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.

At its core, Rhythms of Tof Miriam is about staying positive through challenging times by using the universal language of rhythm to help us rediscover our genuine connections. Marla reflects, “The Tof Miriam experience is timeless but fresh, spicy and rich, comforting yet mysterious. I want to encourage listeners to reorient themselves - internally and externally - with the therapeutic effects of music.”

The album’s title track, "Rhythms of Tof Miriam", also features a music video that 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.

"Rhythms of Tof Miriam" is a homage to Miriam the Prophetess. The title track is broken into two sections: The Pilgrimage and Freedom. To reflect a long voyage, The Pilgrimage is composed of rhythms in a very long time-cycle (26-beat). It also features a “call-and-response” dialogue between the drums, interwoven with heartwarming melodies of the ney and oud, signaling hopeful communication. The second section, Freedom, represents the pivotal moment when the Israelites were freed and Miriam played her frame drum (referred to then as the timbrel). Listeners are invited to revel in the present moment, celebrating life and purpose.

With lush, layered flute harmonies and meditative, ambient drones, "Dawn of Truth" inspires a quiet moment of reflection. This track is best experienced lying down or in a still, resting pose (i.e. yoga savasana). Listeners are encouraged to close their eyes, relax their bodies and let the ethereal sounds take them on a healing odyssey.

"Desert Prophecy" reflects the messages, melodies and moods of the desert - a setting associated with sacred visions, solace and peace. This track features deep drones enriched with mesmerizing long time-cycles on the frame drums, accompanied by the haunting, mystical sounds of the ney flute.

The album’s bonus track, "Ahava Abba" (which means ‘love father’ in Hebrew), is dedicated to Marla’s late father. She composed this tune on piano at his side during his final days. She ultimately envisioned it as a string arrangement recorded in a special 432Hz pitch frequency, which is considered to have healing vibrational qualities. As Marla notes, “In the grief-stricken times of COVID-19, we are reminded daily of how precious life is. I hope that Ahava Abba helps you to savor that preciousness and connect with your loved ones.”

About the artist

Marla started writing music and studying classical piano and flute as a young child, ultimately attending the prestigious California Institute of Arts to major in jazz flute. However, a month into her undergraduate studies, she heard master percussionist John Bergamo play the frame drum, inspiring her to change focus and earn an MFA in World Percussion. In addition to Bergamo, Marla has studied with many percussion legends including Glen Velez, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Poovalar Srinvassan, Alfred Ladzepo, Kobla Ladzekpo, Trichy Sankaran, Randy Gloss and Layne Redmond.

For the past 25 years, Marla has been teaching and performing, building a globally-linked community of drum enthusiasts. Five years ago, she created her pioneering Frame Drum Academy Online which provides training programs for students to learn the art of frame drumming. The Academy has grown impressively and currently has over 2,500 students around the world. In addition, Marla has designed a line of signature frame drums for the Cooperman Drum Company that reflect her unique playing style.