Dhara is a multi-faceted group that features Vineet Vyas (Canada), Rajib Karmakar (India), James Waterman (U.S.), Joseph Salcedo (U.S.), Etienne Rivera (Puerto Rico) and Amir Oosman (U.S.). Each member has studied in the traditions of North/South Indian music, West African rhythms, Persian music, Latin percussion and more. Dhara seamlessly fuses these backgrounds and idioms to bring audiences a performance unlike any they have ever experienced.
Performance Highlights
Joshua Tree Music Festival, CA, May 15, 2016
Album Release Concert, Blue Whale, April 11, 2016
Center for the Arts Eagle Rock, CA, February 19, 2016
Day of Music Festival; Fullerton, CA; June 9, 2015
The NAMM Show, Anaheim, CA; Jan 22, 2015
Blue Whale Jazz Lounge, Los Angeles, CA; Oct 21, 2014
MA Center LA, Redondo Beach, CA; Sep 28, 2014
World Music and Dance Festival, Wild Beast Concert Pavilion, CalArts; May 3, 2014
CalArts Jazz at Capitol Studios: 25-Year Anniversary Reunion Concert; April 19, 2014
Clinics and Workshops
World Music and Percussion Clinic: Percussion Forum at CalArts; Sept. 23, 2014
Recordings
Dhara released their self-titled album on April 11, 2016.
The group was selected to record on CalArts Jazz 2014, the 25th anniversary album in collaboration with and recorded and produced at Capitol Records, Los Angeles.
Press
"[Dhara] is an instrumental ensemble consisting of xylophone, tablas, sitar, bass guitar and drum set and they blend so many influences from East and West. Together, their sound is rich, complex and infectious; separately, when they take turns soloing is when each of them really shine on their own as virtuoso players."
-Tom Nguyen; EnClave.LA; 4/1/2016
"Amir Oosman stirred the drink with his loose-limbed bashing, and then stayed for vibraphonist James Watermanʼs “Pancha Tattva,” which was bolstered by Vineet Vyasʼ tablas. The quintet got a hand just for executing the long, fast head on this jazz gamelan..."
-Kirk Silsbee; DownBeat Magazine; 5/5/2014
CONTACT INFO
Email: dharaworldmusic@gmail.com