WHO: TASA, MONSOON, SAAWUN w/ special guests ESCOLA DE SAMBA.
WHAT: The 3rd Annual Toronto Indo Jazz Festival
WHERE: Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W.
WHEN: Thursday, April 29th @ 8:00 pm
TICKETS: $15 Adults / $10 Students
Dinner reservations guarantee seating / 416-588-0307 or www.lula.ca
WEBSITES: www.tasamusic.com / www.monsoon-music.com
TORONTO – THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 – Monsoon Music proudly presents the THIRD ANNUAL INDO-JAZZ FESTIVAL featuring three of Toronto’s finest jazz and world music ensembles TASA, MONSOON AND SAAWUN. Each will bring their unique brand of Indian jazz fusion to Lula Lounge, Toronto’s world music headquarters, on Thursday, April 29 along with special guests ESCOLA DE SAMBA. This event will include special visual presentations and merchandise tables of all things Indian, including henna tattoos, all of which a portion of sales as well as donations will go the Bhakti Music Scholarship....
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WHO: TASA, MONSOON, SAAWUN w/ special guests ESCOLA DE SAMBA.
WHAT: The 3rd Annual Toronto Indo Jazz Festival
WHERE: Lula Lounge, 1585 Dundas St. W.
WHEN: Thursday, April 29th @ 8:00 pm
TICKETS: $15 Adults / $10 Students
Dinner reservations guarantee seating / 416-588-0307 or www.lula.ca
WEBSITES: www.tasamusic.com / www.monsoon-music.com
TORONTO – THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 – Monsoon Music proudly presents the THIRD ANNUAL INDO-JAZZ FESTIVAL featuring three of Toronto’s finest jazz and world music ensembles TASA, MONSOON AND SAAWUN. Each will bring their unique brand of Indian jazz fusion to Lula Lounge, Toronto’s world music headquarters, on Thursday, April 29 along with special guests ESCOLA DE SAMBA. This event will include special visual presentations and merchandise tables of all things Indian, including henna tattoos, all of which a portion of sales as well as donations will go the Bhakti Music Scholarship.
The Third Annual Indo-Jazz Festival, the only one of its kind in Canada, was designed to spread the Indo-jazz influence around the world, and is one of the initiatives of Toronto power collective, Monsoon-Music.
With Humber college training in jazz under their belts, three Toronto-based artists, Jonathan and Andrew Kay and Justin Gray travelled to India to study Hindustani classical music. Their experiences and inspiration from the journey led them to the collaboration under the name Monsoon-Music which encompasses all of their musical and other activities and events. The festival is one of those cooperative efforts, as well as the musical groups Monsoon and Saawun and the Bhakti Music Scholarship.
MONSOON, formed in 2006, creates a unique blend of contemporary jazz and Indian classical music. Their fresh approach to world music and the fusion of eastern and western musical traditions is greatly enhanced by their accomplished musicianship and diverse musical backgrounds. Band members Jonathan Kay (bansuri & saxophones), Andrew Kay (saxophones, woodwinds & percussion), Justin Gray (acoustic & electric bass), Todd Pentney (piano & Keyboards), Adam Teixeira (drums & percussion), along with the guidance and expertise of virtuoso tabla and percussionist Ravi Naimpally, combine somewhat structured sounds and rhythms of India with the freedom and improvisation of modern jazz.
SAAWUN, another creation of the Monsoon-Music organization, consists of the same three founding artists playing Indian classical music but in its pure form and featuring the ancient ragas played on western instruments, including soprano, tenor and bass saxophones and six-string electric bass, in place of traditional instruments.
Formed in 1999 by tabla player and composer Ravi Naimpally TASA’s focus is on classical Hindustani tradition but is also influenced by jazz, rock, R&B, flamenco, and drum 'n' bass. With Tasa’s recent release ALCHEMY, their latest magical collection of Indo-jazz and improvisational virtuosity, they have become one of the leading lights in world music and one of the most creative, experimental groups in the genre of Indo-jazz fusion.
Tasa band members include Samidha Joglekar (vocals), Ernie Tollar (flute & sax), Alan Hetherington (global percussionist), John Gzowski (guitar and oud), and Chris Gartner (bass). For this performance Jon Kay will be playing flute in place of Ernie Tollar, a second guitarist, Matt Campbell will be added as well as the ESCOLA DE SAMBA, a full-on samba group, who will join Tasa onstage for some spontaneous musical revelry.
ABOUT THE BHAKTI SCHOLARSHIP:
Founded in 2007 by brothers Jonathan and Andrew Kay and Justin Gray, the scholarship was created to help support students in the continuation of their musical studies, specifically in the areas of Indian classical and jazz music both in Canada and especially in India where the need is great. Inspired by a group of extremely talented children they met while in Agartala, India, it was only fitting that these children would be the first recipients of the scholarship and over $2,000 were raised in support of this venture. This year there will be a special visual presentation of the group’s trip to India and there will be opportunity to donate to this worthy cause at the upcoming festival concert at Lula Lounge. For more information on this effort and to view videos of the trip to Agartala, please visit http://www.monsoon-music.com/Bhakti_Scholarship.html
The Indo-Jazz Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for this upcoming event.
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For more information, photos, CDs, mp3s, interviews, please contact:
Beverly Kreller
SPEAK Music
www.speak-music.com
[email protected]
416.922.3620
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