Tarana + Tektonik

In an evening of performances by Ravish Momin’s Tarana followed by Dana Leong’s Tektonik, acoustic instruments and electronic beats come together to transform elements from religious, secular, and other traditional music to create a “folk music from nowhere”. Legendary producer, Alap Momin of Dälek and MRC Riddims joins Tarana as a special guest.

Tarana
Ravish Momin ““ drums, electronics
Rick Parker ““ trombone, electronics

Tektonik
Dana Leong ““ cello, electronics
Neel Murgai ““ sitar
Val-Inc ““ turntables, electronics
Yoni Halevy – percussion

About the Musicians

Tarana, a shape-shifting band formed in 2003, was built around composer/drummer Ravish Momin’s remembrances of music absorbed while growing up in various parts of India and the Middle-east. He sought not to build upon a specific musical tradition, but an imagined music that draws on common threads from his childhood influences ranging from Bollywood to various Indian folk-music and Classical traditions to Arabic chants. Like the Becoming Another exhibition at the Rubin Museum, the musical project transforms elements from religious, secular and other traditions to create a “folk music from nowhere.” Restless in his quest for new sounds, and also deeply inspired by the Association of the Advancement of Creative Musicians’ (AACM) motto of “Ancient to the Future”, Momin has recently delved deeply into exploring electronics to create an organic blend of acoustic and electronic sounds.

Tektonik, led by award-winning composer and cellist Dana Leong, is a musical collaboration that blends electronics with acoustic instruments to explore the healing power of meditative sounds derived from combining different world-music traditions.

Dana Leong blends jazz, classical and pop to create a signature sound. Dana’s pioneering collage of musical styles has garnered critical acclaim and wowed audiences around the world. He has collaborated with top jazz artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Christian McBride, Dafnis Prieto, and Henry Threadgill; and has worked with such diverse artists as Ray Charles, Barry White, Kanye West, Wynton Marsalis, Bjork, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yoko Ono and Lila Downs.

While dedicated to Indian classical music, Neel Murgai is also interested in creating an original music that is rooted in his many influences and studies. In 2013 Neel joined the orchestra of the smash hit musical theater production of the Jungle Book, directed by Mary Zimmerman. Neel has toured around the world with the Bill T. Jones Dance Company, performing and collaborating in their multi-media show, “Blind Date”. Other artists Neel has worked with include Dr. Lonnie Smith, Wyclef Jean, Cyndi Lauper, Samir Chatterjee, Daniel Bernard Romain, Ellen Stewart, Laraaji, Yuerba Buena, Baba Israel, Raz Mesinai, Mission on Mars, Akim Funk Buddha, Loren Conners, Louis Bellogenis and Cosmo Vinyl.

Rick Parker has worked with a large cross section of notable musicians and groups including Tim Berne, Mingus Big Band, Darcy James Argue Secret Society, Charli Persip, Frank Lacy, Super Hi-Fi, Tim Kuhl, Beninghove’s Hangmen, Cage the Elephant, hip hop legends the Wu Tang Clan and DMC and mexican pop stars Ximena Sariñana and Natalia LaFourcade. Parker’s innovative use of electronics with the trombone have allowed him to cross through many musical genres and even garnered the attention of manufacturers Electroharmonix and Eventide with whom he has consulted on the development of new pedals and effects.

Yonadav Halevy has performed constantly across Israel as well as internationally, accompanying visiting artists from Max Roach and James Moody to Mark Whitfield. In 1999 he was granted the status of “outstanding musician” by the ministry of culture and thus served in the first IDF Jazz band. He has worked with Sheila Jordan, Joel Frahm, Omer Avital, Jason Lindner, Vincent Herring, Donny McCaslin, Avishai Cohen, Aaron Goldberg, David Binney, Dana Leong, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and Firewater.

The granddaughter of a Mambo (Vodou priestess), Val-Inc has created a distinctive style of music called Vodou electronica which she also refers to as Afro Electronica. Her music weaves in electronica and Haitian and African Vodou rhythms.

Tarana live at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Morelia

Tektonik live at Joe’s Pub, New York, NY

In 1995, Alap Momin met Will Brooks and the two, along with Joshua Booth, started collaborating as experimental hip hop group Dälek. The group released 7 full lengths and tons of 12″s and 7″s on various labels worldwide including Gern Blandsten, Matador Records, Ipecac Recordings, Southern Records, Tigerbeat 6, HydraHead Industries, Staubgold, etc. They also toured the world for 15 years performing with acts such as De La Soul, KRS-1, Tool, Fantomas, Isis, John Zorn, Mike Patton, The Melvins, Crooked Fingers, Azure Ray, Moby, Prince Paul, Rahzel, The Roots, House Shoes, Trans Am, Melt Banana, Kanye West, Guns and Roses, Pink Floyd, Kraftwerk, Amon Tobin, Sonic Youth, Mars Volta, Saul Williams, Morrissey, Flying Lotus, and many more.

Images: Tarana collage by Alexandra Momin; group portrait by Aimee Suarez