Andy is a drummer, percussionist, balafonist and pianist specializing in jazz and African music, and is currently the Musical Director of Feraba. From 1990 to 1995 he pursued a degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, with an emphasis on drum set and Jazz Studies. During this time, he participated in the recording of two CD projects, conducted a lab band and toured China while a member of the University’s Jazz Ensemble.  From 1995 to 1997 he toured nationally with guitarist/singer/songwriter Billy McLaughlin.

Moving to Connecticut in the summer of 1997, Andy continued to perform, record and study music with Scott Hanna, percussionist, teacher, and founder of Rhythm Exchange World Music Ensemble.  The group toured nationally in 1999, performing in schools, clubs and theaters and was invited to perform at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in February 2000.

Since 2000, Andy has been studying the music of West Africa with various master musicians such as Abou Sylla, Famoro Dioubate, and Madou Dembele.   He is a member of several New York based groups including The Mandingo Ambassadors, lead by former Bembeya Jazz guitarist Mamady Kouyate.  He performs, tours and records with Famoro Dioubate's Kakande, The Afro-yorkers, led by keyboardist/composer Azouhouni Adou, Saida Fikri and others.  He has also worked with several acclaimed recording artists from West Africa, including Sekouba Bambino, Mory Djeli Kouyate, and Oumou Dioubate. 

He currently leads his own ensemble, dedicated to the exploration of traditional and contemporary styles from Africa, the African Diaspora, and various jazz forms.  Andy has traveled to Europe, Cuba, Guinea, and Mali to study and perform and plans to return to West Africa. He has received several composition grants from various New York arts foundations, and in 2007 was commissioned by Circuit Productions to create the program “Sound Bridges” with funding provided through the New York State Music Fund.  Andy also leads an African percussion ensemble at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY, and teaches private and group classes in the New York City area and throughout New England. 

Yalani Bangoura is a master dancer, performer, choreographer, acrobat and teacher of dances from his homeland, Guinea, West Africa. He is also well known for his exciting, contemporary hip-hop dance style. Since his arrival in the U.S. he has appeared with many prestigious African Dance companies such as Magbana, Sankofa Kuumba, and Bamidele Dancers and Drummers. Yalani teaches African dance classes and workshops at many events and locations throughout the U.S. including the Guinea Fanyi Conference, Oakland, CA, The Dinizulu Center of African Culture and Research, NYC, residencies at Buxton School, Williamstown, MA and at the Ifetayo Cultural Arts Center, NYC. Yalani was a member of the award-winning West African dance and drum company Les Merveilles de Guinea under the direction of Mr. Kemoko Sano, former choreographer for the legendary Les Ballets Africains of the Republic of Guinea. Yalany has toured France, Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast and Senegal and has performed at Orlando’s Disney World with Les Merveilles. He has been a member of Feraba since 1998.

IIn 1996 Stephanie Larriere moved from France to NY City to dedicate herself to rhythm tap and study the art form with the masters of the genre. Included among them are Buster Brown, Brenda Buffalino, Savion Glover, Max Pollak, and Roxane Butterfly. She has been a member of Feraba since 1998.

Soon after moving to New York, she started a tap jam session at Swing 46, a jazz club in midtown Manhattan, which was hosted by the legendary Buster Brown, and became an institution in the New York tap dance scene. She performed there regularly with many great local and international dancers and musicians.

Stephanie has participated in a variety of projects here in New York and abroad. She has collaborated on a musical/ theater creation with the band Bebe Eiffel which was presented at several French festivals, and with the company Tempo Cantabile, a contemporary tap company based in France. She has also performed with the vaudevillian Bindlestiff Family circus on 42 Street and in 2003 started a collaborative project: Rhythmutation, exploring tap dance in relation to other performing art forms such as martial arts, juggling, and mask arts. As a tap soloist she has performed with the jazz pianist Joel Forrester in France and in New York.

Her most recent project, the Synesthetes, is a formation of musicians and dancers exploring correspondences of perception through different themes integrating tap, music, dance and video. Stephanie has been a teaching artist throughout the New York City school system since 2000.

 

Ibrahima "Kolipe" Camara is a Master Drummer from Guinea West Africa. At the age of 10 Kolipe began his study of the Djembe with Yamoussa Camara of The National Ballets; Les Ballets Africaines and Les Merveilles De Guinee. Under Yamoussa’s guidance he traveled through out the regions of Guinea, learning the diffirent types of musical instruments, rhythms and dances from Guinea’s many ethnic groups. In 1992 Kolipe jonied Les Merveilles De Guinee, working with the world renowed director and choregrapher, Mohammed Kemoko Sano, from The National Ballets of Guinea. After 3 years with the Merveilles De Guinee he joined Le Solei D’Afrique " The Sun of Africa", and toured out of Africa for his first time, playing in Belgium as a lead percussionist. After his international tour with Le Solei D’AFrique, Kolipe took his own artistry to another level & created the group Zanga Zanga. This group is well known throughout Guinea playing for local and national ceremonies & festivals. In 2000, Ibrahima Kolipe Camara joined Les Ballets Africaines, the internationally recognized representatives of West African Culture, and the highest level of accomplishment for a Guinean percussionist. As a lead drummer for the Ballet, Kolipe toured throughout Africa and the United States. Since 2005, he has been living in New York; teaching, touring, and performing with a number of talented groups, continually pleasing crowds as a dynamic musician with a powerfully positive presence.

Former Members: Abou Sylla Chikako Iwahori Stefan Monssen Aboubacar Kouyate Fode Bangoura Lynn Schwab Sidiki Conde Mamasta Camara   Guest Artists: Max Pollak Roxane Butterfly Mouminatou Camara Fara Tolno Abdoulaye Diabate Madou Dembele Mamady Kouyate Keba Bobo Cissoko Famoro Dioubate Rufus Cappadocia Azouhouni Adou Sogbeti Diomande Balla Kouyate Salif Malima Kone Moko Camara Kocasale Diabate Mange Sylla Aaron Spencer Maria Sartori Spencer