J&D International: West Africa - The Gambia & Liberia

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The Embassy of the United States, Banjul, The Gambia, invited Dr. Wes and a trio of musicians for a two week educational and performance tour of both Banjul and Monrovia, Liberia, in June, 2011. Dr. Wes and the band spent a week in each country, conducting 12 educational sessions, performing at local venues, U.S. Embassy events and for heads of state. Enjoy the sights and sounds of J&D’s second international tour ...

Dr. Wes with the J&D West African Tour Band (L to R):

Ruth Price / drums
Kwame Coleman / keys
Dr. Wes / J&D Founder
Atemu Aton / bass

Marina/BAES Middle School, Banjul

The J&D West African Tour Band enjoying their first school performance.

St. Joseph’s High School, Banjul

The band heading into our second session. Atemu Aton with his bass, Ruth with cymbals and sticks on her back, Kwami carrying Ruth’s snare drum...

St. Joseph’s High School, Banjul

…and Dr. Wes with the ever present Whackin’ The Blues™ posters. Notice how dry his shirt is coming out of the air-conditioned U.S. Embassy van.

St. Joseph’s High School, Banjul

Dr. Wes leading the J&D session. Notice how wet his shirt is compared to the last picture, not to mention in comparison to the students. Dr. Wes is a passionate teacher, but also one who hadn’t yet acclimated to the humid African heat!

St. Joseph’s High School, Banjul

During the session a young teacher approached our drummer, Ruth Price, and said, “I prayed to God to send me an angel to teach me how to play drums. Are you my angel?” Ruth’s reply is evident.

Ruth, always encouraging and giving to interested students, arranged a follow-up lesson at our hotel later in the week.

St. Joseph’s High School, Banjul

The young ladies from St. Joseph's were fully engaged in the J&D workshop!

St. Joseph’s High School, Banjul

The band posing with the class.

SBEC Middle School at The American Corner

Dr. Wes igniting young minds…

SBEC Middle School at The American Corner

…and those young minds at work!

SBEC Middle School at The American Corner

Like jazz, J&D workshops involve a group process and a collective work of art!

SBEC Middle School at The American Corner

Whenever possible, we had the students get as close to the instruments as possible…

SBEC Middle School at The American Corner

…and even try their hand!

SBEC Middle School at The American Corner

Students often lingered long after J&D sessions were complete.

Outside The American Corner with Atemu Aton’s bass case over his shoulder in the foreground.

U.S. Embassy, Banjul

Children of U.S. Embassy employees enjoyed the J&D workshop and took their learning quite seriously!

U.S. Embassy, Banjul

Ambassador Pamela White (standing with the orange Boomwhacker™, left) and other Embassy staff also enjoyed the session along with the children.

U.S. Embassy, Banjul

Atemu Aton answering questions about playing a 6-string electric bass.

U.S. Embassy, Banjul

Once again, bringing students as close to the music as possible!

Gambia High School at The American Corner

Back at the American Corner with older students.

Gambia High School at The American Corner

Ruth and Atemu patiently waiting their chance to play while Dr. Wes leads the J&D workshop.

Gambia High School at The American Corner

Ruth, Kwami and Atemu imparting what it takes to be a good jazz musician.

Gambia Methodist Academy

Dr. Wes enjoying teaching…

Gambia Methodist Academy

…one of the most engaged classes of the entire West African tour.

Gambia Methodist Academy

One of the best group poster sessions of the entire West African tour.

Gambia Methodist Academy

One of the best group poster sessions of the entire West African tour.

Gambia Methodist Academy

One of the best group poster sessions of the entire West African tour.

Gambia Methodist Academy

One of the best group poster sessions of the entire West African tour.

Gambia Methodist Academy

One of the best group poster sessions of the entire West African tour.

Gambia Methodist Academy

Students sharing their dreams and how they plan to achieve them!

Gambia Methodist Academy

The room wasn’t big enough to have the students crowd around the band, but one student shared that she wanted to be a drummer, so Dr. Wes sat her right next to Ruth.

University of The Gambia, Birkama Campus

University of The Gambia students discussing their dreams and how they plan to achieve them. They were just as eager to engage in this level of jazz-inspired thinking as younger students.

University of The Gambia, Birkama Campus

A few of the students wanted to join in with the band!

University of The Gambia, Birkama Campus

We noticed a few young boys outside the classroom who were intrigued by the music, so we invited them in. All three wanted to be drummers, so we invited them to play with the band.

4th of July Celebration, Banjul

The J&D West African Tour Band were the featured attraction at the 4th of July Celebration hosted by the U.S. Embassy, Banjul.

4th of July Celebration, Banjul

The ladies of the J&D West African Tour, Banjul (L to R):

Zainab Jah, Public Diplomacy Assistant
Tula Orum, Public Affairs Officer
Ruth Price, drums

Many thanks to Zainab, Tula, and the entire U.S. Embassy, Banjul, for their diligence and thoughtfulness throughout our stay.

4th of July Celebration, Banjul

Dr. Wes and the band with U.S. Ambassador, Pamela White.

4th of July Celebration, Banjul

Dr. Wes with Deputy Chief of Mission, Cindy Gregg.

4th of July Celebration, Banjul

Dr. Wes with U.S. Ambassador, Pamela White.

Final—and arguably the best—performance in Banjul at The Djeliba Hotel, as a guest of the Senegambia Jazz Society.

4th of July, Monrovia City Hall

The J&D West African Tour Band provided music for the 235th Anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, held at Monrovia’s City Hall.

4th of July, Monrovia City Hall

Dr. Wes with U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

4th of July, Monrovia City Hall

Dr. Wes shaking hands with Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female head of state on the continent of Africa and winner of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize.

4th of July, Monrovia City Hall

Dr. Wes presenting Jazz, by Jim Marshall, to President Johnson-Sirleaf. Special thanks to Atemu Aton who had the great idea to bring a gift for the president!

4th of July, Monrovia City Hall

When our drummer, Ruth Price, met President Johnson-Sirleaf, she said, “You and I have something in common: we both do things men typically do!” The President laughed in agreement.

4th of July, Monrovia City Hall

The J&D West African Tour posing with President Johnson-Sirleaf.

JJ Roberts & Muslim Congress High

Dr. Wes talking with poster groups at the first session in Monrovia.

Ricks Institute

Dr. Wes checking in with students as they work on their posters.

Ricks Institute

Kids are funny sometimes—even when they’re doing serious work!

Ricks Institute

Dr. Wes doing his best to help a student articulate her dreams and possibilities!

Ricks Institute

Dr. Wes having a very poignant conversation with a young boy who expressed the desire to become president one day.

Ricks Institute

Students enthralled with the band as they played to close the session…

Ricks Institute

…and the band equally enthralled with the music.

ANAM’s Annual Independence Day Concert

The J&D West African Tour Band were honored to participate at the Agape National Academy of Music (ANAM) Inaugural Independence Day Concert at the First United Methodist Church in Monrovia. According to Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, performances like these made the band the talk of the town, and “the Liberians are still talking about Ruth!”

ANAM’s Annual Independence Day Concert

The J&D West African Tour Band were just one of many performers on the night, including the ANAM Youth Choir pictured here.

Monrovia High School Students

Whackin’ The Blues™ is always a hit with students!

Monrovia High School Students

Whackin’ The Blues™ is always a hit with students!

Monrovia High School Students

Whackin’ The Blues™ is always a hit with students!

Monrovia High School Students

The students amused by something Kwami and Atemu are saying about what it means to play jazz.

Youth Leaders

An older crowd of Youth Leaders, equally enthused by Whackin’ The Blues™.

Youth Leaders

The J&D band intent on the music and one another…

Youth Leaders

…and the Youth Leaders intent on witnessing and learning from the process.

Ambassador’s Residence

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield requested dance music for a special performance at her residence. Here the band is enjoying Ruth’s playing and vocal cover of Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady.”

ANAM All Day Workshop

U.S. Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and Deputy Chief of Mission, Karl Albrecht (smiling in the rear), joined the first workshop of an all day session with Agape National Academy of Music (ANAM) students.

ANAM All Day Workshop

Dr. Wes taking care to explain Whackin’ The Blues™ one last time in Africa.

ANAM All Day Workshop

Workshop two of the all day session included a jazz history lecture by Kwami Coleman.

ANAM All Day Workshop

Kwami was as engaging and entertaining as he was knowledgeable.

ANAM All Day Workshop

The final workshop of the day—and of our time in Africa—was a jazz theory workshop led by Atemu Aton.

ANAM All Day Workshop

Atemu covered at least a semester’s worth of jazz theory in the space of a couple hours, helping students understand the choices and decisions jazz musicians make at the spur of the moment—and thereby helping them appreciate the complexity and genius of the jazz masters.

Special thanks to…

Alieu Sanyang, our sound engineer in Banjul

Special thanks to…

Atemu Aton

Special thanks to…

Kwami Coleman

Special thanks to…

Ruth Price

Finally, our warmest thanks to everyone at the U.S. Embassy, Banjul and Monrovia, who made our trip possible:

U.S. Ambassador to The Gambia, Pamela White
Deputy Chief of Mission, Cindy Gregg
Public Affairs Officer, Tula Orum
Public Diplomacy Assistant, Zainab Jah
Cultural Affairs Assistant and Education Advisor, Mohamadou M Njie ("Papa")
Sound Engineer, Alieu Sanyang
Secretary, Senegambia Jazz Society, Mahtaar E. Njai
Motor Pool Department at the U.S. Embassy, Banjul

U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Deputy Chief of Mission, Karl Albrecht
Public Affairs Officer, Dehab Ghebreab
Associate Public Affairs Officer, Megan Johnson
Motor Pool Department at the U.S. Embassy, Monrovia
You are listening to The J&D West African Tour Band (Atemu Aton on bass, Kwami Coleman on keyboard, and Ruth Price on drums) jamming on an Afro-beat groove they spontaneously created on Wednesday, June 29th, at The Gambia Methodist Academy. Voices in the background include band members, Dr. Wes, U.S. Embassy staff, school administrators, teachers and students dancing and having a good time.