What I’m Doing Now | Dave Kobrenski

Last updated: July 2, 2026 from North Conway, NH

New book in progress: The Mande Flute

For the past two years, I’ve been transcribing and recording all the songs I learned during my 15-year apprenticeship in West Africa with Lanciné Conde, who passed away in 2021. The book will serve as both a tribute to Lanciné and his music, as well as being a long-overdue resource for those wishing to study the West African flute (known as tanbinfulé in Malinké, or more commonly as the Fula flute).

sheet music with fula flutes

The sheet music and recordings will be compiled into a book (with companion audio) along with historical/cultural information, song translations, and guides on how to play the tanbinfulé. More broadly, the book frames the music of the tambinfulé in relation to both the Malinké drum tradition as well as the griot (jeli) tradition of West Africa.

This April, I returned to West Africa to complete work on the book, with the help of Famoudou Konaté, master flute player Mamady Mansaré, Malinké language scholar Mamadou Condé, and local student of Maninka culture and the oral history tradition, Karifa Touré.

This has been tons of work so far, but one of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on in a long time. Shooting for late 2026 release. Stay tuned!

Remaking the World

Bright Cloud Mountain - Remaking the World

Bright Cloud Mountain is a new music project I’m working on with pianist Jed Wilson, sax player Mike Sakash, and drummer Tim Gilmore.

Our debut album Remaking the World was just released this spring 2026, and is now available on all the streaming services. The limited edition CD is also available on Bandcamp.

Listen Now

Famoudou Konaté’s book

Famoudou’s new book has been published, and is available here!

Famoudou Konaté book

For two years, I worked on translating and editing the English version of master djembéfola Famoudou Konaté’s memoir. To accomplish this, I worked closely with both Famoudou and co-author Professor Thomas Ott.

I traveled back to West Africa in 2025 to finish the book, as well as to celebrate its launch through my publishing company, Artemisia Books.

Read all about my latest visit with Famoudou here.

Upcoming Concerts

Friday, August 14 @ 6:30 pm
New London Bandstand New London, NH
Summer Concert Series On the Green
Bright Cloud Mountain

Join Bright Cloud Mountain with special guest Jon Lorentz on saxophone for an evening of music outside on the green in new London. Bright Cloud Mountain is a genre-blurring quartet that weaves together elements of West African music and jazz improvisation.


Thursday, October 8 @ 7pm
Hermit Woods Winery Meredith, NH
Bright Cloud Mountain
Bright Cloud Mountain