about gregory "Jebada" powell
Jebada began playing hand drums in 1964. He was raised in Spanish Harlem, New York, where drumming was a common daily occurrence on every street corner. Here, he learned to play the congas, bata drums, timbales, and the African djembe. Probably due to this early influence, Jebada's primary focus throughout the years has been on Latin, Afro-Cuban and West African rhythms.
Jebada played in the Brooklyn College Latin Band from 1969-1973. On weekends for many years, Jebada regularly drummed in New York's famed Central Park drum circle and in Brooklyn's Prospect Park drum circle. He studied under Houston's Master Drummer Abubakr Kouyate from 2009-2010.
After moving to Houston in 1986, Jebada has worked professionally as a djembe drumming instructor, drum circle facilitator and leader of a drum ensemble. He participates in several of the annual events and festivals in the Greater Houston Area such as in the African village drumming event at the Houston International Festival, the Jones Hall "Day of Music" festival, and the Houston Art Crawl. He facilitated the 2010 Texas Big Beat drum circle and the 2011 Unity Church 11-11-11 Oneness Blessing celebration drum-circle. He currently hosts and facilitates the Imani Vida Community drum circle monthly, and the Galveston Seawall Full Moon drum circles.
Jebada especially enjoys drumming outdoors where he experiences a greater spiritual connection to the Creator and a harmonic balance with Nature's melody.
Jebada played in the Brooklyn College Latin Band from 1969-1973. On weekends for many years, Jebada regularly drummed in New York's famed Central Park drum circle and in Brooklyn's Prospect Park drum circle. He studied under Houston's Master Drummer Abubakr Kouyate from 2009-2010.
After moving to Houston in 1986, Jebada has worked professionally as a djembe drumming instructor, drum circle facilitator and leader of a drum ensemble. He participates in several of the annual events and festivals in the Greater Houston Area such as in the African village drumming event at the Houston International Festival, the Jones Hall "Day of Music" festival, and the Houston Art Crawl. He facilitated the 2010 Texas Big Beat drum circle and the 2011 Unity Church 11-11-11 Oneness Blessing celebration drum-circle. He currently hosts and facilitates the Imani Vida Community drum circle monthly, and the Galveston Seawall Full Moon drum circles.
Jebada especially enjoys drumming outdoors where he experiences a greater spiritual connection to the Creator and a harmonic balance with Nature's melody.
