Just to the side of the drummers, there will always be people moving to the pulsing beat-some just thumping their feet, others dancing and expressing all the feeling in their souls. You’ll find the curious people like me standing a few feet away so we can watch the drummers thumping away. On occasion, a saxophonist or trumpeter will provide the melody but usually, it’s just the beat that pulses through the air. The session starts with a drummer or two setting the beat, and one by one, the others chime in to keep the rhythm going. Anyone can participate-just bring your percussion instrument of choice and join in. Every Sunday afternoon, weather permitting, starting around 3pm, men and women of all ages and ethnicities gather for an hours-long impromptu jam session. The Drum Circle goes back more than 40 years. I’ve since moved away, but every now and again, I still find myself drawn to the park to watch the drummers perform in a tradition that has come to be known as the Drum Circle. I used to do my household chores to the sound of those drums. On warm days, I would open up the windows to let the fresh air in, and I’d hear the sound of drumbeats coming from the park. For years I lived across the street from Meridian Hill Park, also known as Malcolm X Park.
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