Tibet2Timbuk2

Shen Flindell started learning tabla in Melbourne from Sri Debapriya Bhattacharya in 1994 and soon went to the holy city of Varanasi in India to study under Pt. Kaviraj Ashutosh (“Ashu Babu”) Bhattacharya, a great tabla master of the Benares Gharana and senior disciple of the legendary Pt. Kanthe Maharaj. Since then he has become a well-known figure in Indian classical and world music circles, not just in Australia but also in Japan and of course Varanasi, India.

Since the first EthnoSuperLounge concert in 1998 (also featuring Tibet2Timbuk2 cohort Tenzin Choegyal), Shen has facilitated many successful cross-cultural collaborations, of which the latest is Tibet2Timbuk2. EthnoSuperLounge is all about union and transcendence through music and with Shen’s clear, beautiful tabla sound, his easy grooves and intuitive accompaniment there is always a free-spirited and open communication between all concerned.

Crane Song, Tso Marpo and Lotus Born feature tabla solos by Shen.

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Marcello Milani is a singer, songwriter & guitarist.

Ask anyone who has seen Marcello live, and they’ll tell you that here is an artist whose songs and voice are filled with those rare attributes, honesty and integrity.

Marcello has performed at many festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Livid Festival, Big Day Out & the National Folk Festival to name just a few. He is best known to many as the voice of Brisbane icons, The Toothfaeries. Arguably one of the most acclaimed and popular bands in the city’s recent history, The Toothfaeries, with Marcello out front, not only helped inspire the growth of Brisbane’s booming music scene, they influenced a small army of artists who have emerged in their wake.

Marcello also performed and recorded with amazing Afro/Roots groups Zimbira & Masala Music and is now thoroughly enjoying Tibet2Timbuk2, his collaboration with Tenzin Choegyal, Shen Flindell and friends.

The CD “Music is Life” features Marcello’s song Little Things.  Beautiful Girl / Bhumo Zhema and Jhi Chung are examples of Marcello’s collaborative songwriting with Tenzin, while in Music Is Life / Menfanh he collaborates with Guinean musician Lansana Camara.

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Tenzin Choegyal draws on his traditional Tibetan roots to create music which expresses his thoroughly modern life. Since his world music debut ten years ago, Tenzin’s cantering rhythms, soaring vocals, flute and poignant stories have enchanted audiences around the globe.

Recent collaborations such as Tibet2Timbuk2 allow Tenzin room to experiment with rhythm and structure, to challenge deeply entrenched Tibetan musical norms and find a place in the complex tapestry of global sounds.

Tenzin plays the dranyen (long necked lute), lingbu (transverse flutes) various ritual objects and is well-known for his extraordinary vocal ability.

Crane Song (Ngagpey Sungkey) and Dawe Wola are examples of Tenzin’s songs supported by Tibet2Timbuk2.

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“…not so much a performance by highly talented artists, but more a meditation that would be remembered long after the evening finished…  The band members Tenzin Choegyal, Marcello Milani, Shen Flindell and Taro Terahara were in perfect harmony with each other, joking in a relaxed way about Karma and Lamas. Tenzin Choegyal, the lead singer, sang with such control and strength it was as if he was calling the spirit of Tibet into our presence. His voice was powerful and vibrant…  An evening not to be forgotten.” (Albert Falzon, The Daily Lama, concert review Bellingen Jan 2012)

“One of the most astonishing things about “Music is Life” is the fundamental simplicity of the parts played by, in particular, the guitar and dranyen. Mostly uncomplicated and repeated phrases, they nevertheless combine with the tabla to produce an extraordinarily interesting and detailed sound that is intensely hypnotic and enchanting. This is a combination of Africa, India and Tibet, that, for all its unlikeliness, has resulted in a musical masterpiece.” (Mike Raine,Indie-CDs CD review 2009)

“This album is a masterpiece. A joyous fusion of the sounds of India, Tibet and Africa, it is beautifully produced, technically superb and yet honest and unpretentious. Uplifting tabla, bansuri, guitar, kora, flute, trumpet and voice come together in a glorious soundscape from haunting mountain flute to danceable afrobeat. Fusion at its best.” (Amazon MP3 review, Sep 2010)

“…an incredible band called Tibet2Timbuk2…  I’m absolutely in love with this entire album, please get yourself to tibet2timbuk2.com and check out the album.  This is spectacular, this album is absolutely amazing, it cheers me up, it makes me feel wicked and I cannot promote this strongly enough for you guys.” (Queerninja, music review podcast May 2009)

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