Malick Tassa Drummers awarded Humming Bird Silver

Soogrim Ram told Newsday he was surprised and shocked when he received the call informing him the group had been selected for this prestigious award. “I feel like all the hard work through the years to better tassa drumming and to take this art to a higher level has paid off,” he said. Soogrim Ram noted the award came after his family has been involved in the artform for some 70 years.

Soogrim Ram has been working alongside African drummers and pannists for the Prime Minister’s Best Village Trophy Competition and many other cultural shows taking place here and overseas. Sponsored by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC), the Malick Tassa Drummers have also worked with The Lydian Singers, accompanying them on tour.

Talking about the fusion with the Malick Folk Performers and their involvement with the Lydians, Soogrim Ram said blending various traditional instruments to create one sound is very interesting. “This kind of collaboration is always well received as people really appreciate the unique sound that comes about as a result of this blend,” he said.

Soogrim Ram took over from his father, Soogrim Ramkissoon in 1982. The Malick group, which operates out of Soogrim Ram’s home on 7th Avenue in Barataria, consists of Sangeet Soogrim Ram, Ranjeet Soogrim Ram and Jeewan Seeram. Apart from these senior members, scores of youths are in training to form new groups in the San Juan area.

Soogrim Ram is well known for revolutionising the sound of tassa drumming through the years. He was responsible for the introduction of synthetic plastic to replace the traditional goat-skinned tassa drums. This change, which came about in 1998, is known as the fibre tassa which is made out of an oval clay foundation, with the synthetic plastic covering on the face. What is especially appealing about the fibre tassa to players is the reduction in time for the preparation of the drum. Soogrim Ram explained that with the fibre tassa, there is no need to heat the tassa in order to get the correct pitch for the rhythms. To ring out the perfect sounding tassa, a group must contain a “cutter” and a “fulley.” Soogrim Ram explained, “The two players make the rhythm or ‘taal’ sound more full. The fulley plays a steady rhythm and at a constant speed while the cutter plays the more intricate rhythms and improvises,” he said. Through constant practise sessions, Soogrim Ram added, these two main drummers are able to play the hands such as tikora, wedding hand, nagaara, chutney, bhangra, dingolay, soca, chaubola, kalinda, khemta, and calypso.

He said for the Muslim-based religious festival of Hosay (Muharram), rhythms include saada mahaatam, chalta mahaatam, teen choppa, and nabi sarwar. Soogrim Ram explained that the large bass drum, usually made from a mango tree trunk, adds a deep sound and the jhanj or jhaal (Hindi for brass cymbals) competes the tassa set.

Speaking about the national recognition, Soogrim Ram thanked all the group’s well-wishers and supporters, saying that it is good to be able to provide good tassa drumming for the people of TT.