Founder and artistic director of Toronto Tabla Ensemble, Ritesh Das, set out to bring the tabla to the western world in 1991. His goal was to maintain the essence of the tabla, while showing its versatile nature by pairing it with different musical styles. He had a similar mission for Toronto Tabla Ensemble’s newest album, For The Love Of Tabla: make the tabla the main event. The tabla (a twin drum set) can get lost under other instruments but Das made sure to bring the tabla front and center. Another first for Toronto Tabla Ensemble was exploring the themes of love and devotion. Whether its love for another person, music, the tabla itself, or for the earth, For The Love Of Tabla explore it.
The most romantic song on the For The Love Of Tabla is traditional Eastern European love song, “Jovano Jovanke.” Although the rhythm of “Jovano Jovanke” is simple it keeps changing right when you think its going to settle, making it all the more dynamic. A hauntingly beautiful violin sets the scene of “Jovano Jovanke” before the tabla and vocals comes in to uplift the song. Although it has a phantom-like nature, the opening is how you know the song is romantic. The way the violin stretches and sings on its own makes the beat of the tabla all the more enriched. “Shyama Sundara” is another song that has an air of devotion to it, that is difficult to describe. The tabla and sitar come together to set the scene before otherworldly vocals begin to croon. There is something about the voice, sitar, and tabla coming together that embodies feelings of loyalty. “Shyama Sundara” is arguably the most beautiful song on For The Love Of Tabla and my personal favorite.
For The Love Of Tabla showcases the versatility of the tabla over the course of 11 tracks. Songs like “Baya Works” and “Nine To Ten” prove that the tabla can mesmerize listeners, even on instrumental tracks. Once it gets into its respective rhythm, the tabla enchants its listener. Das set out to show the world that the tabla has the ability to take on any form. Das proves that with “Jovano Jovanke” and “Prayer For The Mother.” “Jovano Jovanke” is a classic Eastern European folk song that Das reinvents by bringing the essence of tabla to it. “Prayer For The Mother” features Canadian Icon Bif Naked’s hypnotic voice and a supporting electric guitar that turns it into his own musical experience. Das’s vocal recitation with the tabla in “Prayer For The Mother” is an unexpected accoutrement that elevates this song into something you’ve never heard before.
The most remarkable aspect For The Love Of Tabla is that is recorded remotely. Das’s collaborators are world class musicians and singers from around the world. The pandemic provided a slight hiccup for Toronto Tabla Ensemble but they resolved it by recording their performances remotely. The symbiosis in every song is so prominent and strong its hard to believe that it was every split into pieces. Toronto Tabla Ensembles love for music and the tabla itself, is what made For The Love Of Tabla so cohesive. Every song on For The Love Of Tabla has layers and layers of instruments that fuse together in a way that suggests its one sound. There is a unison on For The Love Of Tabla that would make you think everyone was in the same room.
Toronto Tabla Ensemble has knocked it out of the park with For The Love Of Tabla. Das’s desire to bring the sound of tabla forward and to explore themes of love and devotion paid off. Das and his collaborators made the most of the isolation of the pandemic by turning it into a positive. Toronto Tabla Ensemble continues to push the envelope of where music and the tabla can go. For The Love Of Tabla is an incredible and unique album you can’t afford to miss. Check it out!
by Lauren Millar