BBC Asian Life
Deva at the Bell in Bath, March 2007:
"Indian-flavoured jazz-inflected virtuosity which doesn't neglect the importance of great tunes (originals) and snappy rhythm. Probably the best playing you'll hear all month, featuring Trevor Warren (guitar) & Chris Garrick (violin) in particular."
Trevor Warren - Guitars, voice
Trevor has been playing the guitar since 1982, teaching and performing for most of that time in a variety of styles: African, Rock, Jazz and Indian. He formed Deva in 1998 from a series of improvisation workshops. Taught Jazz by John Etheridge and John Parricelli he also studied Composition and Counterpoint at Morley College, London. He is also bandleader of the critically acclaimed group DISASSEMBLER who are releasing their second album on 33 Records in July 2008. This line-up includes Annie Whitehead, Mark Lockheart, Dudley Phillips, Winston Clifford and Dave Priseman.
Neil Craig - Tabla, percussion
Neil is a freelance percussionist who specialises in tabla. He has performance-based degrees in both Western and Hindustani classical music. In past years, he toured extensively as an orchestral and avant-garde percussionist, and in 1994, he accepted an invitation to lecture in percussion in Malaysia. Neil has composed for a range of contexts, including music theatre, plays, festivals, book launches and fusion ensembles. He is currently promoting the trio padhanisa, along with sitarist Jonathan Mayer and guitarist Justin Quinn. In 1996, Neil moved to London from his home city Perth, Australia, to study under tabla guru Pandit Sharda Sahai.
Chris Garrick – Violin, electric violin
Chris is one of the foremost violinists in Britain. He has worked with Brian Ferry, The Brand New Heavies, Julian Joseph, All About Eve, Cleo Laine, John Etheridge, Bireli Lagrene and many others. He began playing aged 5, learning classical and jazz styles. He graduated in 1994 from the Royal Academy of Music with a First Class Honours degree.
Peter MacDonald - Mridungham, percussion
Born in Sydney Australia Peter moved to London in 1988 and began studying with Mridungham master Balachandar. He has since won many accolades as well as accompanying Bala in his East/West concerts in 1997/8. Peter has just finished playing with Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka on the European leg of their recent world tour.
Jonty Fisher - Acoustic and Electric Bass
Born in Ghana, Jonty moved to London to study music perfoming as a finalist in the Barclays Youth Music Awards at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1988. He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Music and has played with Mark Lockhart, Nikki Iles and Don Rendell. He also composes for The Ashes Quartet and his own quintet.
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