World’s Three Premier Percussionists Together On Stage
Presents
Uncommon Times
An ensemble of Taiko, Tabla & Timbal
 John Santos
Five-time Grammy-nominated, US Artists playing Timbal
 Abhijit Banerjee Indian ace percussionist playing Tabla
 Kenny Endo
Taiko master from Hawaii
Featuring Artists:
 Atul Rananga
 Snehashish Majumdar
 Amyt Dutta
: Keyboard
: Mandoline, Double Neck, Banjo
: Guiter
Progress to an entirely new beat! Master percussionists blend the sounds of Japanese
taiko, Indian tabla and Latin percussion into a unique and exciting rhythm.
The project is a dream perception. There are great drumming traditions from all over the
world and work brings together Afro-Caribbean, Indian, and Japanese musical cultures. It is
rare for drummers to be featured and to step out of the role of being accompaniment to
theater, dance, and other instruments in the ensemble.
While this project came together for its inherent excitement and artistic challenge, it also
models substantive cultural mixing, creating a new synergy that also respects traditional
backgrounds. In addition to different musical backgrounds, each artist is based in a different
region: Kenny in Hawaii, Abhijit in Los Angeles and Kolkata, India; and John in the San
Francisco Bay Area. The goal is to take this project to each musician's home community as
well as a variety of different regions of the world.
We hope our music will resonate and give hope to appreciating differences around the world
and at the same time show the potential for working together to create the highest in artistic
quality and creativity.
Uncommon Time was performed this year at MIM Music Concert, 2013 March 27th
http://mimmusictheater.themim.org/uncommon-time-taiko-tabla-timbal
About the artists
Abhijit Banerjee, tabla, pakhawaj
Abhijit Banerjee is a leading tabla player in India. He started learning Tabla at the age of
four. He received his first instruction from Tushar Kanti Bose and later from Manik Pal. He
is a leading disciple of Pt. Jnan Prakash Ghosh, a doyen of Indian Classical Music. Abhijit
also learned vocal from Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty and violin from Guru Ma Annapoorna
Devi.
Abhijit has established himself as major solo tabla player and has performed in major
festivals
in
India.
Abijit
has
toured
extensively
in USA , Canada , U.K. , Europe , Japan , Australia ,South Africa , South East Asia
and Mexico. Abhijit has collaborated in the world crossover music. Released Cd with Ry
Cooder(water Lily Acoustics). Larry Corryell. He has participated in Womad Festival with
Trilok Gurtu. His other main CDs include, TARANG (tim germany), Hollow bamboo (water
lily acoustics), Teentaal (Peshkar germany) and True rhythms of India (BMG
CRESCENDO).
Kenny Endo, taiko, shinobue
The Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble jazz percussion styles, taiko master Kenny Endo is a
leading force in contemporary taiko performance in the U.S. and Japan. The Kenny Endo
Taiko Ensemble plays original compositions for taiko, koto (Japanese zither), fue (bamboo
flutes), and other Japanese traditional instruments highlighting features master drummer
Kenny Endo on Taiko (Japanese drum) and Japanese percussion. Synthesizing traditional
Japanese drumming techniques, world musical rhythms, and western the new dimensions
Endo is bringing to an old Japanese art.
Endo leads three ensembles under the name Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble.They are based in
Honolulu, Tokyo, and the mainland U.S.A. The Ensemble features master drummer Kenny
Endo on taiko and Japanese percussion; Yoshinori Nomi, one of the pioneers of Latin
percussion in Japan and a former member of the Tokyo Cuban Boys on Latin percussion and
taiko; master of the traditional lion dance and Japanese festival music of old Tokyo,
Kyosuke Suzuki, on bamboo flutes, taiko and lion dance; and Hideaki Kuribayashi,
innovative 17-string bass kotoist (Japanese zither).
John Santos, conga (tumbadora), Latin percussion
Five-time Grammy-nominated percussionist and US Artists Fontanals Fellow, John Santos,
is one of the foremost exponents of Afro-Latin music in the world today. Born in San
Francisco, California, November l, l955, he was raised in the Puerto Rican and Cape Verdean
traditions of his family, surrounded by music. The fertile musical environment of the San
Francisco Bay Area shaped his career in a unique way. His studies of Afro-Latin music have
included several trips to New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil and Colombia.He is known for
his innovative use of traditional forms and instruments in combination with contemporary
music, and has earned much respect and recognition as an educator, composer, and record
and event producer. He’s been a prolific performer, composer, teacher, writer, radio
programmer, and record/event producer whose career has spanned over 35 years.
Already Performed


Soak University, Los Angeles
Hawaii Performing Arts
Up-Coming concerts




Skidmore College
Leaf Festival, Ashevinne
Gretty Centre, Los Angeles
San Francisco Jazz festival
For details:
Contact:
India +91 9804616025 / 9433006076
USA +1 7144552897 / 714 3662492
Anindita Das
Public Relation Executive
Email: info@abhijitbanerjee.com
anindita@dhwaniacademy.net