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Despite all the flack they often take, few things are as moving as a talented drummer. It's amazing how much power a single beat can have. Drums have been around since about 6000 BC and have played an integral role in different societies and cultures around the globe. They have been used to communicate, celebrate, educate, and of course entertain. With the help of a half dozen Egyptian goblet drums, which are called darabukkas or tablas, Tokyo's Tabla Kwaiesa is trying to expand the above ideas and open up a whole new world to people at the same time.  Comprised of six extremely gifted percussionists, Tabla Kwaiesa have been flooring crowds in Japan since 2001. The band first came together when drummer and zill player Ueda came across a fellow Japanese person named Daisuke in Egypt. Ueda was in Cairo studying percussion while Daisuke was there studying Arabic. The two met through a common friend and Daisuke instantly became infatuated with the darabukka. He spent several months learning how to play before returning to Tokyo and forming Tabla Kwaiesa with Ueda. The two played regularly and over the next few years came across several other kindred spirits who shared their love for Middle Eastern rhythms. The names of these individuals are Ken, Hide, Shinshi, and Rentaro.After witnessing one of their immensely passionate live shows you'd be hard pressed to find a music fan that wasn't taken aback by their skills, showmanship, and joyful sounds. Ueda is happy that their performances are so well received, but says that ultimately Tabla Kwaiesa is looking to do more than just entertain with their music. He's hoping to enlighten audiences by expanding their knowledge on Middle Eastern and Arabic countries and showing them that there is more to these places than the often negative portrayals put forth by the mass media. "Japanese people don't know much about Arabic culture, but are still very interested in it," explains Ueda. "We are trying to introduce Arabic culture to people first through music. Music is easy. Everyone likes music. We use music to communicate. There is a bad image in Japan of the Arabic countries. People think that they are dangerous and are afraid of terrorists. This isn't true. People need to think of the word 'salaam', which means peace, when they think about them. Salaam is important." |
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-->part2 interview by shawn and photos by Gen
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 mag files : Tabla Kwaiesa Groove Is In The Heart : (05/03/06 @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan) : review by shawnExpansive Rhythms : (04/12/04 @ Cozmo's Cafe and Bar) : review by shawninterview I Need A Beat ... A Beat : (05/07/12) : interview by shawn, photos by Gen |
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The official site Tabla Kwaiesa http://kwaiesa.net/ Upcoming Tabla Kwaiesa Performances and Workshops:
7/12 Hamamatsu @ Miracles Cafe 7/13 Aichi @ Himawari-Dojo - workshop 7/14 Aichi @ Himawari-Dojo - workshop 7/15 Kyoto @ MJ Hall - workshop 7/17 Fukuoka @ Across Fukuoka Circular Hall 7/18 Nagasaki @ Theatre Cafe 7/19 Yuhuin @ Lalcool 7/20 Oita @ Kantan Circus - workshop 7/21 Oita @ Brick Brock 7/24 Osaka @ Kuba-Ichi 7/25 Hamamatsu @ Kretake-sou 8/2 Tokyo @ Shinjuku Naked Loft 9/11 Tokyo @ Club-Heights |
check the albums? |
 2005The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades : Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (6th Jun. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Life Aquatic With Yo La Tengo : Yo La Tengo (28th May. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)The Little Things : Boom Boom Satellites (29th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Insanely Brilliant : Les Savy Fav (30th Apr.)Organized Chaos : Shibusa Shirazu (17th Apr. @ Shibuya Quattro)Socially Aware And Ready To Party : Asian Dub Foundation w/African Head Charge (10th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Nice And Simple : Jimmy Eat World (4th Apr. @ Shibuya O-East)Nothing A Few Sweets Couldn't Fix : Lemon Jelly (29th Mar. @ Shibuya AX)Groove Is In The Heart : Tabla Kwaiesa (6th Mar. @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan)Interview : Constantly Evolving : 90 Day Men (13th Mar)It's Party Time! : The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Benevento/Russo Duo (28th Feb @ Shibuya Quattro)Weekly Service : The Chemical Brothers (12th Feb @ Shibuya AX)Tattoos and a Whole Lotta Hair : EXTREME THE DOJO Vol.12 feat. Every time I Die, As I Lay Dying and Shadows Fall (7th Feb @ Shibuya Quattro)Geography At Its Best : ISIS (5th Feb @ Shibuya Quattro)To The Extreme : The Shins (31st Jan @ Harajuku Astro Hall)CD review : "Panopticon" : Isis (27th Jan)Winter Be Damned : Ash (17th Jan @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Peaceful, But Far From Quiet : Mono (20th Jan)CD review : "The Nein" : The Nein (13th Jan)2004CD review : "Christmas" : Old Man Gloom (28th Dec)Music Soothes the Savage Beast
: eastern youth (20th Dec @ Shibuya Quattro)And to all A Good Night : Shonen Knife (19th Dec @ Daikanyama Unit)Exciting Music for Exciting People : illreme (6th Dec @ Shibuya Quattro)Expansive Rhythms : Tabla Kwaiesa (4th Dec @ Cozmo's Cafe and Bar)It's In Their Hands Now : Franz Ferdinand (29th Nov @ Shibuya AX)Lights, Camera, Action : Brahman (15th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Mostly Business : The Stills (8th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Scare The Rock Right Outta Ya : Halloween Ball 2004 feat . The 5,6,7,8's, Gasoline, The Woggles (30th Oct @ Shiomkitazawa Shelter)Three More, Two More, and Take it to the Left : Hawaiian6/ Idol Punch (11th Oct @ Shinjuku Loft)Busting Eardrums : Mogwai (5th Oct @ Ebisu Liquidroom AX )Medical Breakthrough : The Most Notorious Vol. 18 feat. Melt Banana and K.K. Null (25th Sept @ Shimokitazawa Shelter )Grey Skies Are Going To Clear Up... : HUSKING BEE (5th Sept @ Shibuya AX )no title : V∞REDOMS (8th Aug @ Ebisu Liquidroom )CD review : Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes : Andre Ethier |