1994 - maintenantThe main focus of Oubekou is the creation and diffusion of world music in a manner that builds community and unifies audiences.
The director of this endeavor is a Senegalese drummer, Ahmadou Ngom. A talented percussionist from Kaolack he has had a rich history as a professional musician, and has worked to create two CDs featuring his compositions.
The first Cd was completed in 1995. The original band members were Ahmadou, Richard Fallis(bass), Ibou Ndour(guitar) and Paul Édouard Ndiaye(trumpet) and Sanou Diouf (saxophone). They met up in the Gambia for some intensive composing in the winter of '95. The album integrates traditional rhythms maintaining a sense of past within an emmerging present. Richard's understanding of subdivision and long career as a professional musician in Canada, Ndiaye's experience with Youssou Ndour, Super Diamono and Thioune Seck, Ibrahima's deep rootedness in tradition, Sanou's experience with the Senegalese National Orchestra combined with Ngom's deeply spiritual voice and exquisite talent as an accomplished percussionist made for an innovative master piece in the form of Dieuf Dieul recorded in Dakar in March 1995.
In 1997, Ngom opens a store on St. Viateur St. in Montreal's well known neighbourhood Mile End. During the 9 years he ran shop he continued to compose and participate in many musical venues in the community.
In 1999 Ahmadou encounters Rodney Sothmann a bass player from the outskirts of Spencerville, Ontario. They work together until 2003 when Wendy Ultan an outstanding violinist from New York joins the band. Her longstanding talent and experience ranging from playing with the New Mexico
Symphony at 18 followed by the Filharmonicadi Caracas to playing and composing with a large variety of artists including William Parker, Elliot Sharp, Evelyn Blakey, Leroy Jenkins as well as degrees in jazz and classical music injects colour and sound. As in the jazz tradition, musical conversation, talking with one's sound, make for intriguing and subtle conversations between Ngom and Ultan.
In addition , Mr.Ngom has been involved in many community-based workshops featuring drumming and has played for other bands in events such as the Montreal Jazz Festival accompanying Kine Lam in 1996. He has been committed to teaching the community about music and drumming and its history and implications in our daily lives. He is easily accessed through classes, workshops, and even enters elementary schools and events in order to diffuse information and music.
The musical group Oubekou has played at many venues and events in Quebec, and has met with rave reviews.
