from them due to running over a woman — 28 April 2018
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Goofing with David Healey — 5 May 2018
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Devine starting to feel at home — 5 May 2018
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Fran, Bazlur, and Steve — 5 May 2018
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Danielle bedazzling us with her electrifying flow — 5 May 2018
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More Flow Magic — 5 May 2018
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Apparently “The Big O” originates from Omar. More Danielle mastering her flow
— 5 May 2018
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It was Danielle who adorably gifted me this flower lei at one of the Full Lunacy
Drum Circles — 5 May 2018
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And all of a sudden Diane told me took up and a rainbow was just there
mid sky — 6 May 2018
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Princess Leah gracefully dancing to the beat of the universe, leaving one
gobsmacked — 6 May 2018
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Angels are all around us. Monique welcoming the newcomers: Alisha (L), Alexa,
and Meghan (R) — 6 May 2018
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The regular shiny happy faces: Joseph, Sonia, Stevo, and Carlos welcoming the
new shiny happy faces — 6 May 2018
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Old Schooling with Tim who sometimes brings his guitar instead of the djembe
and right behind is Kenneth on the drum along his famous flag — 6 May 2018
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Being behind the drum or lens doesn’t mean one
can’t get to enjoy the beauty
from the other side. Thank you Venice
Beach for giving me the chance to feel like
a Rock God. With the hot,
dazzling girls: Alisha, Alexa, Monique, and Meghan
— 6 May 2018
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While snapping a few shots of the kiddo I couldn’t help wondering wha he was
thinking then and there — 6 May 2018
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After making him silly faces for a few the dad caught me here — 6 May 2018
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One Love Diane — 6 May 2018
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With Uncle Andy — 6 May 2018
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Flashback from a few years back with Dan and Luis — a photo from 2015 I came
across online
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More seductive girls pausing for the camera — 6 May 2018
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More smiling kiddo — 6 May 2018
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Eva Marie doing the ritual dance in the sun — 12 May 2018
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Reuniting with her after being gone for a while — 12 May 2018
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Joseph and Sharon grooving — 26 May 2018
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Eye-catching visitors — 26 May 2018
Kymberlee and Eddy while Miguel and sweet Isa chillax on the sand
— 28 May 2018
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More Lonny in action with the notable photographer Andrew Goetze behind
— 2 June 2018
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Lonny came to the Circle to see me as I was leaving days later. What a honour
— 2 June 2018
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Shoot The Shooter I: Sonia dancing as Pino and Lonny drum on and
Andrew Goetze shoots — 2 June 2018
Shoot The Shooter II: The same moment of dancing Sonia seen in the above photo
capturedfrom the opposite direction by Andrew Goetze, myself in the hat and flower lei
included — 2 June 2018
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Nick in The Zone, while shown behind (from L to R) are: Alex, P. J, and
Carlos
further back. Nick’s tattoo reads: “Vinum Et Musica Laetificant
Cor”, which is Latin
for “Wine and music fertilise/enrich the
heart/mind/soul/spirit.”
This wine-connoisseur djembefola couldn’t
agree more; for “In Vino Veritas”.
Even Plato seemed to have shared
similar sentiments when he said:
“There is truth in wine and children”.
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Back to the day of the unicorn cum by Oliver Rossberg — 12 August 2017
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We
all have an inner beat, such as that of the heart and that of the
breath. But only
some learn how to express it outwards through music. Another cool capture
by @valzzz_ani — 21 April 2018
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Steve, the purple gangster and Venice Beach Godfather, showing one of
his creation: The Mechanical Heart — 2 June 2018
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Flashback to 4 years ago in March 2014 when I bumped into the Venice Beach Drum Circle by mere chance and absolutely knew no one there. Before buying my first djembe some months later I was taking pictures and one of the first was of Steve here. I posted it on Facebook captioned: “I Love you, Purple Man”. Little did I know that one day we’ll be become buddies and the whole place will be my found Querencia.
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Long Live Lonny Jones who is 92 years young today yet still join us either in
Venice Beach or at Full Lunacy. What an inspiration whom I am proud to call a
Brotherman — 16 September 2017 |
Stay tuned for the video.
ALSO VIEW:
A Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2014-’15)
Another Year at the Venice Beach Drum Circle in Photos & Videos (2016-’17)
A Wacky Day Out at LA Burning Man Decompression in Photos & Video
How Drumming Changed The Way My Brain Processes Music
The Intertwining of Music and Sexuality ― A Djembefola’s Tale
Drum Circle Etiquette — The Do’s and Don’ts
A Random Call That Hit Me In The Feels
Tripping Through Venice Beach Art
More Tripping Through Venice Beach Art
Attempting to Bridge the Gap Between ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: Officer Roberts
Attempting to Bridge the Gap Between ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: Sergeant Pepper
Attempting to Bridge the Gap Between ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: The Coke Prank
Attempting to Bridge the Gap Between ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: Evolution
Countering Gentrification — Eating Cheap and Healthy in Venice Beach [With a List of Places and Their Menus]
World Art Through My Lens
Ras.k. here..you never came my side in none of your films shots captions
ReplyDelete.of me and you..always alot of you.and crew you kick it around.
Why is that?).
if your representing the Whole circle.your missing alot of who also makes VBDC what it? was? became?.started? it in the first place.
I hope you one day upgrade your footage.
Learn the history;.not just people you like there..girls your always around when more come then choosen few in videos and photos you post...same faces.and yiur mostly
.we get it..you like em.but prop up and give those you missed credit.footage .stills.im no longer involved and could of put you up on history yet You never asked me once..oh yeah you smile my way..but not once interacted with me..or tjose who made it so all could join in.
Its a circle (O) ..not a (U)..(C).why do you protray it as so?
And i watch alot of your tapes and blogs..never have i seen me being the decades..it always amaze me how people that do come for tbeir beginning years there.do film and photos.
But lack the history of it actuall
I don't know who you are, or any of the names you mentioned in your other comments. I've been around for 5 years and the photos and videos are from that time. The last 3 years it's mainly Saturdays as this is when I enjoy playing. Sundays are usually too loud and chaotic for me. The "history" is covered in the documentary some of us worked on. These photo-video-articles remain from my own perspective, since I am the one behind the lens. During this time many of those pictured in the photos and videos are people I got to meet and they became my friends. If I missed one or three then that is that. I don't work for the local newspaper or get paid for my efforts, so I'm not required to follow every single person who happens to be at the circle. If you do know me and want to be in the photos or videos, then come talk to me. Simple. Again, while I know most people there, I still don't know who you are since your profile name is "Unknown" and has no picture.
DeleteCheers.