CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Massamba Diop has been playing the tama drum, or the talking drum, since he was a little boy in Senegal.
"I play (ed) all my life. We made our own drums in our family," said Diop. "When I was born and opened my eyes, I saw that drum," he smiled.
The tama drum master is co-creator of the soundtrack of Marvel Studios' “Black Panther.”
"A lot of people know the talking drum, but more people know my music from Black Panther now," Diop said.
He is in Chicago this weekend to play with the Chicago Philharmonic.
"When I first came to Chicago it was a year ago, the weekend of Juneteenth. I thought to myself, ‘I would love to do something with the city to connect with the community and find a work to celebrate Black artistry on the Juneteenth holiday,’" said Terell Johnson, Executive Director, Chicago Philharmonic.
"What better way to do this than to have one of the first films to celebrate Marvel's first Black superhero. The stars aligned where we could have this at the historic Chicago Theatere as Massamba Diop as our soloist because his instrument represents “Black Panther”. Everything he does are all those themes, capturing the spirit of “Black Panther."
Also performing is Chicagoland native flutist Steve Kujala, led by guest conductor Emil de Cou.
"All Kujala's parts throughout the film represent Killmonger so you have this dichotomy that you can visually see with the two performers," Johnson said.
The soundtrack for the 2018 American superhero film “Black Panther,” based on the Marvel Comics' character of the same name and produced by Marvel Studios, consists of an original score composed by Ludwig Göransson and original songs performed by Kendrick Lamar.
Johnson said partnerships between directors and composers are so important.
"Steven Spielberg and John Williams are a perfect example, a dream team. They made so many amazing films together. It's the new generation of the magic that Spielberg and Williams captured. Ludwig Göransson went to West Africa, he went to Senegal. He went there to understand that specific sound, he traveled there and connected with Massamba. It's a tremendous representation of high level artistry." said Johnson.
Diop travels the world and shares his instrument, his culture and his music.
"I travel the world with my band, I play everywhere, schools, universities, big theaters but when people go to the movies they listen to my sound, of my talking drum. When you come to a show like this, I see new things, this is new for me. I'm so happy to be here in Chicago. I've been here with my band before. When I walked into the Chicago Theatre, I am so excited to be here."
80 musicians will be playing the score along with the movie, which will be shown above them on the big screen.
"This is a one night only performance. This is an experience you can't have in a regular movie theater." said Johnson.
Diop and the Chicago Philharmonic will play live with the movie at the Chicago Theatre Saturday, June 18th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available here.
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