One of the few female frame drummers on the world stage today, Marla Leigh celebrates the inseparable nature of spirituality and music with her long-awaited debut album and music video: Rhythms of Tof Miriam (to be released May 15th, 2020). Inspired by musical traditions from various ancient cultures, Marla’s latest project was recorded in Israel. The album brought together renowned musicians, including acclaimed oud master Yair Dalal, Meira Segal (ney), Ori Werner (kamancheh), Shahar Kaufman (mandol), Leat Sabbah (cello), Oren Tsor (violin & viola) and Gavriel Fiske (frame drum). The songs were composed, arranged and produced by Marla Leigh, with exquisite co-production and engineering by Shahar Kaufman at OnyxStudio in Rosh Pina, Israel.
The video for the title track (watch below) was filmed in the ancient lands of the Negev Desert in Israel, near the Mediterranean Sea. Under the aesthetic, expert eye of Israeli videographer/editor Noam Chojnowski, dramatic scenery and entrancing drum rhythms blend together perfectly. The video also features world-renowned dancers Zola Dubnikova and Lalita Devi.
Marla Leigh:
“The Rhythms of Tof Miriam album, including the title track’s music video, has been a decades-long dream come true. By heritage and profession, I have always been drawn to the desert and ethereal music from the Middle East. As a frame drum specialist (with the Hebrew name of Marla), I felt a calling to pay homage to Miriam the Prophetess, who played the frame drum during Biblical times, and to the ancient lineage of women frame drummers. When I stepped into the ancient lands of the Negev, I experienced déjà vu, and my drums felt incredibly natural in this environment. I manifested an AMAZING “dream team” for this project, including Noam Chojnowski (videographer / editor), Shahar Kaufman (engineer / co-producer), and some of Israel’s top musicians, such as Yair Dalal (oud) and Miera Sagal (ney). Turning this song into a music video and debut album has been such a powerful and positive experience, and I hope you enjoy it as well!”
Watch the video below which is breathtakingly stunning and exquisite:
Pre-Order the album via Bandcamp: https://marlaleigh.bandcamp.com/album/rhythms-of-tof-miriam