Retrocity- 80s a cappella hits Dylan Bell, Kevin Fox, Jenn Hadfield, Tom Lillington, Teresa McCrimmon, Suba Sankaran, Lanie Treen - voices
Influences
Trichy Sankaran, Bobby McFerrin, Joni Mitchell, Peter Gabriel, Bach, Montuno Police, U. Srinivas, Trilok Gurtu, Ram Sampath, Bollywood, Asha Bhosle, R D Burman, A R Rahman, all things a cappella, Cadence, Cinematic Orchestra, tabla, mrdangam, kanjira, Sheila Chandra, Susheela Raman, Ella Fitzgerald, north Indian classical music, south Indian classical music, Hindustani, Karnatak, Carnatic, jazz, world, Indo-jazz fusion
Sounds Like
Reviews
"The band is tight, but what really makes this fusion work is Suba Sankaran's voice. Though classically trained, she has a richer, smokier tone than classical Indian singers, one perfectly suited to autorickshaw's hybrid sound."
Spin The Globe, Washington, USA 2004
"Vocalist Suba Sankaran had pulled out a steamy jazz standard in which she added a few vocal tricks of her own. To say that she left me speechless is an understatement."
Cranky Crow, Vancouver, Canada, 2004
"Sankaran seizes the moment to illustrate her wide range and versatility as a singer, songwriter and pianist."
TWAS (Toronto World Arts Scene), 2005
"Sankaran, her face full of drama, navigated the runs of the complex Eastern vocal lines, revealing both her technical virtuosity and a higher-level grasp of the work."
NOW Magazine, Toronto, 2005
"Vocalist and pianist Suba Sankaran emanates ribbons of sound, deftly traversing the continuum between traditional South Indian classical and jazz."
Andrew Craig, CBC Radio, Canada
"...Sankaran's vocals producing rich harmonies, percussive effects and a sub-continental Joni Mitchell-influenced styling."
Exclaim! Magazine
Toronto based vocalist, pianist and percussionist Suba Sankaran's musical career began at an early age studying south Indian classical music with her father, master drummer Trichy Sankaran.
She graduated from York University in 1997, where she studied jazz with Carol Welsman, Lisa Martinelli, Bob Mover, Don Thompson, Barry Elmes and Al Henderson, and completed her Master of Arts degree in ethnomusicology in 2002, with a major research paper titled Bobby McFerrin: The Abundance of Vocal Economy.
She has studied south Indian classical vocal music with Sankari Krishnan, T. Vishwanathan, K. Subramaniam and N. Ramani, percussion with Glen Velez, Sal Ferreras and Russell Hartenberger, and piano with Casey Sokol and Francine Kay.
Suba regularly performs with world music ensembles autorickshaw and Trichy's Trio, sings a cappella 80s hits with Retrocity and Renaissance music with Voyces Past.
Suba is in demand as a choral director, arranger, adjudicator and composer and has given numerous workshops to professional and community choirs in Canada.
She has directed the following choirs: Wibijazz'n' (York University), University of Toronto Jazz Ensemble, Pandora's Vox (Earl Haig SS) and the Royal Conservatory of Music Adult Jazz Choir.
Suba has composed, recorded, engineered and produced music for radio (Raj Kumari's Lullaby), theatre (Bombay Black), film (Love's a Gamble), and for south Indian and modern dance.
Suba has performed widely across Canada, the US, Europe and India with a wide range of artists including Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana (Global Divas), chittraveena player Ravikiran, David Mott, Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan, George Koller, Kevin Breit, Maza Meze, award-winning a cappella jazz group Hampton Avenue, and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale where she performed for Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Peter Gabriel.
Suba is co-artistic director of JUNO-nominated world music ensemble autorickshaw, with tabla player Ed Hanley.
She was featured as a soloist for Global Divas, a fundraiser for St. Stephen's Community House with Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana, which was recorded for broadcast by the CBC. The CBC also presented a feature Artist Profile on Suba, on Global Village.
Suba has numerous recording credits to her name and is in high demand as a private teacher.
autorickshaw band bio:
autorickshaw is a perfect collision of styles, as contemporary jazz and funk easily rub shoulders with the classical music of India. Formed in 2003, autorickshaw has swiftly risen to become one of the most intriguing acts on the world music and jazz landscapes, garnering a 2005 JUNO nomination for World Music Album of the Year.
autorickshaw thrives on the diverse musical backgrounds and virtuosity of its members: Suba Sankaran (voice, piano, percussion), Ed Hanley (tabla, percussion), Patrick Graham (multikit, Indian and Arabic percussion) and Rich Brown (electric bass, pandeiro).
autorickshaw has toured widely in Canada, including appearances at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Vancouver and Winnipeg Folk Festivals, as well a numerous appearances at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto. US appearances include performances at Joe's Pub in New York City and at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
AUTORICKSHAW: Four Higher
JUNO nominated-World Music Album of the Year.
Funky, contemporary arrangements of south Indian classical compositions, Bollywood-tinged jazz standards and fiery Indo-jazz originals.
there you are suba! what an absolute joy and delight to see you yesterday. and what a lovely show you guys put on for the great master. please stay in touch and keep me up to date on your activities. best, illy.
