About this webpage
World Beat Music with A Mission
This is your contact page for our unique high energy multicultural traditional and indigenous rhythm and song live performances in a variety of flexible configurations for venues of all sizes and types! We represent the venerable Thunder & Lightness World Beat Duo/Trio/Ensemble (traditional hand drums and Native American flutes), a leading act on the Oregon Coast for more than a decade; Ocean Thunder Drummers; and the versatile new Ngoma-Mbira World Beat solo or ensemble format that we are designing especially for smaller more intimate venues. We also can create a variety of family-oriented participatory (and hybrid) recreational and therapeutic drum circle events featuring members of the free and family-friendly Newport/Oregon Coast Community Drum Circle which is now in its 15 year of building community, introducing hundreds of people to music participation, and encouraging cultural diversity, cooperation, and communication on the Central Oregon Coast!
The Culmination of 15 Years of Musical, Cultural, and Social Commitment....
Our performances are structured and rehearsed and are built around experienced professional players. We are committed to professionalism in every aspect of what we do. But we also never forget the communal/tribal origins (dating back tens of thousands of years to the very beginnings of music and rhythm) of what we play or the spirit of sharing and inclusion that fueled the development of the ubiquitous modern international community drum circle phenomenon. The spirit of the village celebration and of the modern community drum circle are alive in everything we do and they are big part of why we do it. We try to keep our shows casual and unpretentious, accessible to general audiences and to all ages. We consistently blend beginning or relatively inexperienced players from the drum circles into our ensemble performances so that they can get the experience of playing in front of a live audience!
About Us
At Cafe Mundo
With the Purple Cats
With the Purple Cats
Ten years of free outdoor summer concerts with the Thunder & Lightness Ensemble and special guest musicians!
With the Purple Cats
With the Purple Cats
With the Purple Cats
Ten years plus sitting in with the amazing Purple Cats at Lozelle Jennings' legendary Sunday Blues Jams!
Terry Filer on the Flutes
Outdoors or Inside The Beat Goes On
Outdoors or Inside The Beat Goes On
Terry, award-winning master Native American flute player, member of the Osage Tribe, and Thunder & Lightness's principle flute player for many years!
Outdoors or Inside The Beat Goes On
Outdoors or Inside The Beat Goes On
Outdoors or Inside The Beat Goes On
On stage or under a tree, we have accommodated to just about every environment imaginable without missing a beat (as long as the drums stay dry)!