by Scott Rollins

Kofi Ayivor and Shankar Lal lent their considerable talents to a unique project released in May 2000 on Frankfurt Germany's Network label. Called Didje Blows the Games by Ankala & World Orchestra, they laid down percussive grooves to accompany the didjeridu virtuoso duo of Mark Atkins and Janawirri Yiparrka, cousins of an Aboriginal clan.

The duo first laid down the basic didjeridu tracks and Kofi and Shankar Lal then went to the Liquid Gold Studios in Germany where recording engineer Radu Marinescu and producer Christian Scholze supervised an all day and all night session. Kofi had travelled in and played in Australia before and was delighted to work with the Aboriginal musicians. Kofi spent hours talking to and playing with Mark and Janawirri in Amsterdam to prepare for the session. They all agreed the didjeridu is predominantly a rhythm instrument and Kofi responded deeply to the effects their profoundly resonant playing had on him. In the studio he and Shankar Lal laid down the solid rhythmic foundations upon which the rest of the World Orchestra improvised in subsequent sessions.
The other members of the World Orchestra include American saxophonist David Murray, accordionist Francois Castiello and violinist Bruno Girard of the French group, Bratsch, Brazilian percussionist Dom Romao, German vocalist Christiane Niemann and fellow countryman, flautist Peter Fassbender who had lived in Australia and worked with Janawirri before. Musicians from every planet on the continent!

A core group consisting of the Ankala cousins, Kofi and Shankar Lal and flautist Peter Fassbender are preparing for a series of live concerts. Check the list of distributors in various countries to order the cd.

See also the special projects page on Network Medien