I had a nice little phone chat with Baba Kazi Oliver, who played me a soundtrack of his music, showing off the contagious African beats he plays on his drums.
Baba Kazi Oliver is an accomplished African Drummer. His curriculum vitae is impressive, which you can view at www.kazioliver.com.
At the onset of our phone call, when I ask Oliver how he is doing and he says, “I’m alive.” Something we all take for granted that Oliver readily expresses his gratitude for. He also doesn’t hesitate to let me know that we need more love and compassion in the world.
Baba “Kazi” Oliver has overcome many obstacles in his life, namely crack/cocaine addiction. Oliver has been sober for over twenty-nine years. He began drumming at the age of 7, at an after-school program in his original hometown of Trenton, New Jersey. Over the years, music and his connection to God has brought him out of the self-destructive cycle of his past. He came to New York from Trenton in 1993 and got an attic apartment on Park Street in Peekskill. He also graduated from cosmetology school right here in Peekskill, a fun fact you may not know about Oliver.
Not only does he play paying gigs, he strongly believes in giving to the community; giving and receiving.
“We have to give in order to receive, my dear. And that’s what a lot of people don’t understand, says Oliver.
He used to take his drums to the Peekskill riverfront and just start playing, eventually he began teaching there. Additionally to Peekskill, he’s played at venues in New York City including the Apollo Theater, The Knitting Factory, and Central Park.
Oliver says that when he is drumming, he is doing it for peoples’ spirits, not just for their heart or mind separately, but for more of a heart, mind, and body connection.
In addition to his drumming, Oliver also relies on prayer to see himself through dark and difficult times. I relate to this and I think that our spirituality is something too many of us neglect. Talking with Kazi feels like a tall drink of refreshing water as he prays with me and preaches on love.
Before I forget to mention it, Kazi is a Veteran, and we fittingly spoke on Veterans’ Day.
We commiserate on past loves and life in general and in closing our conversation, Kazi says,
“Just do me this one favor, tell as many people as you can that I love them.”