CD Launch of Deepchandi bleu, Ragleela's New Album

In the making for over a year, Ragleela's new CD, Deepchandi bleu, is finally ready for release! While the in-store and online release will actually take place some time in January, the band played a couple of pre-release concerts to celebrate the album's arrival. The first took place on November 27 in Val David, and the second was at the Sala Rossa in Montreal, on December 11. At both occasions, we performed all the tunes of the CD to a packed house. We couldn't have hoped for a better turnout!

For the Val David show, we played as a quartet with Uwe Neumann on sitar, Jean-Marc Hébert on guitar, Guillaume Bourque on clarinet, and with myself on tabla. At the Sala Rossa, we were joined by Cedric Dind-Lavoie on bass. Here are some photos:

Really looking forward to the online and in-store release. Soon! In the meantime, there are some short samples here: https://soundcloud.com/sitaruwe and there are some more photos posted on Facebook, here.

A week after the Montreal launch, we also played a concert in the Parc des Compagnons Saint-Laurent, on the Montreal Plateau. It was quite a bizarre experience, playing in this heated cabin, with the audience freezing outside, huddled around a fire (which was quite far from the stage). Since we were separated from the audience by these plexiglass windows, we couldn't hear the audience's applause. The feeling was similar to playing in a recording studio; we could hear each other just fine, but no connection with the audience, unfortunately, except for through our microphones. Strange, but fun nonetheless!

Thanks to Caroline Tabah for the photos!

Ragleela in the Studio

This past January, Ragleela went into the studio to record the group's third album (my first with the group), Third Ear, which will be released this fall. On the album is Uwe on sitar and sansa, Jean-Marc on 7-string guitar, Eric on percussion, Cédric on contrabass, Guillaume on clarinet and bass-clarinet, and with myself on tabla and some other percussion as well.

We recorded at Studio Frisson (Montreal), with Don on sound and Michel producing. I have recorded at Frisson numerous times in the past, with composers Nicole Lizée and Ram Borcar, but this was my first time at the new Frisson space in the east-end of the city. It's an old church that has been converted; very spacious!

Everything was recorded live, with everyone in the same space. Dividers were placed between us in order to isolate the sound of each instrument as much as possible.

Since the album won't be out for quite a while (patience, patience...), here are some photos in the meantime! :)

Cedric, deep in concentration.

Percussionists on lunch break!

Creative discussions in progress!

Jean-Marc in the hot seat.

Percussive exchanges!

Thanks to Caroline for the photos!

Saturday Matinee with Ragleela

Yesterday, Ragleela performed an afternoon concert at the Salle de Diffusion Parc-Extension in Montreal. We didn't know what to expect from a concert at 4pm, but the hall was completely full to capacity (overflowing, in fact)! I suppose it helps that the concert was free. :)

As some of you may have seen in previous posts, the Ragleela ensemble is somewhat variable in instrumentation. For this concert, the group was made up of Uwe on sitar (and sansa), Jean-Marc on guitar (his custom 7-string, and gourd guitar), Cédric on contrabass, Guillaume on clarinet (and bass-clarinet), and myself on tabla (with my new tabla-percussion kit that includes two Tablatones and a couple of cymbals).

Aside from the opening tune, View of the Green Valley, all the pieces we played were from Ragleela's upcoming CD. This was also the concert premiere of Open Horizons and Sansala, both of which were composed mainly by Jean-Marc, making them oddities in our repertoire (most of Ragleela's music is principally composed by sitarist Uwe). Open Horizons is in drut Teentaal, and features some lovely melodies, and virtuosic solos exchanges between the sitar and the guitar. Sansala features some haunting melodies on bass clarinet, with the tabla and sansa providing a relentless groove in three. Unfortunately, I can't post any samples until the CD is released!

The next Ragleela concerts are set for July 21 in Sainte-Therese, and August 18 in Vercheres. The new album should be out this fall!

Please visit my Facebook page for even more photos!

Thank you to Caroline for capturing these musical moments.

Ragleela Quartet in Prévost

This past March 16, Ragleela played our first concert since being in the studio this past January. It was really great to be back in action, performing with the group. We played a mix of old and new tunes. Cédric, who recorded with us on contrabass, wasn't available for the performance, and so we had Matthieu with us as a special guest. The concert took place at the Église St-Francois-Xavier in Prévost, which is just a little bit past Saint Jerome, in the Laurentians.

I had just received my TransTabla the Monday prior, and so this concert was a perfect opportunity to test out the TransTabla and its alternative tuning mechanism. Just before beginning the concert, it seems that there was a very significant temperature change, and so my tabla was very flat; almost a full semi-tone. With just a small crank of the TransTabla, I had my tabla back up to pitch in record time. Of course, I could have easily re-tuned the traditional way, but the TransTabla certainly saved me a lot of time in this instance! Also, when I fly with tabla, or when the temperature is below freezing, I prefer to loosen my tabla for transport, as a precaution. This was also much faster with the TransTabla.

In a way, the TransTabla reminds me of the early timpani tuning mechanisms. At first, timpani were tuned with individual tension rods, each with its own tuning key. Later, mechanisms were developed so that by turning one key, the tension around the entire drumhead could be adjusted simultaneously, and eventually, this was replaced with the timpani pedals that we have now. Hmm, a pedal to re-tune tabla? Probably not! :)

Thanks to Caroline Tabah for the concert photos!

Sitar Two Ways

Those of you who have been following the blog know that I regularly accompany sitarist Uwe Neumann, as well as play with him in the fusion group Ragleela. These days, we are playing together quite a lot, in preparation for Ragleela's upcoming CD which will be recorded in December.

On October 19, Ragleela headed out to fabled Saint-Elie-de-Caxton, in rural Quebec. The village was made famous by storyteller Fred Pellerin, and the gnomes that are all over the place; yes, gnomes! There is even a gnome (lutin in French) crossing sign, right near where we played, the Rond Coin.

With the upcoming recording, this concert was all about road-testing the new material, with guest bassist Cédric Dind-Lavoie. It was also only the second concert with Jean-Marc on his new custom-made 7-string guitar, and with me playing the 'tabla-kit'. The more I play it, the more I enjoy it, and it really brings in some nice variety to the percussive timbres in the performance.

And then, this past October 26, I accompanied Uwe for a classical concert at the Sivananda Yoga centre, in downtown Montreal. It's always such as pleasure to play there, as it is such an intimate setting. The audience is always so very attentive and really gets immersed in the music.

As always, thank you to Caroline Tabah for the photos!

Ragleela at the Collingwood Music Festival in Owen Sound

This past August 23, Ragleela had a concert at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound as part of the Collingwood Music Festival. This concert was somewhat significant as we played four new tunes, all of which will be on Ragleela's upcoming CD, which we will be recording this fall; it was the concert debut of my tabla 'drum-kit' (for lack of a better term); and it was also the debut of Jean-Marc's new seven-string guitar!

The Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound

Warming up during sound check

Playing the 'tabla-kit.' What should I call it?

The tabla-kit emerged out of a desire to add some other percussion to the Ragleela trio, for shows where the full quintet isn't involved. The core of the group is Uwe Neumann on sitar, Jean-Marc Hébert on guitar, and myself on tabla, and on special occasions, we are joined by Eric Breton on percussion and Marie-Soleil Bélanger on violin. Eric adds a special feel to the group, and while of course it's impossible to replace him, we thought that it would be nice to add some other percussive sounds to the tabla in certain places. With my tabla in the centre (of course!), I added a Sabian prototype 18" cymbal and 10" Paragon splash to my right, and a pair of Remo Tablatones on the left. The cymbals are both very, very thin, allowing me to play them with hands or sticks (Tala Wands!), and the Tablatones are great, as they allow me to add more pitched percussion to the tabla setup; I tune them to Sa and Pa. I'm very happy with the little stand I put together for the Tablatones, which keeps them mounted horizontally, and taking up a minimum of space.

We performed two sets, including both new and old tunes, and had a great time. The hall wasn't full, but the audience that was there was extremely attentive and super-enthusiastic!

Thanks to Caroline Tabah for the photos! Please don't forget to check out her TAAL - The Rhythm of Life documentary film fundraiser. Every contribution makes a difference. The project cannot succeed without your help!

More photos will be posted to my Facebook page.

Ragleela at Festival Classica

Today, Ragleela performed at the St. Lambert United Church as part of the Festival Classica. It was great fun to be back performing with the group as a full quintet.

Ragleela at St. Lambert United Church, Festival Classica

Having a good time!

Uwe pulled out his sansa for Sansonica.

Ragleela is Uwe Neumann on sitar, Jean-Marc Hébert on guitar, Marie-Soleil Bélanger on violin, Eric Breton on percussion, and me on tabla.

Thanks to Caroline Tabah for the photos!