Artist: Greg Ellis Title: Kala Rupa - Explorations In Rhythm Label: Narada Greg Ellis is one of the most respected and sought-after percussionists today. A core member of the critically acclaimed group, Vas, Ellis has appeared on The Tonight Show and VH1's Storytellers with Billy Idol. Mickey Hart has even invited him and Vas to tour with him this fall. Ellis began playing the drums at age 13, and is completely self taught. He shifted his focus to the percussion of India, the Middle East, and Africa, becoming obsessed with collecting percussion instruments from all over the world. He loved the way drums from different cultures sounded when recorded together. He also discovered the importance of recording these instruments in real time, meaning no looping or sequencing. On his break out album, KALA RUPA, Ellis' work emerges from a spiritual place deep within and defies global boundaries. On KALA RUPA - literally translated as "time form" - Ellis re-creates the sacred music used by primitive tribes to meditate and transcend. The album is a journey through various forms of rhythm and time, from ambient space to ecstatic drumming, opening windows of transcendence. Back to top This website: Copyright © 2002 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher or the previous publisher of original republished materials.			Artist: Swaraj Title: Future Asian Beat Label: Time Square Records / Swaraj Records Future Asian Beats is a new compilation reflecting the sound of Swaraj, the international club night that stemmed from the UK underground club scene. SWARAJ is a Sanskrit term meaning SELF RULE. Headed by Ash Chandola a.k.a. DJ Khushboo (beautiful aroma) the collective includes resident DJ Juttla and Round Eye as well as a reputable co-operative of musicians. Born from the Asian Underground scene, one that still reveres its original protagonists Talvin Singh and Nitin Sawhney, Swaraj was launched early in 1998. Its first home was the legendary lefifield venue the Blue Note in London's Hoxton Square - also home Goldie's Metalheadz and Ninja Tune's Stealth. The club was notable for giving its guest DJs free reign to explore eclectic tastes within the styles of Drum'n'Bass, Breakbeats, Dub, Jazz-Fusion and Garage. Swaraj has come of age in this new century by entering the next phase of its manifesto to become a real force on the world stage of dance music. With the initial assistance of the British Arts Council to play in Rome at Brancaleone, Swaraj made the momentous step of performing in Europe last year. A move that has led to various residencies and consistent demand throughout Europe for their club, as well as a fan base for them and one that has proved to be far stronger than the UK. Swaraj go from strength to strength with their growing support and their inevitable development onto an international level. Fat breaks and mad tablatronica are bringing a new soul to dance music. Back to top			Artist: Lo' Jo Title: Mojo Radio Label: World Village "Lo'Jo, led by a smoky-voiced chanteur named Denis Pean, sounds like an itinerant cabaret band that has wandered a long way from the boulevards, hearing griot tunes and tangos and Tom Waits but notforgetting its accordion " —The New York Times Read the reviews of French band Lo'Jo and you'll hear descriptions of a veritable where's where of world music: Spanish, Hindi, Arabic, North African, West African, English, Gypsy, Caribbean, and of course French. These diverse origins are united seamlessly by the gravelly voice of lead singer Denis Pean (who has been likened to Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Serge Gainsbourg), the genetically synchronized tones of singing sisters Nadia and Yamina, and the legacy of the band's quirky origins of street performance. Operating communally from a house in Angers, France, Lo'Jo's success has largely resulted from constant worldwide touring and a do-it-yourself mentality that is paying off twenty years after the band's founding. Key in the history of Lo'Jo is Mojo Radio, which was released to a cult following in Europe in 1997, but only made it to these shores off the side of the occasional concert stage. With instrumentation including melodica, accordion, violin, kora, djembe, and bendir, "Lo'Jo has made the trip from Angers, France to Bamako, Mali in barely a minute" (Washington Post). Title track Mojo Radio is ripe for radio airplay with tiers slowly building to its catchy, reggae-backed chorus. The new/old CD features Dierdre Dubois of Ekova, who—along with the Nid El Mourid sisters—creates on Mira Zunik the same kind of impressive vocal layers that led Zap Mama to fame. On Si Jamais Si, Dubois is joined by Mahaboub Khan of India's Musafir on vocals and dholak (two-headed North Indian barrel drum). Featured on three tracks is Justin Adams of Sinead O'Connor and Jah Wobble fame, who, in addition to producing the Lo'Jo CD, was recently called "Britain's answer to Ry Cooder" by The Guardian. The release of Mojo Radio follows on the heels of Boheme de Cristal, which was released to critical acclaim on World Village in June, 2001 and coincided with the band's appearance on the national Vive La World! tour last summer. Back to top