The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt presents Contemporary Music for Percussion performed by the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble; the Complex Rhythms of the West African Ewe Tradition performed by the World Percussion Group; And the Festive Steel Drum Sounds of the Caribbean performed by the Humboldt Calypso Band. The performances are directed by Howard Kaufman & Eugene Novotney. Join us Saturday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Concert tickets are $15 General, $5 Children, and $5 for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at tickets.humboldt.edu/dance-music-and-theatre.
Director Eugene Novotney is excited about the evenings program, "We work hard all semester long to bring our very best to the Fulkerson Hall stage. We absolutely love presenting our music to the Humboldt audience, and we guarantee you that if you can come out and join us, you will not be disappointed!"
The Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble begins the program by featuring three exciting works. The first piece, Three Brothers (1951), composed by Michael Colgrass, was Colgrass's first percussion ensemble work, composed nearly 75 years ago and still a staple in percussion literature. Scored for nine players, it features three prominent soloists—snare drum, bongos, and timpani ("the three brothers")—while the remaining six instruments (cowbell, maracas, tambourine, suspended cymbal, tom-toms, additional timpani) take supportive yet essential roles. It’s essentially a jazz-influenced drum solo, built from the composer’s own jazz “licks,” with interplay between soloists and supporting rhythmic textures. The title nods to the famously swinging "Four Brothers" arrangement by Jimmy Giuffre, suggesting Colgrass’s jazz roots shaped this work.
The second piece on the program, and a Cal Poly Humboldt premiere, Six (2012), by Ivan Trevino, is a mallet sextet which celebrates memory, resonance, and ensemble sound. Six is scored for two 5-octave marimbas, two vibraphones, and two glockenspiels, creating a rich, layered tapestry of mallet colors and textures. The work carries a deeply personal narrative for the composer: it reflects the six years Trevino spent as a student at Eastman and the special memories made there. Musically, Six draws inspiration from the atmospheric, expansive soundscapes of the Icelandic rock band Sigur Rós — melding minimalist pulse, shimmering timbre, and introspective lyricism into a chamber-percussion setting.
The third and final featured work for the contemporary ensemble is Piru Bole (1974) by John Bergamo, a striking drum composition that fuses rich rhythmic tradition with contemporary ensemble writing. Originally published in 1974, the work has gained prominence for its imaginative blending of East-Indian tabla concepts with Western percussion ensemble idioms. Piru Bole features open instrumentation, giving performers flexibility in configuration. Though firmly rooted in hand-drum technique inspired by Indian tabla, the piece is explicitly non-traditional—Bergamo employs tabla-like approaches as points of departure rather than replication. The piece dances between intricate rhythmic groupings, call-and-response textures, and both group and solo improvisation.
The World Percussion Group will perform Kinka, a vibrant recreational music and dance tradition of the Anlo-Ewe people of southeastern Ghana, characterized by interlocking drum patterns, call-and-response singing, and intricate bell and rattle figures. Originally performed in community settings for social gatherings and celebrations, Kinka combines polyrhythmic drumming with energetic movement and song, emphasizing communal participation and rhythmic dialogue. In performance, Kinka invites both players and audience into a shared experience of groove, unity, and joy—an expression of Ewe musical philosophy where rhythm embodies social connection and spiritual vitality.
The second half of the program will feature the festive dance music of one of Humboldt County’s favorite and most enduring musical ensembles, the Humboldt Calypso Band. The Calypso Band will celebrate its 40th Year Anniversary at Cal Poly Humboldt this coming Spring 2026, and this concert will be the kick-off to the band's year-long celebration. The Calypso Band, over 50-members strong, will feature several high-energy compositions from the Caribbean in their set, including the modern Panorama classics–Birthday Party by the steelpan legend Len “Boogsie” Sharpe, The Hammer by noted Calypsonian David Rudder, and Panoramic by steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague, who will be featured as one of the guest artists on the Calypso Band's Spring 2026 Anniversary show. In addition, the band will perform a beautiful new arrangement of Bob Marley's iconic tune, Waiting in Vain arranged by Antiguan, Khan Cordice, who will also be performing at Cal Poly Humboldt as a guest with the Calypso Band this Spring. The Calypso Band will showcase many of its members performing improvised solos in several of the bands' compositions, highlighting the vast talent and artistry of its membership. The Humboldt Calypso Band prides itself in maintaining an accurate and authentic connection to the roots of the steelband movement and the innovative musicians of Trinidad & Tobago, the island nation on which this unique steelband phenomenon was born, and this performance will represent some of the best music that Trinidad & Tobago has produced. Eugene Novotney adds, “This music speaks directly to your soul!"
Novotney urges you to not miss out on an incredible musical experience, " The enthusiasm of the Humboldt audience is what makes our concerts unique. We feed off the energy of the crowd, and that support inspires us to give our very best. We cannot do it alone!"
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