Silkroad Ensemble
Take the “A” Train is a very special arrangement of the Billy Strayhorn jazz classic that I created for the unique instrumentation of the Silkroad Ensemble. It features Pipa, Shakuhachi, Bagpipe, Clarinet, Tabla, Strings, and Percussion. You’ve never heard “A Train” quite like this before! This is a bootleg video of a show we did at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
Atashgah is one of my favorite Silkroad pieces. Written by violinist Colin Jaconsen, it captures the power and beauty of an ancient Persian fire temple.
Percussion Ensemble
Saidi Swing was written for the Silkroad Percussion Quartet. It’s inspired by Arabic dance rhythms and features Sandeep Das (Tabla), Joe Gramley (Darbuka), Mark Suter (Frame Drum), and myself (Riq).
Sheet music is available HERE.
California Suite depicts the simultaneously vibrant and calming atmosphere of the beautiful state of California. It begins amongst the majestic Redwood trees of Mendocino and then proceed down along the stunning Pacific Coast Highway. The entire Suite can be performed by a trio but was expanded for this particular performance to include a second trio.
Special thanks to Ben Toth and the Hartt Percussion Department.
Mvt. 1 is performed by Kevin Thompson, Matt Dupree, Jean Carlo Urena Gonzales.
Mvt. 2 is performed by Jianpeng Feng, Jesey Meche, and Yudong Wang
Sheet music is available HERE.
Riq Solo
Zilicious is an improvised Riq solo that explores the many possibilities of the tambourine jingles (Zils ;-)
Connector is a Riq solo that revels in the natural delay inside Richard Serra’s sculpture “Connector” at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in North Ridge, California.
Group Drumming
Handance (plus) in 5 is an excerpt from a concert I directed for the Hartt School Percussion Department in 2016. It begins with a treatment of a traditional South Indian composition and then moves into an exploration of Glen Velez's Handance material in a 5 beat rhythm cycle. This is an incredible system that incorporates frame drumming, vocalizing, and movement.
Performers (from Left to Right): Ben Toth, Matt Dupree, Kevin Thompson, Adam Rhan, Chris Natale, Ben Yuscavage, Devon Cupo, Adam Dipersio, Mike Jones, Jesey Meche, Yudong Wang, Steve Neal, Jean Carlo Gonzales, Jianpeng Feng, and Shane Shanahan.
If you would like to learn more or facilitate a similar experience for your percussion department or drumming group, please feel free to leave me a message HERE.
Handance in 3 is another excerpt from my 2016 concert at Hartt. This segment is our version of Glen Velez's Handance in 3. It begins with Tar drums and then moves to Riqs. In addition to drumming, Glen's unique Handance Method incorporates rhythmic stepping, vocalizations, call and response, and patterns inspired by the Indian concept of Tihai.
Performers (from left to right): Ben Toth, Adam Dipersio, Kevin Thompson, Mike Jones, Ben Yuscavage, Jesey Meche, Chris Natale, Devon Cupo, Yudong Wang, Matt Dupree, Jianpeng Feng, Yuanlue Sun, Steve Neal, Adam Rhan, Jean Carlo Gonzales, and Shane Shanahan.
If you would like to learn more or facilitate a similar experience for your percussion department or drumming group, please feel free to leave me a message HERE.