TARSHITO-A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY
Tarshito was born in Johannesburg,South Africa 30th November 1949,as
Lanny Behr.
He bought his first guitar, aged 11 and began composing and teaching
himself.
His early musical years,through-out high school,were spent exploring
his talent as a rhythm guitarist,live performer and composer.
While studying Mechanical Engineering at Witwatersrand University,Johannesburg,he
blossomed as a composer and diversified as a guitarist,playing and studying
lead,rhythm and bass, and exploring many different styles.(His first major
work was "Freely Evergrow" a rock-opera-ballet in 1972)
As he began playing with some leading South African musicians (Josh
Sklair,Alan Kwela,Julian Laxton,Dollar Brand,Johnny Clegg.....)he found
it necessary to gain better theoretical knowledge and spent a year studying
music at Witwaterand University and Berkley Jazz Scool,Boston,USA .
Experimenting with sounds,recordings of nature and creating ambient
music tapes in the mid-seventies,he was way ahead of time.
Tarshito also had some TV and recording experience with more conventional
music.
In 1976 Tarshito moved to Cape Town to do post graduate studies
in Solar Energy.Here he played in top bands Feedback and Nexus
and went on to form the first Fleeting Forest group (Afro-rock-jazz-classical
and celestial music), giving free expression to his innovative composing.
After post-graduating in 1977, he "hit the road",spending the next
5 years travelling through South America learning the musics of Brazil.Peru,Chile
and Bolivia.He performed with some leading South American musicians doing
tours,concerts and festivals and played in Sacred Incan Temples.
A series of solo concerts "Rock,Ragas
and Mantras" (a simulation of Indian ragas with all the musical,rhythmic
and spiritual influences happening to him at the time) were very well received
in Brazil and Chile.
This was followed by a year of playing meditation and celebration
music in meditation centres in Brazil,California and South Africa,where
Tarshito returned in 1983.
He spent the next year leading growth/therapy workshops (incorporating
sound,silence and music ).
He played music for the Framework theatre company and recorderd
music for TV and Video.
When Tarshito moved to Australia in 1984,he released these recordings
on his first album "Ethereal
Stream" (featuring Paul Kimmel on flute).
He began working with various local musicians (including Michael
Cummings and Don Ruttan) and formed another "Fleeting Forest" group.
Tarshito bought recording equipment and embarked on an incredibly
prolific recording career.
He produced another 2 albums "Umduzi"
and "Breath
On The Water" (released in 1986).
Meanwhile he began studying piano and "One
Moment" (featuring Paul Kimmel and Don Ruttan on flutes) was released
in 1987.
Ambient music has long been recognised for it's therapeutic relaxing
qualities and Tarshito's is no exception.Practitioners of many kinds of
alternate healing techniques have used his music to accompany their work.
In 1988 he was commissioned to produce music for hypno-therapy which resulted in the album "Echoes
Of Ancient Past" (with Tony Bucchanan on Soprano Sax and Kavi on
Didgeridoo).
At this time Tarshito had built his own Solar powered recording
studio.He invested in high tech. state of the art recording equipment
and a computer and plunged into a new dimension of recording production.He
re-recorded and digitally re-mixed all the previous albums.
Janet Goodrich (international Natural Vision Improvement therapist)
commisioned Tarshito to produce music to enhance her work in April 1989.
This resulted
in a 6th album "The
Movement Of Heaven"
In 1990 "Breath
On The Water II" and "Gliding
Through The Woods" (an Eastern-Ambient album with sitar player
Sangeet) were both released.
1991
Tarshito had a vision of playing live dance-meditation music and
followed this through forming "Trance Dance" playing Afro-Latin-Funk-Rock.
1991 was a year of great expansion as the ploific composer moved
in new directions with "Beyond
The Music" (an album of Multi-Level-Listening-Music,
featuing Tony Buchanan on flutes), "Jungle
Walk" (Afro-Latin Jazz-Rock, with Tony Buchanan on saxes and flutes)
and "Time
and Again" (Eastern-Ambient-Rock fusion with Sangeet on sitar and
Anthony Branagan on flute).
Tarshito's solid gounding in many musical styles has won him several
awards and nominations.
November 1991 he won two North Coast Music Industry Awards for
Production (for "Jungle
Walk" and "Beyond
The Music" ) and Ambient Music ( for "One
Moment" and "Beyond
The Music" ) whilst "Jungle
Walk" was also nominated for the Jazz and Instrumental
categories.
1992
The 3 award winning albums (One Moment,Beyond The Music and Jungle
Walk) were released on CD in July 1992.
"Time
and Again" gained 3 nominations (for Instrumental,Ambient and Production
categories) in the 1992 Dolphin Awards.
On returning from South Africa and Bali '92 Tarshito reformed a
new Trance Dance band (with high calibre musicians,Greg Lyon,Jojo
Smith,Steve Hopes and Nandano) playing highly improvised celestial- tribal-
world music.
1993
Another eclectic live music group he formed was the Tarshito
Trio (Peter Haddock on flute,Peter Davidian on Tablas and Tarshito
on guitar) which performed very successfully at the Maleny Festival New
year 1993.
Tarshito returned to Bali in Feb. '93 and recorded with Balinese
musician Inyomen Wasa.
Janet Goodrich (Natural Vision Improvement therapist) returned,with
the success of the first work and commissioned Tarshito to produce another
2 albums,which resulted in the release of "Playing
In The Rainbow".This album went on to win 2 Dolphin Awards 1993
(for Ambient Music and Production ).
1994
The Tarshito Trio performed again at the Maleny Festival
New year 1994.
Both Playing In The Rainbow and Time and Again were
released on CD in July 1994.
1995
"Dreams
of Passion" (an up-tempo Latin album) was released for the Woodford
Festival,New year '95 as the new Solsito band played several well
received concerts there.
1995 turned out to be another prolific period with another collaboration
album "A
Beautiful Day"with sitar player Sangeet and a Didgeridoo based
album "Didja
Dream?" both being released in July 1995.
In the 1995 Dolphin Awards Tarshito receives 3 nominations; "Didja
Dream" for Spiritual Music, "La Luna Llena" for World Music, and The Musicianship
Award.
1996
The intensity of production flowed over into '96. The 3 albums
released in '95 were all remixed,new tracks recorded and added and were
remastered ready for CD release.
The work continued on the Voices
of Gaia album and was finally mastered and released on CD in December.
A new album Traveller's
Tales (Ambient-rock-fusion) with some recordings begun in '93 was
produced and released on cassette at the end of Jan. '97.
Another spontaneous album Under
The Crescent Moon (completely improvized,live recording) was recorded
in a single take in a couple hours at Kittani Music Studio with Lula (violin),Peter
Haddock (flute) and Tarshito (guitar).It was released on cassette in Dec.This
Trio also played numerous live gigs throughout the year.
Tarshtio's productions were once again acknowledged in the '96
Dolphin Awards where "Coonar" (a track from the new Dreams
of Passion CD) was nominated for Instrumental Category and "Didja
Dream" for Ambient Music.
1997
July 1997 Sangeet and Tarshito release the CD Between
Bombay and Byron Bay This is Eastern-Fusion music, a cross-cultural
journey from Bombay to Byron Bay the long way round.It features the beautiful
Sitars of Sangeet along with Nanda on tablas, and Tarshito on guitars,
bass and keyboards.This CD includes tracks from the albums A
Beautiful Day and Gliding
Through The Woods.
Tarshito's dreaming of playing Tribal-fusion music was realised
in the formation , performances and finally album production of the Tribal
Dolphusion band (with Dr Didge, Chinta, Pete Haddock and Dave Joseph)
The album also includes toning by Chris James, sax by Tony Buchanan, sitar
by Sangeet & violin by Lula.
He also collaborated with Ayla (from the Voices of Gaia) as musical
director for a ritual theatre performance at IQ for Beltane in June '97.
Dr Didge and Tarshito began producing an album of Tribal-chakra-dophin-fusion
music in September '97.
In the 1997 Dolphin Awards ,Tarshito received a nomination in the
1997 Dolphin Awards for the track Hot Chilli Pepper (from the to be released
CD Dreams
of Passion) for the World Music Award, Dr Didge's album Naked Didge
won the promotional artwork category,which Tarshito recorded,produced and
did the Graphic Art and The
Voices of Gaia album (which Tarshito recorded and produced) was nominated
for album of the year.
1998
The Tribal
Dolphusion recording sessions were completed in February 1998,resulting
in 2 albums released in July '98. Playphin (from the Tribal
Dolphusion album) was nominated for World Music and Tribal
Dolphusion album for Promotional Artwork in the 1998 Dolphin Awards.
Tarshito played ritual ceremony music for the 9th Annual Mens Festival,
Dec '98.
He recorded and produced "Sacred Chants",an album of Bajan music
for Mark & Sylvie from the Rainbow Tribe.
1999
Recording began in January 1999 on another Eastern-fusion album
with Sangeet .This album, Taralinga
Lila was released in July '99 . It gained Dolphin Award nominations
for Album Production, World and Ambient Music 1999.
From March to July '99 Tarshito travelled through Thailand,Laos,India
and Nepal playing with many local musicians and composing all the way.No
doubt this influence appeared on future recordings.(see Asian
Journey)
Two days before leaving for India Tarshito played and recorded
a live gig at the Temple of Yum. After returning from his travels he edited
and mastered this into and album,
Live at the Temple of Yum
This is a special edition live album with Peter Haddock on flute,Matt
Goodwin on drums,Barry Hill on Bass,Tarshito on guitars and vocals and
chorus vocals by Jannelle and Ditti.It is a full on,live energy,afro-latin
dance album filled with spontaneous improvisation,fun and good vibes.
Tarshito composed and played music for the Solstice /Full moon
ritual-theatre celebration at IQ, Byron Bay on 22nd December '99.
2000
Sonic Tonic ( a shamanistic,music,healing group with Chris James,Darpan,Russel
Hibbs,Dr Didge and Tarshito) did concerts and workshops at the Healing
Festival in Bangalow 1999 & 2000 and Sydney Mind Body Spirit festival
2000.
Winter 2000 Tarshito & Dr Didge began recording Animal
Medicine Music.
It was released in Nov 2000 and received Dolphin Award nominations
for World and Ambient Music 2000.
"Fleeting Forest" a track from Relax
received a Dolphin Award nomination for Ambient Music 2000 and "On a Roll",now
on the Acoustic
Guitar Sampler album received a Dolphin Award nomination
for Instrumental Music 2000.
2001
After purchasing a new computer Tarshito began remastering all
previous albums and produced a series of compilation albums,as well as
a few new releases in 2001.
Asian
Journey A new Eastern-fusion,acoustic album.
Didja
Dance? A funky,dance compilation album,featuring didgerdoo
with other instruments. High energy,tribal,world-fusion.
Didja
Dream Too? After many requests for a didge only album
,this is it.It features Dr Didge,Si, and Kavi.
Blue
Space A new spacey,meditative album with unreleased
tracks recorded over the past 10 years.
Inner
Temple A compilation of the ‘best’ spacey,relaxing
music from various Tarshito albums.
Relax
A flute album featuring the awesome flautist,Paul Kimmel playing some newly
recorded tracks from Ethereal Stream and tracks off several other albums.
Electric
Guitar Sampler An exciting compilation featuring Tarstito’s
unique electric guitar styles.From soulful space to funky,kick arse,gut-wrenching
lead breaks and multiple-harmonied layers of guitars that ring to the very
core.
Acoustic
Guitar Sampler A cruisy compilation of Tarshrto’s most superb
acoustic steel string & Spanish guitar compositions.
Sitar
Meditations This is a selection of
the finest gentle sitar music from various albums by Sangeet & Tarshito.
Tarshito also recorded and produced "Mother's
Mantra" for Ashera Hart
(An English vocalist now residing in San Francisco) and "Thunder
Child" for Brendon Doov (A very talented Australian multi-instrumentalist).
Both of these artists played on new tracks Tarshito is busy producing.
The end of 2001 he began studying and playing Darabuka (Mid-Eastern
drum).Eventually playing with a Bellydance troupe at Woodford Folk Festival,as
well as doing several other guitar gigs with various musicians.
2002
Tarshito produced an album of guided relaxation for Yoga Teacher Peter
Bisson from Brisbane.
Following a series of gigs playing chants and bajans upon numerous requests
Tarshito began recording "Chanting
Into Bliss" album.This turned out to be the biggest vocal album
Tarshito has undertaken.So large that he invested in updating his equipment.
This album was released on CD in August 2002.
He also began playing and jamming and recording with Guy Madigan (Sirrocco
and Romaniacs) and Paul Odolphus.Phil
Levy from the Romaniacs joined in to
form Odlphus who have had several successful performances.
In October 2002 Tarshito met up with Efiq,an Indonesian musician
from Bandung,Java.(He has played with many amazing musicians from around
the globe,including Indonesian bands Krakatau, Sambasunda, and Jugala Allstars).
They had several
amazing jams and landed up in the studio.They made a few incredible
recordings.The music fuses Efiqs versatile talents on
Kendang (Indonesian tunable drums),Kechapi (Indonesian harp), Suling (Indonesian
flute) and several other instruments and Tarshito's talents on a range of guitars,bass,percusion
and vocals.
The album has been released as Indo-Oz
Peace Check it out!
Several of Tarshito's compositions have are now available
from Music
ala Carte and appear on the following compilation albums available from Music
Mozaic.Healing
Music , Return
To Serenity , Sanctum
,Didgeridoo Groove,Dreaming Didgeridoo
2003
Over new year 2003 Tarshito played several gigs including the
Higher Self Ball,Bangalow,Byron Bay New Years Eve Festival and Woodford Folk
Festival. 2003 has also been filled with live music,one such project
has been the Ecstatic Dance Band.A trancey world music dance band
with Eastern-Afro-Latin influences fused with funk,jazz,rock,reggae,folk
and ambience.
Tarshito has been playing cafe gigs around Byron Bay and playing music
for the Sonic Soaks (a relaxing,float in a heated pool,with underwater speakers
pumping out beautiful live, healing music, with Tarshito and Dr Didge and one or
two guest musicians. There's an assistant to move your body,massage and help you
relax,projected images on a screen and a chill out zone with spa and sauna to relax
and continue your cosmic water experience!!! For bookings call Dr Didge
0266853352.
Another project was Multi-media performance with live improvised music
to incredible images by Scott Taylor and Michael Rogowski.
April '03 Tarshito produced the album "Fields
Of Green" for Paul Benheim at Movie World's Audio Studio,Cutting Edge
on the Gold Coast,Queensland,Australia.The album is available directly from
Tarshito tarshito@hotmail.com or
at http://www.hempmusic.com/buynow.html
In June he began recording the Grand
Mother Drum.....
"GrandMother Drum's HEARTBEAT on CD!
Thanks to all who called out around the world with requests to hear the
GrandMother Drum Activation on CD. Your intention has brought the vision into
reality!. With the loving talent and professionalism of international
recording artist, Tarshito of Kittani Studios we have now started
recording. Please check out Tarshito's website at http://www.homepage.better.net.au/tarshito.
With over 30 CDs to his recording history, this amazing new age artist is the
Yanni of Australia!
On Wednesday June 11, 2003, three microphones were set to
capture GrandMother's heart beating and the droning activation of the 200+
crystals inside her base. Joined by cockatoos, lorakeets and kookaburras,
GrandMothers activation rang clear from the deck of Kittani Santurary through
the Kildare of volcanic, Mt.Wollumbin and out through the "Ring of
Fire". Sacred to the Bunjalung peoples, Mt.Wollumbin is the mountain
where the sun first touches the Australian continent. We have since spent
over a week in the studio with GrandMother rocking the walls with her heartbeart
of love. " ................Suraj Holzwarth
Director, International Spiritual Healer, Musician and DrumKeeper
The album was released in Dec '03 and Tarshito is distributing it in Australia.
In Dec '03 Suchet (an incredible tabla player from Dheli,India
) connected with Tarshito.Paul Kimmel (flautist extraordinare from
California),was staying with Tarshito at the time.So the trio had some amazing
jams and performances and of course did some great recordings.
2004
Sangeet,the sitar man visited in May 2004 to recorded the next
collaboration album "Metamorphosis".
It was almost completed,but was put on hold while Tarshito went on an amazing
Australian desert journey for 6 weeks during the winter 2004 and returned with
much inspiration.Sangeet returned in September and the album was completed and
released by the end of the year.
The new Hemp album was also started in September 04.A
collaboration with Paul Benheim. ,using hemp plastic didgeridoos.Rob Neil (harp)
and Tarshito (guitar) improvised the bulk of the tracks. Elen (vocals) , Jeremy
(pan pipes) and Sangeet (sitar) then improvised over the "bed tracks"
and Tarshito used his production skills to create another amazing sound
tapestry!
2005
The album "Oceans
Of Blue" was released in February 2005.
During 2004 Tarshito began playing live music with a new band
ZING.(Dance,rock,world,funky,trance music).They began recording towards the end
of 2004.
The album Zing
- Seeds of Thought is available now!
Tarshito played gong with the Longong Sari Gamelong orchestra
at Woodford Folk Festival 2005.
Tarshito is collaborating and recording with
Siddha,an Indian Raga singer from Dheli,India.
In May 2005 Tarshito began composing and producing music for the film
"The Gathering" by Kim Kindersly.
It's an amazing movie to be shown on the ABC. For
more info on the movie got to www.heartmagic.com
He also produced and played on the track "River of
Love" by Bunna Lowrie (an Aboriginal elder from the Meuning Tribe,from the
band Coloured Stone) The track will be released on the international Greenpeace
album and on the Peace Now album released in Byron Bay on 16/9/05.
In about June 2005 Tarshito began practicing , studying , singing
and playing ragas.His own adaptation from Sarod to guitar, raga practice, of the master
sarod player Ali Akbar Khan.This has lead to composing a series of new tracks
for the album Funky
Ragas.
Tarshito has also been performing with Kevin James
and the Optamystics.They received an incredible reception at the Byron Bay Peace
Festival,September 2005,where they performed with Bunna Lourie and elders from
the Elka Tribe.The performance was filmed as part of Kim's film "The
Gathering"
In September 2005 a German company Edition Reus, released 2
compilation albums of Tarshito music on their series Trance Relax.
Two more albums of his music will be released in their next
series release.
The track "Didja
Dream?" from same title album was
also released on an Australian compilation "Red Earth"
In September 2005 flautist Paul Kimmel arrived back in
Australia to settle nearby.They have been playing live music gigs, together,
again.
"Mashala" from "Chanting
Into Bliss" album wins the NCEIA Dolphin Award for Devotional Music
2005 and "Red Earth" from "Oceans
Of Blue" album is nominated for NCEIA Dolphin Award for
World Music 2005
2006
The ZING album Zing
- Seeds of Thought is released March 2006.
The Gathering
movie is finished and won the best movie award at The Byron
Film Festival 2006.
The track "Nagarkot" from Asian
Journey album is released on a new Australian compilation album.
"Raag Mullum" from the Zing
- Seeds of Thought album is nominated for NCEIA Dolphin Award for World
Music 2006
"Govinda" a track from a new chanting album in the
making Chanting
Into Bliss II is nominated for the NCEIA Dolphin Award for Devotional Music 2006
November 2006 Funky
Ragas album is released.
December 2006 Didja
Groove? CD is released.
2007
Chanting
Into Bliss II released January 2007.
Travel and tour New Zealand Feb/March 2007.
June 2007 begin weekly Chanting group.
2008
African
Drum Grooves released January 2008.
Please send an email with the subject title "Email
List", to receive the latest news about Tarshito's live gigs.
Feedback,links,comments,reviews,enquiries are welcome tarshito@hotmail.com