It ain't exactly swing, but a cursory listen to the music of mandolinist David Tiller and the quartet, Tarka proves quite compelling. Tiller, along with wife and virtuoso violinist Enion join percussionist Dale Largent and upright bass foundations of Jason Flores create music drawn on a variety of influences - Jazz and Funk, Afro-Cuban, Gypsy and Klezmer, Celtic, Middle-eastern, and Classical music.

David wields mandolin and a fifths-tuned guitar he refers to as a "cello guitar." Driven by percussion, their music is thick with rhythmic intensity, Eastern European in its more modal harmonic & melodic structure.

You can sample their music and hear more at their Myspace entry, and three audio files at SoundClick.com.

Artist Website.

Posted by Ted at August 30, 2006 6:07 AM