Zuni drum group featured in PBS documentary

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola
Staff writer

ZUNI — A Zuni powwow drum group and dancer are representing Native American people in a popular music video and a soon-to-be-released documentary film that explores the transformative power of music.

The Twin Eagle Drum Group of Zuni Pueblo, along with Fabian Fontenelle, a Zuni/Omaha northern style powwow dancer, are featured briefly in an international music video of the classic song “Stand by Me” that can be viewed on several Internet Web sites. They will also be featured in a companion documentary, “Playing for Change: Peace through Music,” which is scheduled to have a film and soundtrack release in early 2009.

On his PBS show, journalist Bill Moyers recently interviewed filmmaker, producer, and engineer Mark Johnson who co-directed the two projects. According to Johnson, the idea for the film originated 10 years ago when he encountered two monks playing music in a New York subway to a crowd of a couple hundred people.

“And it occurred to me that here is a group of people that would normally run by each other,” Johnson told Moyers. “And here they are, collectively coming together. And it’s the music that brought them together.”

The idea behind the “Stand by Me” video — to record musicians around the world performing the song — started with another street musician, Roger Ridley, on the streets of Santa Monica, Calif. Johnson was so moved by Ridley’s version of “Stand by Me,” that he asked Ridley if he could come back with recording equipment and cameras and then take the song around the world and add other musicians to it. As part of the project, he also recruited an international group of musicians to perform Bob Marley’s “One World.”

Along with their film project’s logo — a yellow road sign featuring a man holding a musical instrument — Johnson and co-director Jonathan Walls hit the road in search of musicians. For “Stand by Me,” the filmmakers combined the talents of musicians from the United States, the Netherlands, France, Brazil, Russia, Venezuela, The Congo, South Africa, and Italy.

And, of course, Zuni Pueblo.

According to Fontenelle, a mutual friend had introduced Johnson to Fontenelle, a native of Zuni Pueblo, and Fontenelle’s wife, the award-winning Northern Cheyenne singer Shelley Morningsong. Fontenelle then recruited the Twin Eagle Drum Group to the project.

John Niiha is one of the members of the northern style drum group. Niiha said Johnson’s crew recorded the Zuni portion of the video about three years ago, near Dowa Yalanne, the Zuni’s sacred Corn Mountain. Johnson returned to Zuni later, Niiha said, to show the musicians footage of the video.

“It’s an experience we’ll never forget,” said Niiha, who said he was looking forward to seeing the finished project.

“I think it’s really an honor and privilege to be involved with something like that on a global scale,” Fontenelle agreed.

In a telephone interview, Johnson said he chose Zuni musicians due to the love and respect he has for Fontenelle and Morningsong. Calling Zuni an “incredible community,” Johnson said he respects the Zuni people for carrying on their musical and cultural traditions.

Although Twin Eagle Drum Group and Fontenelle are only shown briefly in the “Stand by Me” video, Johnson said their music and dance will be featured in a section of the film.

“Playing for Change: Peace through Music” premiered earlier this year at the Tribeca Film Festival. Johnson said he expects the film to show at art house theaters in 2009, in addition to becoming available on DVD and cable. The film project also led to the establishment of the Playing for Change Foundation, an organization that is working to build music schools and art centers at some of the film locations.

Information: www.playingforchange.com or www.playingforchange.org

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November 19, 2008
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