Originally recorded as a live improvisation with Robert Kyle on flute, Derek Wright on oud, and Nininho on elú (a hand drum from Pernambuco, Brazil) in Los Angeles, CA on 2012-09-16. The raw take was nearly 15:20 in total duration. Derek edited this down to 6:53 (including harvesting the out-of-time oud introduction for a future release), composed the Pernambucano percussion arrangement (based on various versions of ijexá/afoxé combined with elements of maracatu bate livre).
Originally recorded by David Bergeaud on 2014-03-05 in Topanga, CA as a live improvisation with Derek on oud and David on tongue drum. The raw track was 7:45 long. Derek edited that down to 6:38, arranged all the Pernambucano percussion parts (mostly maracatú and afoxé), and overdubbed those on 2014-11-19 at the Alchemy Castle in Hollywood, CA.
The name comes from a Eugene Debs quote: "When I rise it will be with the ranks, not from the ranks". The song is based on a drum arrangement Derek learned from Nininho of Maracatu Badia called "Subindo a Ladeira", which is Portuguese for "climbing the hill". The struggle for a new society of justice, equality, liberation, love, compassion, sustainability, and peace can at times seem like an extremely tall mountain to climb. It can even feel like we'll never get there.
Multi-instrumentalist: oud, saz, Brazilian percussion (maracatú, other rhythms from Pernambuco, various forms of samba), body music, bass, Middle Eastern percussion, and more. 10 years studying North Indian classical music on the oud and voice interwoven with 15 years studying Brazilian music and dance (including 5 trips to Brazil for a total of 1 year of training) have given Derek a unique approach to music, rhythm, dance accompaniment, improvisation, movement, teaching, and life.
Derek is available for performances, dance collaborations, recording sessions, teaching, licensing, live accompaniment (films, plays, classes, etc), acting, and many other creative possibilities. He is also a certified practitioner and instructor of BREEMA (a bodywork method bringing body and mind together in harmony) and incorporates embodied mindfulness into his teaching and playing.