Brazil 1986 - 1987


In the year 1986 my first journey led me to brazil. Marimba player and composer Ney Rosauro - I knew him from my student days at Würzburg - gave me the chance to study the "Brazil Style" at the "Escola de Musica" in Brasilia, where he was a teacher. There Zequinha Galvao (Zequa) was my fantastic drum-teacher. He led me to the "Secrets of Brazilian Music". The singer and guitarist Philipp from Angola gave me the chance to play the drums in his afro- brazilian group. Together with Philipp we played concerts in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia.



I went on my way from Salvador da Bahia to Rio de Janeiro. There I started to intensify my studies of Berimbau, Pandeiro, Surdo and small percussion. Visiting different samba schools in Rio (Villa Isabelle, Beija Flor) being educated by Zequinha, my brazilian friends and musicians like Ney, Philipp, Nonato, Roberto, Tom, Leon and many others - all that made the "real kick" to found my first own Brazil-Band here in Germany.



cd - "Move o pé" Blumenküsser (Beija Flor)



From this time on brazilian music and yoga (yoga) got part of my life!

 Phillip aus Angola

 

 

 

 

 




Salvador da Bahia

 
Cuba 1991

I came to Cuba with the help of percussionist and dancer Petra Morales, she lived in Paris at that time. She arranged to meet Luis Manresa, bass player of Afrocuba. Enrique Plá from Irakere was my drum-teacher in Havana. I like to remember the sessions in Emiliano Salvador's house and the kind meeting with Juan Carlos Abreu, the drummer and percussionist. Today he is playing in Tony Martinez' Salsa Group and he is living in Bern. Thus, Havana gave me the Clavé.
Brazil 1994 - 1995

During my second journey to Brazil which led me immediately to Rio de Janeiro. I studied at Centro Musical Antonio Adolfo. Antonio Adolfo himself taught me in MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira). I learned drums and percussion from Tutty Moreno. He is Joyce's husband and drummer. 

My other two drum-masters at Centro Musical were Gustavo Schroeter and Bolao. That time helped me to perfect playing samba, partido alto, samba funk and so on. To conclude I performed in a concert at Theatro Leblon with a composition of Milton Nascimento. I met my friend and teacher Tutty Moreno again on march 15th, 1995 in Hamburg, when the cd "Joyce live at the Mojo Club" was produced.		 Joyce live at the Mojo Club
India 2000

Dhrupad-singer Amelia Cuni, she participated on my cd Raviindra "Aswattha" (topical projects) and Ramesh Shotham, who showed me some of the basics of South Indian drumming on the ghatam; they both had such a great influence on me that I started on a journey to India in January 2000. Goa was to be my first destination.

Gajanan und Manab, in der Mitte ich

No sooner had I arrived there when I met Gajanan Amonkar and Manab Das. Gajanan is playing the tablas and the pakhawaj and Manab from Calcutta is playing the sitar. They are very close friends and they are teaching at Kala Academy (Goa College of Music). The next few months it turned out that my Karma served well: Gajanan became my teacher in pakhawaj and a very good friend, too. Thanks to Manab, I regained the sitar and indian food. 

In their concerts which I could be very close I experienced the "Magic of India". Before I left, Gajanan (Gaju) invited me to play with him and his friends the pakhawaj also named "Shiva's drum" in the temple of Ribandar. Those three months of Goa meant to me: new impulses, new friends, yoga (yoga), healthy food and many interesting compositions for a new Raviindra Cd.
India I will come back!		 Ich in Indien





 

 


 


 

 



Gajanan,Manab und ich in der Mitte
India 2002


January 2002 I started my second trip to India/Goa for a period of three months. This time it was quiet comfortable to "dive" in, in this total different culture. Immediately after arriving there, I started again lessons on pakhawaj with my friend and teacher Gajanan Amonkar. He taught me a lot of new Indian Rhythms (Bols) and we showed up together in some interesting concerts. 

Aside of that I have had enough time to do my yoga and I have written the tunes for my next CD Raviindra "Songs of Devotion". After these three months of activity and inspiration I went on my trip back home again. Gajanan and Manab Das (Sitar) promised me to come for a visit to germany in may. For that time we are already planing concerts and the making of their overdubs for the CD Raviindra "GOA".
...with my Pakhawaj-Builder,his father & Christoph Denstaedt ( Singer from Berlin).



Playing Harmonium in a concert at "The Friends of the Ocean". A rehearsal with Gajanan & Manab in my practice-room in Germany.

 Vrksasana just before singing the vocal-parts in the recording studio. A short break with good indian chai.

2002 Raviindra meets India - India meets Raviindra


And it becomes reality - in may Gaju and Manab have arrived at my hometown in germany: we have had two wonderful weeks of music and fun together.

2003 CD Release Raviindra "GOA" and " The 30-years-on-stage-jubilee"



.... with Nani Tschauner (Vocals), Bernhard Faltermeier (Sitar, Tabla), Andieh Merk (Sax, Tabla), Berthold Reusch (Guitar), Rishi (Vocals, Guitar), Peter Stein (Gongs), Uli Stöckle (Sound Engineering) and the Bhajan-Group Shivaya. 

 

accomodation India
 

India 2004


January 2004 my next trip to India/Goa started. This journey should have some real positive, unexpected surprises for me. Like always in India I got my time to compose all new songs for my 4th CD Raviindra "Bharata". Together with my indian musicfriends we made the presentation of my CD Raviindra "GOA" in the capitol of Goa, Panaji. And last but not least "Angel-Records" offered me a record deal for 5 years, that gives the posibility to me, to work creative in India for the next years. This time the gods have been very kind to me again. Om Shanti. Jai Ganesh.


Musicians from all over the world meet at Manab Das`house.    "Om Shanti Song" in a concert with Gajanan & Premanand just near the Arabic Sea.

 Concert at INGO`S.    The release of my CD "GOA" in Panaji.

  Feeling free    The indian ceremony at the release-party in panaji with Gajanan,Orlando(Angel-Records),Alvin a.m.o.

INDIA 2007 6th January - 4th February

For the 4th time ( since 2000 ) I took a flight to India / Goa

This time I also have had an amazing time with my indian friends.This month in India I have " filled " with rehearsals and overdubs in the studio for my new CD " Songs of Devotion ".
Gajanan on tablas, Premanand as a singer and playing harmonium, Manab on sitar, his wife Rupasree as a singer and Prashant on bansuri.The overdubs we have made at Orlando Fernandez Studio in Panaji. The recording was some kind of fun and it was just easy to complete the songs with my indian friends. Also I have played one concert in the group of Vinod Kulkarni ( Bhajan - Singer ) at the Swami Samarta Temple on Pakhawaj.On that evening we have played only bhajan - songs of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi. It was a beautiful evening and I have visited that temple some more time for arti and meditation.

Just before my flight back I have been very lucky again - Mr.Raj Malhotra, the director of " Rock and Raaga " signed me for his label.That was a big progress for me as an artist and composer.

With my two indian friends Gajanan & Premanand I have formed a new group, called: PREMRAGA.

India was again a beautiful time with a lot of positive events. This events will help for the future.

Jai Ganesh. Om Shanti.


Gajanan - Raviindra - Vinod Kulkarni
Bhajan at Swami Samarta Temple

INDIA   20th November 2008 – 5th February 2009

 
On my 5th trip to India / Goa I started already on the 26th of November 2008.
After a flight of 10 hours I happily reached at Dabolim - Airport in Goa / India. My friend Gajanan and Premanand have been waiting there to take me by car to Chimbel, the pretty village where I stayed this time.

The warm welcome of my friends and one 1st chai...back to India !!!

In the next 2 1/2 months I have to form a new band, make all the rehearsals and to play
the CD - Release - Concerts.

3 CD`s of mine should be released this time. Rock and Raaga, my indian Label, has
signed " Songs of Devotion ", " Goa " and " Aswattha ".

Now you can listen to and buy my music in Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and the Middle -East.

The 1st CD - Release - Concert was on the 1st January 2009 at Shiros in Candolim / Goa.
At this location " Songs of Devotion " was released. The indian television was there - that was a special spice for us !

The 2nd Release - Concert was on the 3rd of February  at Kerkar Art Gallery in Calangute / Goa. In this concert two of my other CD`s have been released : " Aswattha " & " Goa ".
Vinod Kulkarni, the great singer from Goa ( Bhimsen Joshi is his guru ) called me again
to play Pakhawaj in his band. We have played at Swami Samarta Musicfestival in
Merces / Goa on the 31st of January.

Bhajan Sessions at the Temple and a trip to the Murdeshwar Temple in Karnataka, to the biggest Shiva Statue in the world, have made my time very joyful.

I have had a lot of time for my Yoga - Practice and I also composed another CD " Rajbanda ".

India was again a country of very friendly people and a spiritual vibe every place you go.
Now I have a lot of very good friends there and the next trip will be soon - my heart sings !!!

 

                   Jai Ganesh. Om Shanti  
Feel The Spirit
Feel The Spirit

... the biggest Shiva Statue of the world at Murdeshwar, Karnataka
Vinod Kulkarni Band at Swami Samarta Musicfestival
v.l.n.r. Gajanan,Mahadev,Raviindra,Vinod,Dai & Premanand
CD - Release - Concert at Kerkar Art Gallery, Calangute / Goa 
v.l.n.r. Gajanan,Arun,Raviindra,Premanand,Prashant & Surendra