Toronto Tabla Ensemble release new album

Toronto Tabla Ensemble hail from the Canadian city after which they’re named and have journeyed on a stellar musical career so far. The pioneering Juno-nominated band, led by the virtuoso of North Indian percussion Ritesh Das, have released 7 full-length albums which have helped drive the rise of tabla and carried it into the mainstream of the Canadian music scene.

Having done so much for this style of music in their country, it’s no surprise their achievements form a seemingly endless list of accolades. Featured in numerous films and commercials, in 2003 they were commissioned to compose and record the current theme music for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning show.

With no sign of slowing down, they’ve recently shared their 8th album release, with the aptly titled record For the love of Tabla. While some do it for money and others do it for fame, there’s no question that Toronto Tabla Ensemble do it all for love.

Living up to its name and placing the North Indian Tabla exactly where it belongs at the centre of focus, on their latest album they deliver a breathtaking exploration of the instrument. From the album opener “Encore 21” with its dynamic polyrhythmic vocals from Das that float perfectly with the galloping pace of the percussion to an appropriate closing rendition of the Canadian National anthem “O Canada”, the band inspire the listener with their performance abilities and creative vision.

Commenting on the new album, band founder Ritesh Das shares, “Normally the tabla gets lost or buried under all the other instruments in a song. For this album I mixed each track to bring the tabla up so you can hear it prominently within all the other sounds.”

Adding, “Exploring the theme of love is a new concept for the TTE, so we collaborated with guest artists from Canada and around the world to create songs that embody the feeling of love and devotion. For The Love Of Tabla is about love for the instrument, the music, for another human being, for the earth and nature. With this album we hope to spread a little love all around.”

Listen to For the Love of Tabla below