Dha - ProfilesArchive

About Me

dHa is an dynamic international musical collaboration between classically trained Indian musicians from Bombay and jazz musicians from London and New Zealand. dHa explores the natural synergy of improvisation of both Indian classical music and Western jazz through original compositions.

As Paul Brimmer says "I think it's just about playing with feeling".

Mehboob Nadeem grins and finishes Paul's thought, "It's about taking risk, because music is risk".

dHa is what happens when five very talented musicians meet, begin playing together and decide to start a band. Since 2002, the two classical Indian musicians and the three jazz musicians have been creating extremely sophisticated and in many respects spiritual Indo-jazz.

Just like the 60's pioneers of the Indo-Jazz genre such as John Meyer, Joe Harriott, John McLaughlin, the members of dHa have come together to continue a contemporary musical tradition of cross fertilisation which in a way reflects the type of world and societies we live in.

Comprising two saxophones, sitar, tabla and cello, dHa originally began by experimenting with Indian instruments on jazz standards. To their amusement now, it didn't work, and as Brimmer candidly remarks "We discovered that you can't just add sax to Indian music - it's just a bit naff. What we are trying to do now is to be a bit more sensitive and take a more informed approach".

The answer for dHa was to turn the concept on its head and start playing Indian classical ragas with instruments and rhythms borrowed from their collective yet very distinctive improvisational musical heritage. The compositions are written by each member of the group through hearing and feeling the mood - 'Rasa' of each piece, with some pieces scored whilst others learnt by ear. An unhurried process that has been cultivated over time and as Mehboob Nadeem rightly says of this collaboration "Sometimes it just becomes so beautiful that it just freezes as a perfect moment in your mind"

Although Brimmer acknowledges that "As a western musician it's a considerable creative challenge to adapt to the moods and structures of the raagas" Nadeem points out that "In a way we have a common language through improvisation and similar melodic scales".

With gigs at Momo, Southend International Jazz Festival, The Nehru Centre, the Spitz, The Horniman Museum and the National Theatre under their belts, dHa have got big plans for the future, "We'd like to expand to ten musicians - but it's a slow-moving project, we're not in a hurry".

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 01/08/2006
Band Website: http://www.antehc.co.uk/dha.htm
Band Members:

Paul Brimmer (Tenor Saxophone) was originally a fine arts graduate from the Surrey Institute and following this, he then studied tabla at Dartington College of Arts with Pandit Sharda Sahai, the renowned tabla virtuoso from the Benares Gharana. Paul has been active on the London jazz circuit for the last 15 years in a wide range of groups, from duos to big bands. He has also taught a variety of arts-based subjects in schools and colleges to children and adults.

Mehboob Nadeem (Sitar) is from Bombay and comes from the illustrious Agra Gharana.
Under the devoted teaching of his Guru and mentor Pandit Arvind Parikh he has excelled in perfecting the techniques and style of the legendary sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan and has emerged to be a promising young sitarist of the Vilayatkhani Gharana. Gifted with a rich melodious and sonorous voice, he also learnt vocal music from his father Ustad Yakub Hussain Khan and his uncle Ustad Aslam Khan. Mehboob also possesses a keen and aesthetic sense and matured ability in the development and rendering of a raga. He has been the recipient of many prestigious music scholarships and awards. He has given solo performances on All India Radio and has travelled and played extensively throughout India, Europe and the United Kingdom.

Hanif Khan (Tabla) is the son and disciple of the highly renowned master of tabla, Ustad Hidayat Khan. He has inherited a rich legacy of gats and bols (compositions) from his father under the traditional Indian Classical learning system. From a young age, Hanif's musical career has taken him across the world both as an accompanist and solo performer including concerts in the US, Canada, Israel, Jordan, and across Europe and has accompanied many of the foremost Indian musicians. Currently Hanif is considered one of the leading tabla players in the UK and is a regularly sought after accompanist.

David Leahy (Double Bass) is a professional bass player originally from New Zealand with experience in playing jazz, classical, rock and folk. Director of his own company, Daf Promotions, David has organised numerous tours around New Zealand, including the First International Jazz Festival in 1997. In addition he is also a composer, musician, educator, dancer, actor, music therapist and a musical director. Since arriving in the UK in 1998 David quickly entered the free improvised music scene, has worked with Richard Alston Dance Company, Spitalfields Festival, Gallery 37 in Birmingham

Adrian Northover (Soprano Saxophone) is a professional jazz musician based in London. He studied Film & Music at St. Martins College of Art and has composed various soundtracks for mixed media projects. In 2000 Adrian was the musical director for the Millennium Dome house band The All Weather Band, which he is still successfully running. He is a regular member of the acclaimed The London Improvisers Orchestra and has toured extensively in Europe and North America with various bands, whilst his own jazz band - The Valentino's are busy gigging around London. He is also currently putting together a dHa remix album, and has recently been working with The Bollywood Brass Band on a remix.

Record Label: FMR http://www.fmr-records.com/searchresults.asp