Tabla Maestro Sirishkumar Manji and his disciple, Vibhaas combine the organic sound and immediacy of the tabla with sampling, synthesis and sound manipulation. They take a free form approach to each set, stepping into unknown sound worlds, polyrhythms and spontaneous compositions.
Sirishkumar Manji was introduced to the tabla at the age of seven by his late father and teacher, Pandit Bhagwanji Manji, a highly gifted vocalist, multi instrumentalist, and a disciple of the great singer Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. Sirish loves bringing the tabla into diverse musical situations, and has worked with an incredible variety of artists over the years, as well as producing and writing from his studio in London. His recent work includes musical contributions to the Oliver award winning play Life of Pi.
Vibhaas (aka Jesse Barrett) began studying the art of Tabla with Sirishkumar Manji at the age of 18. He went on to co-form Mammal Hands in Norwich in 2012. His musical voice has been shaped by his ongoing studies with Sirishkumar Manji, and he has sought to explore those themes within his drumming, composing and producing. In 2021 he released “Master Healer”, an EP of electronic works experimenting with evolving textures, suggested melody and propulsive rhythmic compositions derived from the tabla.
