"Velez's fingers so nimbly move that the eyes can not follow it ... Takadimi Taka Takita, Cotler sings and claps with her hands .. the syllables go as fast from her lips as Velez with his fingers playing the drums ... Powerful and beautiful ! " - Achener Nachrichten (Aachen, Germany)
"A galaxy of timbres and inflections ...remarkable rhythmic fireworks." -The New York Times
" Extreme virtuosity and imagination ... astonishing sophistication." - The Village Voice
Ta
Ta Ka Di Mi ... the primal rhythm cycle of four beats, which leads the mind from the mystical world of numbers into the sublime experience of music and sound.
Ta Ka Di Mi ... just listen. Because you have to hear it to believe it. It's a concert experience that delivers an enthralling galaxy of percussive and vocal virtuosity, combining the ancient and modern in unique musical communion. There is no duo in the world that creates the spectacular sound of Ta Ka Di Mi.
Ka
Ta Ka Di Mi ... is percussion legend Glen Velez joining rhythm voice master Lori Cotler in thrilling compositions derived from music of the Mid-East, Central Asia and the Mediterranean. A multifarious array of frame drums, bird calls and exotic noisemakers blend with South Indian Konnakol drum language to deliver an evening of pure rhythm and pulse.
Ta Ka Di Mi ... is ancient drums reaching modern heights. Velez and Cotler span the jazz pantheon and apply their inimitable style to evocative new interpretations of modern classics from the works of Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter and Nat King Cole. Cotler's spectacular Konnakol chants and vocalizations deliver sultry, soaring renditions that make you hear these timeless songs anew.
Di
Ta Ka Di Mi ... features four-time Grammy winner Velez at the height of his performing and composing powers; adorned with a rich international artistic legacy. His plethora of sounds have inspired decades of collaborations with an epic and eclectic list, including Steve Reich, the Paul Winter Consort, Suzanne Vega, Tan Dun and Pat Metheny. Eminent composer John Cage has written specifically for Velez, and he has been commissioned by the Rockefeller Foundation, Jerome Foundation and most recently by the Lark String Quartet.
Ta Ka Di Mi ... features rising star Cotler, who has pioneered the fusion of Jazz improvisation and the rare vocal art form of South Indian Rhythm singing. She has gained international acclaim; collaborating with greats such as Sonny Fortune (Miles Davis), Howard Levy (Bela Fleck), Lew Soloff (Blood Sweat and Tears), Steve Gorn (Paul Simon), Juilliard Axiom Chamber Orchestra, along with numerous modern dance companies.
Mi
Ta Ka Di Mi ... envelops you in a powerful but intimate evening. Frame drum wizardry and overtone singing are interwoven seamlessly with the spectacular vocal array, allowing you to almost "see" the thrums, drones and bombinations of the instruments. The virtuosity of the staccato drum strokes and syllables are delivered at a stunningly blistering pace.
Ta Ka Di Mi ... the music is unique, the genre and style unmatched. Primal. Liberating. Centering. An utterly original experience...jazz inflected world-music synthesis that will leave you chanting Ta Ka Di Mi in your dreams.
Trio Globo
Trio Globo is a contemporary acoustic world-jazz ensemble featuring Glen Velez with cellist Eugene Friesen and harmonica/piano player Howard Levy. The group plays compositions by each member with a heavy sprinkling of improvisation colored by travels in six continents and a combustible spontaneity. They have performed around the world with recent gigs at the Santa Fe Jazz Festival and at The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis. The band has recorded two CD's for the Silver Wave label, Trio Globo and Carnival of Souls.
COLEMAN BARKS, DAVID DARLING, ZULEIKHA, EUGENE FRIESEN & GLEN VELEZ
Coleman Barks reads his translations of the ecstatic poems of Rumi, the 13th century mystic who is known for his lyrical and spiritual power. This program is a spontaneous matrix of music, dance and spoken word with cello, voice, percussion and movement improvisations interwoven with the text. "Rumi is revered by approximately half of the world's people...as the greatest poet of all time." says Barks.
Barks is joined by storydancer Zuleikha, drummer Glen Velez, cellist Eugene Friesen and cellist David Darling in this multidimensional feast of poetry, music, dance and story.
