THE CLAYTONE LINE OF UDU DRUMS Now available from LP Music Group

Frank Giorgini, considered the designer of the modern UDU DRUM, first learned the little known traditional art of making the all clay side hole pot drum from Abbas M. Ahuwan of Zaria, Nigeria in 1974. Over the years he developed many design innovations, clay body formulas, and firing techniques that have improved the sound quality, durability, and versatility of this instrument. As demand for these innovative new clay drums increased Frank adapted the traditional hand forming techniques by making molds of his originaldesigns. Then by pouring a liquid clay slip into the plaster molds (a processcalled slip casting) consistent quality drums could be produced in greater volume and in less time. Before he implemented these modern production methods Frank made a pilgrimage to Nigeria to confer with Abbas about diverging from tradition. Abbas gave Frank his blessing to pursue these innovations adding "things must adapt to the modern world or they will be left behind and lost forever ... just try to do it with respect and integrity." True to Abbas's wishes Frank succeeded in producing a line of molded claydrums that are of a quality befitting there formidable ancestry.

This new line of clay drums was named CLAYTONE. The line consisted of four sizes of the molded version of the traditional shaped UDU called CLAYTONE #1, #2, #3, and #4, the KIM KIM, TAMBUTA, UTAR, UDONGO, MBWATA, and HADGINI. The HADGINI drum is the result of a collaboration between Frank Giorgini and percussionist Jamie Haddad.

The goal of the CLAYTONE line was to produce a high quality instrument,at an accessible price, for a wider audience of percussionists. This objectivewas reached so successfully that in 1998 the production rights to the CLAYTONELINE of UDU DRUMS was licensed to LP Music Group, one of the worlds leading hand percussion companies. This collaboration has yielded the finest instruments of their type commercially available at very accessible prices.

"I will always make my original UDU DRUMS by hand, using traditional Nigerian pottery techniques as handed down to me by Abbas M. Ahuwan of Zaria, Nigeria. They will continue to be true in spirit and respectful to their African ancestry. I believe my handmade UDU DRUMS to best instruments of their type available anywhere in the world at any price. And the LP/UDU Claytone line to be second only to my own handmade drums.".. FrankGiorgini

UDU, is a registered trade mark of UDU DRUM and now licensed to LP Music Group.The Tambuta, Utar, Udongo, and Mbwata drums are non-traditional inventions of Frank Giorgini both in design and name. Patents and patents pending are registered on many of Frank Giorgini designs.

Connect to www.lpmusic.com for more information, prices, and availability of the Claytone line. Clickon LP/UDU. Also check out Frank's latest drum design - the CollectionMuseum Series Udu Drum. This little drum looks great, sounds great, and is very reasonably priced - a perfect gift idea!