Since 1985, Percussionist Steve Ferraris has performed for audiences of all ages, both nationally and internationally.

STEVE FERRARIS
and the ROOTSYSTEM DRUMMERS

Check out our new CD: "Rootsystem Music", download mp3s from our songlist and view a video excerpt of The Rootsystem Drummers in a live concert performance! Strong grooves with melodies that are uplifting, sometimes haunting, and always make you want to move your dancin' feet! The instrumentation is all percussion, utilizing the West African djembe drum orchestration. The vocals feature the scintillating, bluesy, jazz inflected voicings of April Caspari and the powerful, rootsy singing of Heshima. This is "Rootsystem Music -- Music for the body, music for the soul"!

The Rootsystem Drummers cook with Djembe and Djun Djun drums plus a healthy dash of Balafon (African Xylophone) and vocals served on a bed of Roots, Funk, Blues, Reggae and Rap. Rootsystem serves original music informed by African traditions. Healthy warning: Ingesting this music may cause you to run to the dance floor!

Steve Ferraris has played and taught percussion for the past 20 years. Performance credits include 8 years of touring with the Jazz/Funk group Michael Ray and the Cosmic Krewe playing at major festivals in the US and Europe, and in New England he has performed regularly with the salsa groups Manteca, Jazzismo and Grupo Sabor.

The members of the Rootsystem Drummers are Jeffrey Slayton, Alan Berolsheimer, Lew Sussman, April Caspari and Heshima.

bookings: Contact Steve Ferraris 802-649-5136

Rootsystem Recordings

In the spring of 1997 I played a "Tribute to Sun Ra" show at USC in L.A. with Michael Ray's Cosmic Krewe. Michael asked me to open the show with percussion. I asked Bob Gullotti (The Fringe) and Jac Jackson (Sun Ra Arkestra) to join me on drums and percussion after my introduction. We didn't discuss what we would play, only that I would start followed by Gullotti and then Jackson. It worked!

This was the first manifestation of an idea I'd had for a couple of years to have a percussion trio playing either completely improvised music or playing general concepts. A big part of my initial idea was based on the fact that I knew that Bob Gullotti would be the drummer of choice based on our seven year musical relationship playing together in the Cosmic Krewe and Don Glasgo's Spaceship Earth. However, between the USC show and when I booked the first Rootsystem trio gig my concept for the group took a slight twist. I definitely wanted a trio because a trio is one of the most demanding and rewarding musical situations. Musically, Bob and I wanted to play collective improvisations. We decided that we would create a setting where we could invite different musicians to fill out our trio. This addresses the goal of keeping the music open and fresh and it also allows us to play with many of our favorite musicians. So far we have played percussion duets, piano and percussion with the talented Taurey Butler, and sax and percussion with the inimitable Dave Grippo. This recording is the result of our first year as Rootsystem. I dedicate this music to our friend and original member of the Rootsystem trio whose huge creative spirit touched so many, Mr. Jac Jackson.