Laird joined Ariel in 1995 to provide live percussion for their Lollapalooza (3rd stage) performance. He was introduced to Ali and Peter through a (then) mutual (then) friend. The first time the three met they wrote what was to become known as "Sylvia's Dream" which appeared on Ariel's 1997 release "Withdrawn".

He started hand drumming in 1993. While living in Ottawa he drummed weekly at the now defunct Stone Angel Institute and performed regularily with The Drummers of Fire. Laird and other Drummers were Friday and Saturday night regulars in Ottawa's Byward market. He has also performed with other drum groups and ensembles over the past 10 years. Laird has studied with drummers
from West Africa (Senegal, Mali and Ghana).

His approach to hand-drumming (djembe, bongo, doumbek) has some traditional basis in terms of method and technique but is predominantly of his own doing. Playing in a band with another drummer allows for a fair bit of creative freedom and building of rhythms, sometimes leading, sometimes following, somtimes in unision, sometimes on the other side of the beat.

In addition to playing with Ariel, Laird is a founding member of
Nyamamusango Marimba and Mbira Ensemble - performing traditional and contemporary music from Zimbabwe. Visit their website at http://www.marimba.ca

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