About the Set-up

Shelly’s tendency for creating fusion based on the influences of multiple-cultures’ drums, comes from a desire to achieve a thicker, larger sound that will stay with and permeate an individual.   Klong Yaws are Shelly’s consistent favorites for deeper sounds and are used frequently for the bass lines in addition to Djembes and a 22” Tar; combined with layers of smaller Tars, Bendirs, Doumbek, Triangle and the voices of other accessories an unaware audience can completely overlook that an entire song is being played by one person. 

Shelly’s performance  rig  involves a home-made cast iron stand that holds 3  larger drums, a microphone stand with an Mbrace ©guitar sling, a microphone for the drums, an array of percussion within reach, guitar brain, midi brain and loop station.  Some mid-range music/electronic technology and Mother Necessity imagination combined with practical skills have allowed Shelly the ability to create greater texture and more diverse options as a solo artist and as a solo accompanist for dancers.

The midi has been a dream come true and allows Shelly the availability of virtually any instrument on command.  His belief is that the variety of percussion, guitar and midi sounds all help to create multi-textural layers in live performances, not typically available to a solo musician.