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Famoudou Don Moye

perc, dr, *1946 US
Musician of Jazz

Famoudou Don Moye (b. 1946) is an American avant-jazz percussionist and drummer, best known as a member of The Art Ensemble Of Chicago since 1969, and recognized as an extraordinary master of Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments and rhythmic techniques. Don Moye developed his own original 'sun percussion' style of performing, and led Sun Percussion Summit with Enoch Williamson, which is a group dedicated to exploring the traditions of African-American percussion music. Born in Rochester, New York, Famoudou performed in a church choir and various drum and bugle corps (marching ensembles) during his youth. He was exposed to jazz from an early age – his mother worked for a local social club, located door-to-door with a jazz venue that hosted musicians like Kenny Burrell and Jimmy McGriff, and often took her son to concerts, including Mahalia Jackson performances. Don Moye's uncles played saxophone, while his father was a drummer. Moye studied percussion at Wayne State University in Detroit. A trumpeter Charles Moore, who happened to live in the same building, became Famoudou's mentor and introduced him to the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). In 1968, Famoudou Don Moye travelled to Europe with his first band, Detroit Free Jazz. He eventually spent a few years abroad, working for RAI (Italian Radio and Television) briefly, and collaborating extensively with Moroccan musicians, as well as many notable jazz figures, such as Steve Lacy, Pharoah Sanders, Sonny Sharrock, Randy Weston, and Art Taylor. In 1969, while rehearsing and performing at the American Center For Students And Artists in Paris, Moye met saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, who was in Europe with his quartet The Art Ensemble of Chicago (also featuring Joseph Jarman (sax), Lester Bowie (trumpet) and Malachi Favors on bass). AEC already released three albums on BYG Records at the time, but four members were playing percussion parts themselves, and lacked a dedicated performer to complete a rhythm section. Roscoe Mitchell asked Don Moye to join the group. After returning to the United States in the early 1970s, Famoudou Don Moye had played with Black Artists Group in St. Louis for a while, and finally settled in Chicago. Apart from an extensive work the The Art Ensemble Of Chicago, Moye also played in a duo with percussionist Steve McCall. In 1984, the musician joined The Leaders (3) jazz supergroup. Famoudou Don Moye played and recorded with different bands and ensembles of Don Pullen, Cecil McBee, Hamiet Bluiett, Julius A Hemphill, Chico Freeman and Lester Bowie's Brass Fantasy. His recordings are universally recognized by critics at such prestigious publications as Rolling Stone, Melody Maker, The New York Times, Stereo Review, Audio Magazine, and Down Beat. Famoudou Don Moye received grants from the National Endowment For The Arts in 1974 and '81.

     
Instruments
  • Percussion
  • Drums
  • Congas
  • Bongos
  • Cowbell
Genres
  • Jazz
  • Folk
  • World
Popular Tracks   
Mama Marimba on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
Folò Folò on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
Salamandra on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
African Groove on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
Acit on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
Soumale on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
Ma fille on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone
Kumbe (Beautiful Meeting) on JazzEvolution by Baba Sissoko, Antonello Salis & Famoudou Don Moye
Moye on JazzEvolution by Baba Sissoko, Antonello Salis & Famoudou Don Moye
Dounia on Folk Bass Spirit Suit by Famoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko & Maurizio Capone

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Duo Infernal Volume 4 - Cq20 For Tchicai LoluFamoudou Don Moye & Hartmut Geerken2017Album
Duo InfernalFamoudou Don Moye & Hartmut Geerken2016Album
Duo Infernal Volume 2Famoudou Don Moye & Hartmut Geerken2016Album
Duo Infernal Volume 3 Radio Revolten RantHartmut Geerken & Famoudou Don Moye2016Album
Le CorbuTibor Elekes, Famoudou Don Moye, Kirk Lightsey2015Album
Jazz (R)evolutionBaba Sissoko With Antonello Salis - Famoudou Don Moye2015Album
Work In Regress720° Quintet Featuring Famoudou Don Moye2013Album
West Africa Tour (Sierra Leone, Liberia & Guinea), April 1985John Tchicai / Hartmut Geerken / Famoudou Don Moye2012Album
Spettacolo!!!Scie Chimiche Featuring Famoudou Don Moye2011Album
For Bobo (Oscar Brown III)Famoudou Don Moye, Sun Percussion Summit & More2010Album
Hexenring (A Live Radio Play)Hartmut Geerken & Famoudou Don Moye2008Album
The Gray GooseClaudio Lugo - Francesco D'Errico, Famoudou Don Moye, Hartmut Geerken2007Album
Folk Bass Spirit SuiteFamoudou Don Moye, Baba Sissoko, Maurizio Capone2004Album
Bamako Chicago Express (Live In Longiano)Famoudou Don Moye - Sun Percussion Summit & More Special Guest Baba Sissoko2002Album
A Symphony Of CitiesFamoudou Don Moye • Tatsu Aoki2002Album
The African TapesHartmut Geerken / John Tchicai / Famoudou Don Moye2001Album
Ancestral Memories: From Afrika To ChicagoFamoudou Don Moye, Sun Percussion Summit & More1998Album
Afrikan SongFamoudou Don Moye & Enoch Williamson, Sun Percussion Summit & More1996Album
Old Ground, New GroundGianni Lenoci Quintet Feat. Bob Mover Feat. Famoudou Don Moye1993Album
Calypso's SmileJoseph Jarman, Famoudou Don Moye1992Album
UncagedMario Schiano • Famoudou Don Moye • Marcello Melis • Giancarlo Schiaffini1991Album
The African Tapes Volume 2Famoudou Don Moye - John Tchicai - Hartmut Geerken1988Album
The African Tapes Volume 1Famoudou Don Moye - John Tchicai - Hartmut Geerken1987Album
Cassava BallsHartmut Geerken - Famoudou Don Moye - John Tchicai1985Album
Pieces Of TimeMilford Graves, Andrew Cyrille, Kenny Clarke, Famoudou Don Moye1984Album
Live At The Progressive Arts CenterFamoudou Don Moye - Ari Brown1982Album
Earth Passage - DensityJoseph Jarman - Famoudou Don Moye1981Album
Black PaladinsJoseph Jarman - Famoudou Don Moye Featuring Johnny Dyani1980Album
Milano StrutDon Pullen Featuring Famoudou Don Moye1979Album
The Magic TriangleDon Pullen, Joseph Jarman, Famoudou Don Moye1979Album
Egwu-Anwu (Sun Song)Joseph Jarman, Famoudou Don Moye1978Album
Raw Materials And ResidualsJulius A Hemphill With Abdul Wadud And Famoudou Don Moye1977Album
BarsHamiet Bluiett, Marcello Melis, Famoudou Don Moye1977Album
Sun Percussion Volume OneFamoudou Don Moye1975Album
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To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
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