Birmingham musician part of anniversary celebrations.
As part of their 20th anniversary celebrations, the Aston-based Drum arts centre will be presenting United Rhythms, a ground-breaking spectacle of music from Birmingham born and classically trained composer and performer Mendi Mohinder Singh.
Mendi, the Drum’s resident artist, reflects his Birmingham upbringing in his music, which is inspired by the city’s diverse musical landscape and fusion of Eastern and Western cultures. Playing with artists as diverse as sitar master Pandit Shalil Shankar, Peter Gabriel, Anada Shankar, Akram Khan, Darius Brubeck, Dave O’Higgins, Kepa Junkera and Dan Crary, Mendi’s artistic vision of creating the world’s first East-West percussion orchestra has seen him performing around the world.
Performing his three new original compositions, Mendi will be accompanied at the Drum by Birmingham Conservatoire’s Percussion Ensemble, drawing on African, South American, American and Eastern styles composed within a Western classical context. Special guests will be Handpan player Samantha Archer. plus a very unique performance with Seventh Dan Samurai expert Fay Goodman demonstrating a four hundred year old Japanese Kata (choreographed martial arts) with Mendi playing tabla trang.
United Rhythms is a true union of Eastern and Western cultural influences, joining both hemispheres in an entertaining and uplifting rhythmical spectacle infused with joy and spirituality, uniting people through a universal language.
For tickets call Call The Drum’s Box Office on 0121 333 2444 or visit www.the-drum.org.uk