The Toronto Tabla Ensemble stage a meeting of musical minds on their video for the song Faceoff, showcasing now on Tinnitist!
Faceoff depicts an energetic meeting between the Hindustani and Carnatic rhythmic systems, with traditional compositions and classic grooves translated between the tabla, mridangam, and ghatam. The music video features San Francisco-based kathak dancer Labonee Mohanta and violin player Raginder Singh Momi, two of the ensemble’s newest guest artists.
As five musicians weave together intricate rhythms and melodies, they disturb a woman’s peaceful meditation. She begins to dance — evoking the feminine power with flowers and rituals — leading to a dramatic faceoff with the players and an ending in which her energy matches that of the players.
Faceoff is the newest single from TTE’s sixth studio album Bhukima. The disc is dedicated to and inspired by artistic director and tabla virtuoso Ritesh Das’s brother, kathak legend Acharya Chitresh Das, along with guru and tabla master Maestro Swapan Chaudhuri — both of whom “greatly influenced (Das’s) identity as a composer.”
TTE, a non-profit organization and band, was created to share the depth and excitement of Indian classical music, culture, and history with audiences all over the world. Their groundbreaking approach has brought the instrument and the ensemble to the mainstream through concerts, recordings and collaborations. TTE has toured Canada six times, visited Australia in 2006, and performed in India in 2011. They have produced three videos and five albums, including the Juno-nominated Firedance.
TTE will throw a release party for Bhukima on Nov. 9 at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.
Watch Faceoff above and listen to Bhukima in full below:
