On tour next: Trio Da Kali

The three musicians of Trio Da Kali hail from the Mande culture of Mali, from a heritage of distinguished griots, the caste of hereditary musical artisans.  This unique, dazzlingly understated trio returns to the original spirit of griot music before it went electric, in a fresh, contemporary voice. They revive a neglected repertoire, with stunningly beautiful songs celebrating life and love in the deep Mande countryside. The trio’s performance revolves around the soaring, rounded voice of Hawa Kassé Mady (daughter of legendary singer Kasse Mady Diabaté). While few can match the lyricism and dazzling virtuosity of ensemble leader Lassana Diabaté on the balafon (seen with Afrocubism), Mamadou Kouyaté (eldest son of Bassekou Kouyate) completes the trio with punchy bass lines on the ngoni, West Africa’s oldest string instrument.

Since their debut at the BBC Proms in 2013 the trio has gone on to collaborate with the celebrated Kronos Quartet, and as well as kora maestro Toumani Diabate, and will be releasing their first EP album on World Circuit for this their first UK tour.

What the audience says: Pascuala Ilabaca & Fauna

Pascuala Ilabaca & Miguel Razzouk at Rich Mix London. Photo by Ingrid Guyon.

an experience of pure happiness and elation!

Pascuala Ilabaca sings with her whole face, and makes music with her whole body

The best gig @GatesheadOTH @sage_gateshead this year with Pascuala Ilabaca & Faun.

Fantastic night in York!! Thank you so much - please come back next year ! :)

Absolutely brilliant gig tonight at Rich Mix, vibrant and full of joy, I loved it.

She really is incredible! A whirlwind of energy and one of the most engaging performers I have ever seen.

Fabulous concert in Cambridge last night! A lot of very happy people. Muchisimas gracias.

Pascuala and Fauna present a complete performance that is in itself a kind of art form. So slick in their synchronicity, and able to change the mood and style within the space of a beat, they are truly exciting to watch and hear.  

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna @RichMixLondon - absolutely adorable and brilliant - see them if you get a chance!

I love their energy and enthusiasm, brilliant musicians, and she has the star quality to take them further, great tracks, like the punky tracks as well, - chile punk  now that's a new new on me !

...  listening to her records did not prepare me in the slightest for the energy, talent and seduction that poured from the musicians when on stage.

A star in the making : I absolutely loved Pascuala Ilabaca at @RichMixLondon. Don't miss her @makingtracks_uk tour! 

Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna created an experience of pure happiness and elation, and I very much urge all music-lovers to seek out future performances to encounter Pascuala’s remarkable music.

Pascuala Ilabaca: Amazing 1st half at @RichMixLondon, can't wait for part 2!! 

Just been to see Pascuala @RichMixLondon - amazing, jaw dropping Kate Bush like.

Escuchar a Pascuala Ilabaca en el @RichMixLondon no tiene precio! 

What a great concert!!!!

Live review: Pascuala Ilabaca at Rich Mix London (3)

By Najwa Abdullah

With contemporary twists on the rhythms and harmonies of rock, pop, jazz and indigenous traditional music, awe-inspiring Chilean songstress Pascuala Ilabaca and her deft band Fauna thrived to mesmerize their fervent London audience in her UK debut this week. She exercises her personal song-writing with the ambitious, rhythmically complex soundscape of her accordion and keyboard combined with the ultimate manifestation of her band’s sound-painting of guitar, strings, clarinet, saxophone and drum, creating surprise elements in every tune. At the heart of her stirring concert is her suave, soft yet sprightly vocal style seamlessly transitioning across different sounds, drawing the listeners to the sea of lush sounds and sophisticated ballads. Pascualla’s soulful voice delightfully ornaments the upbeat melody and rock elements and transforms every song into something you might hear in relaxing jazz performances.
Throughout her concert at Rich Mix, London, she shared her deep interest in traditional beats and Chilean folkloric roots along with her admiration of bohemian lifestyle and exhilarating travels to far-flung parts of the world such as India, making the messages behind her music as one of her utmost significances. The musical verve and delicate vocal were impeccably presented in the song Busco Paraiso –synonymous with their latest album title— and Pecado where she began the pleasingly-lyrical songs with slow-moving melody and took the audience by surprise with the upbeat Latin-American pitch that induce some serious audience toe-tapping and shoulder-swaying.
Given the multi-faceted natural grandeur and musical inventiveness, it is somewhat difficult to categorize their music into a particular genre. This engaging young artist and extraordinary band from Valparaiso, Chile, are clearly a breath of fresh air in the West music scene; inescapably ecstatic, personal, sensual and definitely well worth a listen. After London, Pascuala and her band Fauna are set to dazzle the British audience in other UK cities such as York, Bristol, Cambridge and Birmingham till the end of November.

Pascuala Ilabaca at Rich Mix London (18 Nov 14)

Pascuala Ilabaca at Rich Mix London (2)

By Kheira Tarif

The concert hall at Richmix had the nostalgic feel of a jazz café on Tuesday night; the small tables were arranged in front of the stage and the lights were dimmed. My eyes were instantly drawn to the whipala hanging behind the stage – a symbol of the unity of all Latin American indigenous peoples. This setting certainly describes Pascuala Ilabaca’s phenomenal combination of styles. The singer emerged onto the stage with her band, all dressed in the bohemian style that reflects the culture of Valparaiso, in northern Chile. With a winning smile that instantly charmed the audience, Pascuala began to sing a solo introduction with a clear and powerfully emotive voice. The sound of Pascuala’s accordion reminded this listener of other South American traditions including tango, prominent in Chile and Argentina. Her band members were on guitar, drums, bass guitar and a sensational saxophone-player, which brought other musical influences to the Latin American sounds of cumbia and cueca. Pascuala’s performance also drew on Indian musical traditions – as she explained to the audience that she lived in India with her parents at the age of 11. The results of these influences is very successful, the crowd at Richmix was dancing emphatically before very long!
Pascuala Ilabaca’s performance does not comprise such a variety of styles in sound by coincidence. This conscientious and talented young woman wants to bring Latin America to the rest of the world through her music, and cites personas like Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican artist; Violeta Parra, the Chilean folk singer and Victor Jara, the Chilean folk singer, poet and activist. In her first European tour, she clearly wants to bring European audiences closer to the cultural history she is so clearly proud of.

Live at Rich Mix London. Photo by Kheira Tarif.

Introducing the Making Tracks podcast!

Check out our first Making Tracks podcast!
Featuring current favourites , new discoveries and future hot tips - this edition includes tracks by Pascuala Ilabaca (currently on tour!), Mariana Sadovska, Söndörgő and more!
Presented by Colin Bass. Watch this space for more podcasts coming soon!

Live review: Pascuala Ilabaca Y Fauna at Rich Mix London

By Anita Datta

Pascuala and Fauna were greeted with cheers as they took their place on the Wiphala-decked stage at London’s Rich Mix. The audience was vibrant, but fell to perfect silence as Pascuala began to sing, unaccompanied, spinning a beautiful melody so full of emotion it was fit to burst. A master of invoking her audience to feel whatever emotion she wishes them too, Pascuala and Fauna soon broke into a lively and coordinated rendition of her well-known single Mamita, and the party was underway.
Pascuala Ilabaca sings with her whole face, and makes music with her whole body.  Dancing as she plays, her fluid and joyful movements seem to conjure the melodies from the other members of Fauna and radiate the sound that they together make. As a unit, Pascuala and Fauna present a complete performance that is in itself a kind of art form. So slick in their synchronicity, and able to change the mood and style within the space of a beat, they are truly exciting to watch and hear. 
Most impressive of all, however, are the range and virtuosity of Pascuala and Fauna. Perfectly fitting the scene of the London Jazz Festival, of which their performance is a part, solo improvisations expanded upon their known and loved tracks to the delight of the audience. Particularly unique was a fusion of an Indian Classical vocal raga with Chilean beats and musical styles, which remained respectfully faithful to the complicated rules of improvisation upon the raag and bols whilst creating a truly innovative and exhilarating musical experience. Other items showed the clear influence of vintage rock, even death metal and 1980s psychodelica and pop, with on-stage mixing by members of Fauna recreating a studio-polished performance.
Pascuala is an engaging and likeable hostess who captures the heart of the audience with her charm, unique vision and intelligent approach to her art. An all-around performance artist, together she and Fauna create a holistic musical experience that will engage and entertain any concert-goer, and meanwhile make them think differently about the world as well.

Pascuala Ilabaca live at Rich Mix London (18/11/14)

Live review: Pascuala Ilabaca Y Fauna at RNCM

By Ellie Sherwood

Pascuala has created several albums of delightful music that integrates traditional Chilean sounds with pop, jazz, rock and Indian music, but listening to her and the band’s records did not prepare me in the slightest for the energy, talent and seduction that poured from the musicians when on stage.
As soon as Pascuala picked up her accordion and embraced the first notes, the band sprung to life and responded to her every musical gesture whilst also maintaining a sense of individual creativity. The connection between the musicians was palpable, and it was especially enjoyable to watch Pascuala dance over to the guitarist, or the clarinettist, and engage in a musical exchange that was highly intimate and exciting. Pascuala herself is a phenomenal and engaging musician to watch and listen to. Her accordion playing was flawless, and the way she moved whilst holding the instrument was incredibly sensual and moving. Her voice was pure and beautiful, and not once did I wish she was singing in English; on the contrary, the sound of Spanish and Quechuan lyrics was so aesthetically soothing that I enjoyed not understanding every word and the emotional meaning of each song was perfectly conveyed through the music. The band proved that they could play a massive variety of colours, and one of the highlights of the evening was when Pascuala began the second half with a stunning performance of ‘La Luna Siempre Es Tan Linda’, which is serene and tranquil compared to her more feisty carnival-inspired numbers. The fiesta atmosphere was certainly not lost however, as by the end of the gig Pascuala had a large group of audience members up and dancing at the side of the stage.
The formal divide between the performers and audience could have been a barrier for the music to be completely communicated and absorbed, but the fact that people of all different ages and backgrounds were either dancing on their feet or grooving in their seats exemplifies the success of the evening. Pascuala Ilabaca y Fauna created an experience of pure happiness and elation, and I very much urge all music-lovers to seek out future performances to encounter Pascuala’s remarkable music.

First show on tour: Pascuala Ilabaca at RNCM

Q & A with Pascuala Ilabaca

 Q - Is this your first visit to the UK?
Yes it is, and we are feeling quite emotional about it! Much of the music we have been listening to since childhood comes from this country, and we are excited to get to know the place where rock music is pretty much part of the local heritage. At the same time we are thrilled to bring you our own music, a music that expresses the youth of Latin America: I really enjoy helping to revitalise the image Europe has of Latin American contemporary identity.

Q – Maybe you could describe for the UK audience your home port city of Valparaiso.
Valparaiso is an old city, bohemian, diverse, and very vulnerable to the thieves of beauty. It’s like a big ship where some are finding inspiration and some are looking for treasures to steal…We are on this same boat, nomad musicians, defending our city, singing to it, looking for spots that are on the verge of disappearing and raising the alarm. Everyday life in Valpraiso is very pleasant, alleyways climb up and down, there is a lot of wind, and sun, and birds, and every night you can find music and wine somewhere around town. There are many great singers from Valpraiso and we are part of this free family of itinerant musicians. We always pay tribute the old singers because we want to make people fall in love with our city and our culture, so that it can be better protected and not just disappear.

Q. You spent time in India and Indian music is an influence on you – are there links to Chilean traditional music?
Music that comes from an ancient origin generally shares the concept of modality, of more open musical forms, and in that sense all folk music has something in common. When I studied in India I was very interested in the concept of constructing melodies out of ragas, and later I found that there is something very similar in the intonation of mapuche melodies (an indigenous people in the south of Chile). Or maybe my blood is so mixed that I’m as ready to sing an Arabic tune, as a Mapuche, or Mexican or Indian melody. This is what we younger generation have to take advantage of in this moment of time, these windows of globalization…

Q. Perhaps you could describe some of the traditional Chilean dance rhythms you use in your music?
We use a lot of rhythms from the north of Chile, like huayno, trotes and caporales; these are the rhythms used in traditional fiestas. I love the desert carnivals in Atacama, they are very simple and those attending are real devotees so they dance and play music for hours on end. I’ve been to watch and dance at these carnivals since I was a child - these rhythms have a joy that often blends with minor-key harmonies giving them a very special feel, that of a profound and melancholic celebration…. I like trying to transplant this feel into my own music; I firmly believe that danceable music can have a lot of substance too, there is no reason to divide music into music ‘for listening’ and ‘for dancing’, implying the latter one not having much substance at all. We also incorporate modern rhythms like drum and bass, which I think blends very well with music of Chilean origin.

Q. Violeta Parra has been described as your biggest inspiration. Could you say a little bit about her influence?
Violeta Parra was a very powerful woman - in a macho country like Chile there are very few women that have venutred into the world of arts. What interests me is to re-vindicate her image that was very badly treated during the dictatorship and later in democracy it became overused but without the value it deserves. I have given myself the mission of bringing Violeta back to the present, simply by always singing her, especially her lesser known songs, increasing awareness in her work and above everything treating her music with kindness after it has been so maltreated for so long…

Q. Fauna are your fantastic band – maybe you could introduce the musicians?
La Fauna is my family - we started when we were very young, just beginning our music studies. Jaime the drummer is my husband, and together we have travelled to many places exploring carnivals, and he also writes some great songs for La Fauna.
After all this time in the band we are all like brothers and sisters, the band is a collective that is based on the friendship we have for each other, above everything else. When we started out we played rather badly but we liked each other a lot… and well, this gives me a lot of inspiration, everything that we have lived through together makes us better every day.

Q. Do you have any recommendations for young Chilean artists we might not have heard of?
Chile really is full of music! Here are 5 songs and 5 artists I would really recommend you try and check out – it’s a little melancholic songbook to make you think about the Southern Pacific…
Ojos de Miel – Demian Rodriguez
Hermanos Maravilla – VariosArtistas
Los Celos - Juga di Prima
Siempre que hago algo – Camila Moreno
Vamos los dos – Chinoy

On tour next: Pascuala Ilabaca & Fauna

Accordion-wielding Chilean songstress Pascuala Ilabaca is a true hidden gem: A favourite on the new scene of young Chilean singer-songwriters, her music is rooted in traditional sounds but effortlessly integrates shades of jazz, pop and rock, and influences gathered in such distant places as India or Mexico. Accompanied by her formidable band Fauna, her unique stage presence conjures up sweetness and empowerment at the same time, setting her songs alive with both fragility and verve. Picking up the legacy of the great Violeta Parra (her biggest inspiration) this engaging young artist from the colourful port city of Valparaiso already has a big following at home in Chile (including awards and presidential invitations), and is now striding out confidently to conquer the rest of the world.

Pascuala and her band are particularly excited about appearing in London as part of the EFG London Jazz festival programme; jazz has been a big inspriation in the mix of styles and influences that light up Pascuala's music. Her excellent video clips are a great introduction to this wonderful artist making their UK debut with this tour.

Live review: Cigdem Aslan at RNCM Manchester

By Anna Lowenstein
From the moment Aslan’s band walked onto the stage, I could tell we were in safe hands and from the first chord that strange shiver that wonderful music can produce had fully taken over.
Violinist Michalis Kouloumis drew tones and colours from his instrument I’ve rarely experienced. Through the use of stylistic ornamentation, new levels of the violin’s potential were on virtuosic display. The double bass and percussion players, who accompanied with the highest level of subtle invention, together created a rich carpet for the violin and kanun to rise from. Such clear mastery of instrumental technique was coupled with perfect musicianship, as each member of the band remained locked in eye contact throughout, smiling and laughing to each other as the music poured effortlessly out of their instruments.
And then Aslan emerged on stage, commanding attention even before she began to sing. And what a voice emerged! Sultry and passionate, the Turkish, Kurdish and Greek language barrier didn’t really matter as the meaning and intention of each song was conveyed perfectly clearly. Her words and melodies bounced off the sensitive accompaniment, sometimes leading, sometimes imitating what the instrumentalists were up to in another display of great musical communication.
It was so refreshing to see a group of musicians so clearly enjoying what they were doing. All too often, one sees jaded orchestral musicians on stage, slogging through yet another rendition of repertoire they have been playing for years. It seemed as though these musicians could play their set a thousand and one times and still play it differently and with fresh enthusiasm, never tiring of making music together and individually. And I think I would be happy to hear it over and over too!

photo: Katerina Pavlakis

Live review: Cigdem Aslan at Union Chapel

By Remy Geoffroy
As soon as I rounded the corner linking Islington High Street with Union Chapel, I was startled by the length of the queue in front of the building. Apart from the usual crowd of Turkish and Greek followers, there was a contingent of English folks whose presence would have seemed a little odd had the acclaimed author Louis de Bernieres not been present. Indeed, this event was more than just a concert and a recital, it was a bold collaboration, a game of question and answer between some very fine musicians and a skilled writer.
The show started with a couple of Turkish pieces performed by the superb Cigdem Aslan and her band of virtuoso musicians, which won the audience´s heart and set the scene for Louis de Bernieres to take over. Reading some chosen extracts from his book Birds Without Wings, he described life in early 20th century Anatolia, with his customary elegance of prose and wit. At first, Louis’s nasal, slightly high-pitched voice contrasted a little harshly with the smoky honey of Cigdem Aslan´s, especially since the opening tunes had whetted the crowd´s appetite for music. But as the writer´s voice gradually warmed, so did the audience, and from then on, not a peep was heard from the captive spectators.
As Louis de Bernieres navigated between chapters, so did the band, thus participating in the creation of a unique atmosphere, bathed in reminiscence of a bygone era, teary at times, joyful the next, and made especially beautiful by the magical décor of Union Chapel (the venue). The show was a voyage through time, space and emotions, and the audience hung on every breath of both singer and writer. Cigdem Aslan has surrounded herself with musicians of exquisite technique and feeling, and their pleasure at performing together was visible to all.

photo: Katerina Pavlakis

Cigdem Aslan: What the audience says

Sublime music in Gateshead on Saturday. The whole show was utterly entrancing. Thank you very much indeed!

Superb concert last night in Bristol. Thanks. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for a wonderful night in York - you are all amazing! Come back soon!!

Last night's gig in Gateshead was superb ... Do catch Cigdem somewhere in the last few tour days if you can get there!

@CigdemAslanSong tonight at @yorkearlymusic absolute wonderful! Especially when the audience started circle dancing!

So glad I booked tickets you were all amazing.

Thank you @makingtracks_uk @CigdemAslan @Colston_Hall for a fantastic nite of music.

Gorgeous dress. Fabbbbulous red shoes. @cigdem_aslan. Mesmerising. AMAZING all. V.classy affair! #Brighton

THANK YOU for another stunning performance. You are utterly phenomenal.

Wonderful evening at the beautiful @UnionChapelUK with literature and music from Anatolia!

Fabulous.

Fantastic!

Great to see you and the band in Manchester tonight, unbowed by a fantastically restrained audience.

This was amazing.

Wonderful rebetika! talented musicians!

a lovely evening of music and literature 

@CigdemAslan @makingtracks_uk @sage_gateshead τέλεια βραδιά!! Thanks for the beautiful melodies... 

What a lovely gig … thank you so much. I hope the band enjoyed it was much as well all did. There was lots of great feedback from the audience.

I was there... it was amazing.

Enjoyed listening to Cigdem Aslan and her band last night at RNCM. Beautiful music by a beautiful bunch of musicians!

Cigdem Aslan & Ensemble at Brighton Dome

New season kicks off in September: Cigdem Aslan

Çiğdem Aslan is a rising star in the revival of rebetiko, the bitter-sweet, devil-may-care songs of an exiled underclass, sung in hash dens and music houses of Athens and Istanbul of the turbulent 1920s. A culture shared by Greeks and Turks, rebetiko was famously outlawed in both countries as a music of the underground, of free-thinking and freedom-loving people; just as timely then as now. Born in Istanbul to Kurdish parents, Çiğdem absorbed the ethnic mosaic that makes up modern Turkey throughout her singing childhood. With character, charm and emotion, her delightful voice takes audiences on a journey: with passion and humour she opens the door on old songs about life, love, hopes and struggles of everyday people. With an ensemble of top-class musicians she revisits a world past to make these songs seem fresh and relevant, unlocking the riches and relevance of this ‘Blues of the Aegean’ to new audiences today.

With album awards and festival bookings flooding in, Çiğdem is creating the same kind of buzz about rebetiko as Mariza did for fado, Yasmin Levy did for Ladino song, and Amira for Bosnian Sevdah. Don’t miss!

Further NPO funding confirmed for Making Tracks

We are thrilled this morning at the news from Arts Council England: a further 3 years of NPO funding has been announced for KAPA Productions to continue producing Making Tracks.
It's all go for 3 more seasons of great music coming to a venue near you (and we got our hearts set on some brilliant artists already!)
See the ACE website for full details and press release.
And check out the upcoming Making Tracks Season5 (starting in September) too!

What the audience says: DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA & Calcutta Chronicles

Fabulous concert at WiltshireMusicCentre: India meets jazz meets Tagore meets folk rock!

Debashish Bhattacharya blew my mind last night. Fusion of influences was clear. Great talent on stage.

Immersive, intense and powerful.

Bhattacharya's greatest asset is soul. (TimeOut London)

Immediately warm and absorbing.

The musicianship was outstanding. Your compositions were a breath of fresh air and a joy to listen to from start to finish(...) seeing your show has refreshed my inspiration and made me realise why I love music again.

Dizzying ragas sent the audience home richer.

Magic!

[They] were absolutely burning - really on form. Catch them on the rest of this tour if you can, you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic show enjoyed by the entire audience. Debashish is a genius and a true gentleman.

Wowzers, Debashish Bhattacharya and his gang at Colston Hall were amazing this evening. Best £12 I ever did spend!

Stunning performance tonight, thank you for sharing your music with us! 

Wonderful concert at Colston Hall last night, thank you so much. 

Thanks to #Debashish and #Makingtracks for great show last night 

Magic last night! 

Great night guaranteed.

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing. - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Bhattacharya charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing. (Local Secrets)

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing. - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Q&A with Debashish Bhatacharya

Q. Your album Beyond the Ragasphere features several guests; jazz guitarist John McLaughlin and bluegrass musician Jerry Douglas among others. What was it like collaborating with these great musicians?
A. It was full of challenges, musical and artistic, working over seas, coordinating with different time zones , real time studio to studio - composed each number and arranging keeping in mind my collaborators' musical repertoire- not easy, OMG! But you know I did it - with success.

Q. How important is it for you to collaborate with musicians from different musical cultures?
A. I want to share things with other musicians as well as learn and act creating a new territory of music. Living on the edge. If you see my albums I did only exclusive collaboration albums and each one is different- except one Indian raga music album of my own. Collaboration is an exercise between knowledge plus taste plus culture of music and awareness of artistic challenge to recreate something tasteful, enjoyable and attractive. In collaboration you can't hide.

Q. Are there any musicians you would love to work with?
A. Jerry Douglas, Tomani Daibete, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Bela Flek, John McLaughlin and Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Jake Shimbokuru, top Irish Celtic musicians, as well with The Philharmonic Orchestra of London. And with my Hawaiian band.

Q. You have your daughter Anandi with you in the band. What is that like?
A. Working with her is great fun, she is very composed and super talented... She knows me musically very very well - you will see that on stage.

Q. How do you enjoy playing for e British audience?
A. I think UK audience is one of the best so far I've experienced in 30 years of traveling the world.

Q. You play the lap steel guitar, an instrument associated with Hawaii and US country music. How did you come to play this in India?
A. My musical parents and their ancestors never played any instrument - they were all singers, my father got a Hawaiian guitar from a friend before I was born. I got it in hand at the age three and loved the sound and till today the relationship is uninterrupted, musical and loving. I’m trained in Indian classical music and used the lap steel guitar to express my art as lap steel guitar is closest to human voice - it's a singing instrument. But it was hard on me; in order to achieve the wholesome performing style I had to create at least twenty different things in skill and designing a new lap steel guitar of my own and had to patent it to protect the identity of this newborne instrument. I've had to bring it up to the standard of the classical Indian music instrumentally, technically and most importantly, musically.  I always get to see people talking in India - they can't believe themselves that Raga music can sound so perfect in the way my guitar makes it sound. It is hard though to make living on playing ragas on guitar in India. But humbly I did it- by taking the hardest way of challenging my ability and feeling responsible - if I didn't do it no one else would.
The Hawaii connection: I've researched the route and the musicians responsible for bringing Hawaiian music and guitars to India and found them: in 2004 I met Tau Moe and his daughter Dorian Moe who was born in Calcutta. I honoured him with playing a full concert just for him in his village Laie before he passed away. I since recorded a full length album with Hawaiian musicians and played their Hawaiian steel guitars. This made the full circle from the Hawaiian to the Indian guitar. (For ranges of my guitar refer to debashishguitar.com)

Q. Can you say something about some of the music you will play on the tour – are the songs traditional or contemporary
A. It's a journey of my musical life traditional to contemporary. Raga to Beyond the RagaSphere.

Q. Who are your musical influences?
A. Nature , beauty, painting, perfume, food; my parents, my grand father,Ustad Allauddin Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar Ustad Ali Akbar, Ustad Alla Rakha, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, Pt Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan , Ustad Ameer Khan, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pt Brij Bhushan Kabra and many others. B.B.King, Ray Charles, Paco De Lucia, African music from Mali, Blue Grass, Hawaiian melody, Chinese pentatonic music, Irish music, Mozart, Bach and other Western classical composers, folk music of Eastern Europe - all influenced, awakened and helped me to understand what actually music is and what it does to the performer and audience and helped me to stand where I'm today.

Next on tour...

... slide guitar magician Debashish Bhattacharya & his Calcultta Chronicles band.

What the audience says: Mokoomba!

Mokoomba are sounding amazing tonight @yorkearlymusic! People are up and dancing

Phenomenal evening @CambJunction Mokoomba were bursting full of creativity & artistry which belies their tender years. #legendsinthemaking

Mokoomba were incredible as usual at RichMixLondon tonight. Big love!

The most amazing night [with] Mokoomba. Never seen so many happy people in one room.

Mokoomba made me smile and dance all night at RichMix tonight. You really are one of the best live acts around at the moment.

The Sage Gateshead wove its magic again last night - STUNNING gig in Hall 2 - joyous music, people of all ages, shapes and colour dancing...

Still feeling full of energy after a fantastic night dancing to Mokoomba @CambJunction - they never disappoint!

Fantastic night with Mokoomba in York - we danced the night away Be sure to catch them in Bury tonight!!

You were awesome in London...totally coming to check you out in Brighton too!

Amazing night thanks for the dancing and the fire. That's some voice you got there. Loved it. 

Man... Mokoomba were so good. If you get the chance go see them while they're in the country.

Guys, that gig was up there with the best nights of African dance music I have ever enjoyed - you have absolutely cracked it, and the next album will prove it!

Great to see Mokoomba in York tonight - love those Zimbabwe rhythms!!

AMAZING gig by Mokoomba tonight at RichMix London - boogieing my socks off! :-) incredible musicianship, tight harmonies and slick moves!

Fantastic performance from Mokoomba tonight - great crowd and fun dancing! Amazing, go see them!

These guys are just so excellent. I had the best time ever. Thanks so much for making me happy.

Enjoyed the wonderful Mokoomba this evening at RichMixLondon! Great live music.

What a great night at RichMix w/ Mokoomba, freshest band from Zimbabwe - incredible rhythms, voices to fill a desert, energy to burst.

Amazing Mokoomba loved every moment.

Thanks to @Mokoomba for bringing music and camaraderie to @CambJunction last night!

Now on stage Mokoomba Live at RichMix. Enjoying every minute of their Acoustic Set !!!!

Wow, a mind blowing gig from Mokoomba tonight!

Thank you to @Mokoomba for their amazing show tonight. Catch them on the last few days of their tour if you can.

Wonderful gig in Bristol last night. Even better than when you were here [last time]! Keep it up - and hope to see you here again soon.

You were amazing!!!Come back soon please!!!
 

If you haven't seen Mokoomba live pick a date here and do it. Go on do it. These boys are incredible.

Just seen Mokoomba at the Sage - words cannot express how boss they are.

An x'lent nite of African music @LighthousePoole particularly encore with funde'ish drum.

You guys were awesome at the Sage tonight, please come again soon.

Mokoomba are sounding amazing tonight @yorkearlymusic! People are up and dancing.

My first event @sage_gateshead and what a cracker!!! Wonderful sound & operformance by Mokoomba.

Had the privilege of watching Mokoomba today, they were tight, disciplined and great musicians, enjoyed myself and Trust Samende was killin! loved the guitar and bass tune.....crazy!!

Great night of Zimbabwean rhythms and energy from Mokoomba at @CambJunction tonight...check them out....

Mokoomba rocked the Rich Mix tonight...niiiice!

Had a fantastic time @sage_gateshead last night.

Seriously good music!

Exceptional presence and invigorating talent...

Mokoomba played an excellent set at Rich Mix last night.

Amazing show from Mokoomba last night in Pontardawe. X

This is the third time we've been to see you! Are you going to sing our favourite a capella song on Saturday night?? Would be brilliant if you could even if it does make us cry!!! See you Saturday!

Great concert in Bristol.

Amazing gig last night @Colston_Hall - Mokoomba are awesome. Well worth a look.

Mokoomba were excellent on Sunday night at the Brighton studio theatre, would love to be dancing to their music right about now!

Mokoomba live at Rich Mix London. (photo: Katerina Pavlakis)

Live review: Mokoomba at Rich Mix London

Versatile Sounds from the House of Stone Fill The Rich Mix

by Lennon Mhishi

photo: Daniele Sbrisny

Considering the general coverage that most African issues receive, especially Zimbabwe, in the past decade, Mokoomba is one of the good news stories that should certainly be shared, and that shows that there is always more to people and places than what is predominantly reported on.

I saw Mokoomba perform for the first time as part of the SOAS Concert Series in the Brunei Gallery in October of 2012. I had been introduced to their music by a friend in South Africa, and they were a pleasant surprise, although I had not heard them talked about. Since then, the band has grown in stature, and gone on to win the Best Newcomer Award of Songlines Magazine, perform at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), featured on BBC and to tour many countries all over the world. In many ways, they are part of a new sound coming out of Zimbabwe, and I have even heard whispers that they might even be the 'new' Bhundu Boys! There is no doubt that they can scale heights.

My desire to understand their music, coupled with my research interests in Zimbabwean music an performance spaces saw me follow them to the Jazz Café in Camden in 2013, and they did not disappoint either. When I walked into Rich Mix this time around, on the 1st of April, maybe I was not expecting a lot because I thought now I knew the songs and the sound, and because the show was on a Tuesday, I expected less people.

I was in for a surprise. The standing space was filling up, and the red and blue hues of the lights in the place gave it this cosy yet expectant and exciting air. When the music came, it was on another notch, well surpassing my expectations. The energy and versatility of the band, manifest in the dances and the straddling and fusion of different musical styles, was infectious, and had the crowd dancing through the sets. Away from their usual Afro-fusion, Mokoomba performed an acoustic set that mixed musical varieties such as imbube, reminiscent of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the use of languages such as Shona, Tonga, Luvale and Nyanja, as one of the band members, Abundance Mutori pointed out.

Mokoomba, through such performance, has also brought to the fore the rich linguistic diversity of Zimbabwe, as even I, as a Zimbabwean, have been predominantly exposed to Shona and Ndebele. Their musical and linguistic versatility is evidence of the vast cultural potential of music and performance. From conversations I have had, Mokoomba has become part of a larger Zimbabwean musical repertoire, and a musical rallying point of pride and belonging for some Zimbabweans in the diaspora. Lead singer Mathias Muzaza asks, “Vekumusha muriko here uko?” which loosely translates into asking if those from home are there.

It would be apt to expect that in the near future, the Mokoomba sound can only become richer, and we shall be talking of the rise and rise, and continued rising of the band. One hopes Zimbabwe will also rise with them!

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House of Stone: From the Great Zimbabwe/Dzimbabwe where the name Zimbabwe comes from, which can be translated to mean 'house of stone'.