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"Needless to say that the band's truly unique style went over extremely well and that they made a very significant impression on the large audience and the media which was fortunate enough to attend their superb performance" Dan Behrman, Program Manager, Montreal International Jazz Festival, July 2002 "Toronto Tabla Ensemble (Weaving on Naxos) is the Toronto ensemble whose polished, throbbing fourth CD should rise high on world music charts" - Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star "...In Celebration of Dance, a wonderfully eclectic evening of dance, song, Indian recitation...and of course drumming..." - Susan Walker, Toronto Star, June 9, 2002 "The Toronto Tabla Ensemble presented one of the most focused and informative clinics I have attended in a long time!" - Don Palmer, Director of Jazz Studies, Dalhousie University Music Department, July 2002 "Among the most successful world music pioneers in these parts is the Toronto Tabla Ensemble..." - Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star, January 25, 2001 "In essence, Das and his Toronto Tabla Ensemble take Hindustani music to a newer cosmopolitan environment without diluting any of its spirit... " - Andrew Sun, Naxos World, November 2001 "If they're fuelled by the Toronto Tabla Ensemble, then you can be sure they'll be as interesting as other sounds that have been combined with the mighty music of north India, like the experiments of bands such as Shakti. " - Geoff Chapman, The Toronto Star, December 2001
"Das's orchestrated tabla encounters with the Arabic vocals of Maza Meze's Maryem Hassan Toller and the nimble guitar of Levon Ichkhanian sound utterly natural as the tabla's rolling beat blends effortlessly with the different sounds. " - Matt Galloway, NOW Magazine, December 2001 "Das' philosophy permeates the TTE's second and latest album, Second Palla (produced by the group itself and available through Festival distribution), which contains ambient street sounds from India, Canada and China, plus electronics, drum kit and bass. Driving it all is the fire of tablas that pulsate through the rhythmic cycles, creating hypnotic grooves but leaving room for some "serious hard-core tabla "." Li Robbins, Rhythm Magazine, May 1999 "... the Toronto Tabla Ensemble, along with dancer Joanna Das and bass player George Koller, demonstrated the magic that can happen when a group of creative, yet respectful and disciplined musicians set about to explore the interaction between different musical worlds. ... performed with precision, spontaneity and an infectious enjoyment. ... clearly an invigorating addition to Toronto's music scene." Tamara Bernstein, The Globe and Mail "From the moment they walked on stage, the poly-ethnic percussion ensemble had the rapt attention of the capacity audience and proved that musical boundaries can be flexible. ... Yet just as essential to the Tabla Ensemble's cross-cultural success is a keen sense of performance. Using the tabla as a launching point, the group combined light, voice and acoustics to create a bridge between the orchestrated precision of Kronos Quartet and the roof-raising energy of British dance innovators Stomp!, which had the audience on its feet demanding more." Matt Galloway, NOW Magazine "... too magical to express in words." Errol Nazareth, The Toronto Sun "Hot rhythms of India ... spinning its own magic ... an amazing example of how so many players can maintain a tight unison." Roger Levesque, The Edmonton Journal O n t h e C D s . . ."...riveting and inspiring...blends Japanese, Caribbean, African and European flavors into a tasty stew steeped in India's rich musical heritage." Nicholas Jennings, EYE Magazine "...successful transition to record...the Indian ensemble uses innovation and discipline to volley between the progressive and the traditional." Andrew Sun, NOW Magazine "...adventurous...fearless in their determination to pollinate these exotic sounds with contemporary flavors..." Cantin, The Ottawa Sun Body |
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