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Moondog’s “Utsu” by the Voodoo Drummer Duo The new single by the Voodoo Drummer duo is their interpretation of Moondog’s composition “UTSU”. It’s a simple and beautiful melody that they let it breathe, nobody rushes to fill every gap. Cello and Balafon switch in a raw, improvised, and minimal way, not always following the formal traditions of Western music. Without a snare drum, the drum set, when not keeping the 5/4 pulse, moves to unexpected sounds, balancing between tension and release, statement and storytelling! Echoes of the past… from the Far East to the future! Moondog’s music and drum pieces in odd time signatures have been a major influence for the duo. They already cover his “Elf Dance” on their debut album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCd5XYesCcg “Suzuko plays the Utsu in 5–4 time. Introducing the Utsu, a small, keyboard instrument in the 5-tone scale.” (from the 1953 album “On the streets of New York”) Mary Suzuko Whiteing was his second wife. Utsu in Japanese means mainly to hit, to beat. *The Voodoo Drummer Duo* Stavros Parginos: Spiritual Cello Chris Koutsogiannis: Weirdofon & Sacred Drums drummervoodoo@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/VoodooDrummerDuo https://www.instagram.com/voodoo_drummer/ *“You can find more harmony in this Afro-Dionysian duo than in our world” * *Chris Koutsogiannis* became the Voodoo Drummer after participating in a funeral in Benin, WEST AFRICA, and his appearances in NEW ORLEANS (with Meschiya Lake, Shaye Cohn and members of the Smoking Time Jazz Club). He toured with the British cult trio the TIGER LILLIES, among others, before forming this odd act with composer and cellist *Stavros Parginos*. ("Stavros' cello sometimes moans and sometimes sounds like a prayer. In particular, the mysterious melody of "Yomo's Dream" goes beyond Bach and takes on a depth like a modern shrine maiden.” Masayuki Koito, The Walker's magazine, JAPAN) Their debut album “*HELLaS SPELLS*” (2025) featured the Balafon master Mamadou Diabate (Burkina Faso, West Africa), the American Blues legend Louisiana Red, Martyn Jacques & Adrian Stout of the Tiger Lillies (U.K.) and Blaine L. Reininger from Tuxedomoon (U.S.). |
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