Mike Bennett

MIKE BENNETT & BALANTAMA:

Mike Bennett - Balafon & Vocals

Ryan Blotnick - Guitar

Sam Barry - Bass

Beau Lisy - Percussion

Dave Palazola - Percussion

Mike Bennett has been a professional percussionist for more than 25 years and is known through Maine as one of the most versatile drummers in the state. He's played drumset or percussion with the Patti Wicks Trio, A-Train, Shane Ellis Bands, Willy Kelly, Ruby Gensheimer, Doug Crate, Tree by Leaf, The Beatroots, Birdhouse, Diane Linscott, Liza Rey, Inanna, and many more. In the 90's he was the house drummer for the Left Bank Cafe in Blue Hill.

In 1999 Mike made his 1st trip to Gambia, West Africa and now has been 10 consecutive years studying djembe with Amadou Joof; sabar with Mamjam Janha; and balafon with Keba Mane. Mike is adjunct faculty at College of The Atlantic teaching world percussion and has also taught many years at Summer Festival of the Arts. He was co-producer of the compilation CD Gambia...For The People which received critical acclaim in Modern Drummer magazine. Mike produced, narrated, and did the camera work for his documentary movie Gambia... N'Karamoo... a video about his teachers, friends, and family in Serrekunda, Gambia. He is currently working on his solo CD 'Boongah' which will be done in mid December. Mike is considered a formost authority on Gambian percussion in the US.

He currently lives in Southwest Harbor and teaches private lessons in his studio and is working on his next documentary focusing on his balafon teacher Keba Mane. Also coming soon will be an instructional video on sabar drumming... the very exciting syncopated drums of the Wolof tribe in Gambia/ Senegal.