Autorickshaw’s music lies on the cultural cutting edge, as contemporary jazz, funk and folk easily rub shoulders with the classical and popular music of India. Formed in 2003, Autorickshaw is one of the most intriguing acts on the world music and jazz landscapes, garnering 2004 and 2007 JUNO nominations for World Music Album of the Year, winning a Canadian Independent Music Award in 2005, and a John Lennon Songwriting Competition Grand Prize in World Music and the CAPACOA Touring Artist of the Year award, both in 2008.
“The ensemble consists of Canada’s most exciting and musically interesting musicians…and when their forces are combined, the results are utterly unique and musically pioneering”. -Daniel Ariaratnam, The Record
Autorickshaw has toured extensively across Canada, including appearances at Montreal, Vancouver, Guelph, Calgary and Toronto Jazz festivals, Vancouver and Winnipeg Folk festivals, Glenn Gould Studio, Stratford Festival and the Sound Symposium in Newfoundland, to name a few.
International performances include Rochester International Jazz Festival, Joe’s Pub in New York City, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Yoshi’s in San Francisco, The Stockholm Jazz Festival in Sweden and dates across India including Chennai and Bangalore, at the Congo Square Jazz Festival in Kolkata, and at the prestigious Jaipur International Heritage Festival in Rajasthan.
In 2009, Autorickshaw completed a 6-week tour of the UK and Europe, including performances in London (Vortex Jazz Club & Nehru Centre), Ireland, Prague and Grabstejn in the Czech Republic, Germany (Festival der Kulturen, Hamburg), Paris, Amsterdam and Alkmaar in the Netherlands and Belfast, Lisburn and Derry in Northern Ireland.
Widely reviewed and profiled in mainstream Canadian media, Autorickshaw has also been featured internationally, including on BBC Radio, NPR’s Weekend America, in Global Rhythm Magazine and All About Jazz (USA); World Music Magazine (Italy), fRoots (UK), Rave Magazine and The Hindu (India); Deutschland Radio Kultur (Germany) as well as appearing at #14 on the European World Music Charts.
Autorickshaw is committed to their role as music educators through school performances, lecture demonstrations, workshops and masterclasses on topics as diverse as jazz improvisation, south Indian and western vocal/choral technique as well as percussion from around the world.
This critically acclaimed, cutting edge world music ensemble has recently released their fourth CD, following their Juno-nominated CDs Four Higher and So The Journey Goes. Led by the stellar vocals of Suba Sankaran, the reboot of Autorickshaw features a heavier, layered sonic landscape, with full drumkit, electric guitar, strings, percussion as well as signature tabla and electric bass. Driving and danceable, the new sound includes sensual reinterpretations of Indian folk songs, groove-driven Canadian pop, vintage Bollywood, and hypnotic south Asian traditional selections with a twist.
Configurations
Suba Sankaran-voice
Ed Hanley-tabla/vocal percussion
Dylan Bell-bass/keys/beatboxing/
Justin Abedin-guitar
Ben Riley-drums