Shawn Mativetsky

Dynamic performer Shawn Mativetsky is considered one of Canada's leading ambassadors of the tabla, and is a pioneer in bridging the worlds of Western and Indian classical music. Acclaimed as an exceptional soloist and a leading disciple of the renowned Pandit Sharda Sahai, Shawn Mativetsky is highly sought-after as both performer and educator, and is active in the promotion of the tabla and North Indian classical music through lectures, workshops, and performances across Canada and internationally. Based in Montreal, Shawn teaches tabla and percussion at McGill University. His solo tabla album, Rivers, is rooted in the rich traditions of the Benares style of tabla playing, and his new project, Temporal Waves, brings the tabla into electronic music territory. His recent work involves explorations with tabla, effects pedals, and synthesizers, along with the use of magnetic tape recording and manipulation. He has also published a book, Rudimentaal, featuring compositions for snare drum, inspired by the tabla drumming of North India.

Rhythms Meet Algorithms: Sparks Fly When Jazz Musician Oded Tzur Partners With Engineer Vansh Makh

by David Bruggink
June 6, 2023

Jazz and mobile apps may not be typically mentioned in the same breath, but saxophonist Oded Tzur, celebrated by All About Jazz for a string of albums merging jazz with Indian classical music, is changing that perception. Vansh Makh, a Bay area-based engineer, joined forces with Tzur to create Timeseer, described as “the first and only ...

Enayet Hossain

Enayet is a tabla player born into an Indian musical family and am a third-generation musician.  His father is from India and mother from Bangladesh and Enayet was born in Bangladesh before his family migrated to the United States when he was 6 years old. He learned from his father, Hamid Hossain who is a very well-known Indian music teacher based in the United States, who has taught at UMBC and has trained thousands of students in tabla, sitar and Indian classical vocal music. Enayet is versatile in accompanying North Indian classical music, instrumental, light, and semi-classical music, including thumri, ghazal, and world fusion music, as well as giving solo performances. Enayet started his work in fusion music much later, after felt he had established himself as an Indian classical musician first.

Matt Skellenger

Born: January 21, 1979

"Subspace Transmission is dedicated to our bandmate, mentor, and friend Ron Miles. It will be released on March 8, 2023. One year after Ron's passing. This 12-track album features 2 of Ron's compositions, and his incredible playing is also featured on 2 tracks. The artwork for the album was done by Ron's son Honor Miles.

Ron Miles, We Love and Thank You." - Matt

This one-of-a-kind group from Denver performs the original music of Matt Skellenger. The group’s instrumentation is a unique mixture of acoustic instruments that are centuries old(Tabla, Ghatam, Cajon, Trumpet, Trombone, Drums, Conch Shell), with modern electric instruments and effects(Electric Bass, Pedal Steel Guitar, Effects Pedals). The music blends jazz, world, funk, rock, and fusion influences to create a sound unlike anything you have heard.

Samvit Prem Singhal

Born: December 10, 2004

So Long Seven

Active since: June 8, 2012

So Long Seven is a delicious mix of jazz, classical, blues, folk, and music from around the world is both a funky, relentless force and an atmospheric cornucopia of sound.

Nestled in the rhythmic drive of tabla player Ravi Naimpally, Neil Hendry (guitar), William Lamoureux (violin), and Tim Posgate (banjo) create an aural space beyond boundaries. This highly skilled quartet references several global traditions including traditional musical forms of India, Europe, Africa and the many musical traditions of the Americas, in a unique and cohesive cultural bridge.

So Long Seven has performed with Canada’s top global music venue, Small World Music, and plays concerts and clubs across the country. From a tour of Vancouver Island, appearances at Victoria Jazz Festival, Ontario’s Hillside Music Festival, and Sunfest, the band is a national force. The band has also performed internationally with multiple concerts across Europe.

Alex Jenkins

Born: November 28, 1974

Due to his in-depth study of the music of different cultures, Alex��s playing transcends musical traditions and boundaries. His expression of rhythm is heavily influenced by his study of Tabla. As a result, he has become known for his creative approach to music and his unique ability to fuse rhythmic ideas from various disciplines, into one cohesive sound.

Alex has studied Music, Drums and Percussion at CSUS Sacramento, The Ali Akbar Khan School of Music in San Rafael and Drummers Collective in New York. In Addition, He performs and records regularly, around California and beyond, playing a variety of music (on both Drum set and Tabla) including, Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Rock, Blues, Fusion, Indian Classical and just about everything in between

Lloyd-Hussain-Lage Trio to Perform Special Show Live from Healdsburg—Saturday, September 26, 7PM PT

September 19, 2020

On Saturday, September 26, Healdsburg Jazz presents the world premiere of Charles Lloyd, Zakir Hussain and Julian Lage playing together as a trio for the first time, to be streamed live around the world. Each musician will be driving to the intimate wine country town in Northern California for this extraordinary real-time live show. Saxophonist/flautist Charles ...

Bodek Janke

Born: May 5, 1979

Bodek Janke is one of today?s most sought after drummers and percussionists of the international jazz and world music scenes. His unique and outstanding way of playing the drums, Indian tabla and various percussion instruments has given him opportunities to collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma, Lars Danielsson, Bill Evans, Bobo Stenson, Leszek Mo?d?er, Gilad Hekselman, Nuria Rial, the WDR, NDR & HR Radio Bigbands, Jasper van?t Hof, Kinan Azmeh, Kristjan Randalu, Petros Klampanis, Tarek Yamani, the Turtle Island & Atom String Quartets, and many others. Dubbed as ?a master of many dialects? by New York?s drum legend John Riley, Bodek?s distinctive sound was recorded on more than 200 albums as a sideman

Simon Lasky

Born: May 10, 1975

Inquisitive, provocative, blessed with the polished skill of balancing the musical idioms that have shaped his unique musical personality, British pianist Simon Lasky has been dazzling audiences on both sides of the Atlantic throughout his career. As a classically trained composer with a lifelong fascination with improvisation, Simon has forged his engaging signature sound from a love of 20th and 21st century symphonic music, the genius of bands like Steely Dan and Weather Report, and the venturesome nature of contemporary Jazz.

After winning the 2018 Ivors Composer Awards for his song ‘Close To Ecstasy,’ Simon moved from England to Tampa, Florida to study with five time GRAMMY nominated Jazz composer Chuck Owen at The University of South Florida. Since then Simon has thrived as an educator, lecturer, radio host and leader of the eight piece Simon Lasky Group. Relentlessly curious, Simon’s attention to detail, compositional sophistication, and intricate musicality, invites listeners to embrace his distinctive artistry, one that excites, enchants, and educates throughout every song, album and concert he brings to life.