PA/40/11 12 October 2011
‘BAND OF BROTHERS’ FROM AUSTRALIA TO FRONTLINE
RAJASTHAN INTERNATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL
The Australian High Commission is pleased to present in India for the first time, Band of Brothers - Joseph & James, Slava & Leonard. One super group, two sets of siblings, and four internationally acclaimed musicians - this brotherly collaboration displays sibling revelry at its best. Regarded as two of Australia's finest classical guitarists, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan join Joseph Tawadros, oud virtuoso, and James Tawadros, world-class percussionist specialising in the req, an Egyptian tambourine, to perform a repertoire that crosses cultural and stylistic barriers; from world music, to jazz, to classical and traditional.
The Band of Brothers will be a star attraction at the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) in Jodphur performing on 14th October, as well as spending three days exploring new collaborations with Rajasthani musicians facilitated by RIFF festival.
The Band will then perform at Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad on 16th October before departing India for concerts in Colombo.
Both families migrated to Australia before the youngest brother was born; the Tawadros family from Egypt and the Grigoryans from Kazakstan. While the Brothers are influenced by their cultural traditions, they are more interested in transcending rather than upholding them. “Within tradition there are always limits. I try to push the boundaries and find my own voice” says Joseph.
Their self-titled album released earlier this year has received critical acclaim for its “admirably adventurous arrangements and wonderful dynamics” (The Australian newspaper).
The repertoire performed is a mixture of duo pieces by the Grigoryan and Tawadros brothers, a special arrangement of ‘Blackbird’ by the Beatles and some group pieces composed by Joseph Tawadros such as Lucca, Ten Ten, Freo and Sahara which are dispersed with a plethora of improvisation.
Concert Information:
14th October, Mehrangarh Fort, Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jodphur City
Tickets available for Rajasthan International Folk Festival via www.jodphurfolkfestival.org
16th October, Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad.
The artists are available for interviews.
For more information, please contact: First Secretary Tim Huggins on +91 9810 154 256