Celebrating the release of their first CD, Snakes and Ladders, this extraordinary and innovative trio weaves together intriguing elements from far-flung corners of the globe to create an adventurous new musical hybrid! Snakes and Ladders is on the Family Tree Music label out of the San Francisco Bay Area and is produced by Simon Tassano, known for his collaborative work with Kent in Trance Mission and Lights in a Fat City and also producer for veteran UK guitar hero/songwriter, Richard Thompson.
LISTEN TO THE TRACKS OR BUY IT HERE!
Australian Bebop Ragas is:
didjeridu maestro Stephen Kent, touchstyle fretboard pioneer Teed Rockwell, and jazz/world fusion drummer & tabla player Sameer Gupta.
A world traveler and true musical adventurer, Stephen Kent has been playing the "didj" for well over two decades, pioneering his own unique style on the ancient Aboriginal Australian instrument all over the world. He has also collaborated in numerous cross-pollinated, multi-cultural endeavors with extraordinary musicians ranging from Trance Mission, Lights in a Fat City & Tuvan throat singers Chirgilchin to Airto Moreira , Zap Mama and many more.
Teed Rockwell has spent the past 30 years playing many forms of world music on the touchstyle fretboard, or Chapman Stick—a guitar-like instrument, played by tapping the strings with the fingertips. His principle musical mission has long been developing a style adapting the Hindustani ragas of Northern India to this contemporary instrument.
An original voice in jazz, world, and fusion music, Sameer Gupta approaches his music from a perspective that bridges genres from bebop to avant-garde jazz, from European classical percussion to North Indian tabla playing. He's known for his work with groups like vidyA, which fuses American jazz and South Indian classical music, and the electronic/hip hop/avant-jazz/world music ensemble Kosmic Renaissance.
Australian Bebop Ragas is a new sound on the scene, a trio of world class virtuosos taking the fundamental premise of Indian Classical Ragas, turning it inside out and transforming it in a truly innovative and unique way in contemporary global music.
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“True fusion is where borders are melted and individual egos are dissolved in the harmony and rhythm of the spirit of love. Australian Bebop Ragas succeed on both counts; keeping individual virtuosity visible but to a minimum. The focus is music and sharing"
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Behzad Mohit/Impressario
"Wow, you really blew us away last night. People are going to be talking about this for a long time. Part of what you guys were doing sounded like being at the Fillmore in 1970 with Jim Morrison and the Doors, except updated to the 21st century with the didjeridu and new takes on old ecstasy - extremely exciting. You guys really evoked and surpassed the best of that world changing music that they were doing then. I pictured you at the Fillmore, actually, and soon. You are already that good right out of the gate."
- Sandy Miranda/KPFA Radio
More info:
www.stephenkent.net
www.sameergupta.com
www.myspace.com/teedrockwell
contact: Stephen Kent
familytree@stephenkent.net
PMB 125
4200 Park Blvd
Oakland, CA 94602