Category Archives: elephant songs

elephant songs: last stop utrecht

By robbert | Published: 3 November 2012

On 2 November, my drumbiker trip Elephant Songs, a musical journey from South India to the Netherlands on an old motorcycle loaded with drums, was concluded with a beautiful evening at the Utrecht theatre farm rood|noot. A full house enjoyed fantastic Indian food cooked by Sanderien, Peter, Irene, and Suzy while watching a selection of filmclips of the trip or checking out the morning pictures … [...]

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brrrliner elephant songs: church cucumbers & suicidal pizza

By robbert | Published: 5 October 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); And how long is your piece? A surprising question. My drums and I had arrived at [...]

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/na:u/

By robbert | Published: 22 September 2012

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into central europe

By robbert | Published: 17 September 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Good day, sunshine! Bratislava, half past eight in the morning. A hot chili-chocolate that makes my [...]

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wisdom & poetry

By robbert | Published: 4 September 2012

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istanbuli nights

By robbert | Published: 25 August 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Upon my arrival in İstanbul from Safranbolu, singer Sumru and yours truly met at the Kadiköy [...]

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songs of beyoğlu

By robbert | Published: 20 August 2012

Besides the most enjoyable improvised sessions I took part in in Istanbul, I was very lucky to have a few cosy evenings at the studio of streetfolk legends Kara Güneş. I had fantastic cheese, fell in love with the santoor, and had great chats with many wonderful … [...]

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elephant songs: nice to meet you

By robbert | Published: 9 August 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); One of the aims of my trip elephant songs is meeting musicians in places I travel [...]

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safranbolu songs

By robbert | Published: 28 July 2012

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off with its head – again?!?

By robbert | Published: 14 July 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Riding through the hills around Kaleybar, in South Azerbayjan in the north of Iran, the hole-in-the-head-problem [...]

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off with its head!

By robbert | Published: 11 July 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); On my way from Esfahan to Tehran I noticed a New Sound in my bike. Anyone [...]

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beach fun

By robbert | Published: 5 July 2012

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elephant songs: pil ahang at darbast

By robbert | Published: 27 June 2012

five videos of the _elephant_songs_ shows at darbast, tehran in june. [...]

Also posted in music | Tagged elephant songs, folk, improvisation, iran, jazz, music meetings, pallett, performance, rock, video | Leave a comment

elephant songs at parkingallery, tehran

By robbert | Published: 11 June 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); In the summer of 1998, Amirali Ghasemi started the Parkingallery, an independent project space in a [...]

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kodum guri hasti?

By robbert | Published: 4 June 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Walking into my favourite coffeeshop Café Un the other day, I was told – with many [...]

Also posted in music | Tagged elephant songs, improv, iran, music meetings, video | 1 Comment

elephant songs in lahore – multiple contacts

By robbert | Published: 27 April 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); On Thursday 26 April, a fantastic selection of musicians from the Lahore rock and fusion scene [...]

Also posted in music | Tagged bansuri, elephant songs, folk, improv, music meetings, pakistan, performance, rock, synth, travel, video, world | Leave a comment

rooftop meeting and show tonight

By robbert | Published: 26 April 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); On Sunday 15 April, I was visited by Akmal Qadri and his son Nazar Abbas and [...]

Also posted in music | Tagged classical, elephant songs, improv, music meetings, pakistan, travel, video | 2 Comments

jilebi chronicles

By robbert | Published: 10 April 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Gooey or crispy, that’s the debate – or so I learnt from reading Kamila Shamsie’s Broken [...]

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peeru’s café

By robbert | Published: 8 April 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); The first time I went to Peeru’s Café, my landlord Sajjad of Lahore Backpackers insisted I [...]

Also posted in music | Tagged classical, folk, food, music meetings, pakistan, peeru's, peerzada, performance, qawwali, video, world | Leave a comment

takatak

By robbert | Published: 1 April 2012

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lahore!

By robbert | Published: 26 March 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Lahore, Pakistan! I’m in the next country of my road trip, one closer to Holland. Eleven [...]

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the thar desert: balesar to bikaner

By robbert | Published: 21 March 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); After taking my morning pictures, I knocked on a few doors, hoping to find someone to [...]

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playing temple music in india’s deep south

By robbert | Published: 4 March 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Spent the best part of my last night in Madras stuffing my life into the few [...]

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bye bye broadlands

By robbert | Published: 29 February 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); I was planning to leave at check-out time. 11 am. So, perhaps unsurprisingly, after postponing waking [...]

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jamming with egor in the broadlands

By robbert | Published: 23 February 2012

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elephant songs #1 – all star jazzband

By robbert | Published: 21 February 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); The first official episode of Elephant Songs played in Bangalore for two weekends in February. We [...]

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elephant songs #0 – surprise prologue

By robbert | Published: 17 January 2012

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); A few days ago I had an enjoyable hour of chatting and playing on Yugi Sethu’s [...]

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bullet, hanh?

By robbert | Published: 27 December 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); I noticed them for the first time in 2004. Beautiful design, and a sound that makes [...]

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temporary homelands

By robbert | Published: 23 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); The hill crossing on the day I left Bangalore had to wait till after lunch – [...]

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strong hands and candle light

By robbert | Published: 21 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Had had a great day and a half at the Shisha Café in Pune, playing a [...]

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congratulations in india

By robbert | Published: 17 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); After a few very pleasant days in Anand, I needed a few hours to get comfortable [...]

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udaipur rooftops

By robbert | Published: 13 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Had lunch on a blitzvisit to Udaipur after riding the last 250 kilometres on the fantastic [...]

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poha!

By robbert | Published: 11 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); I left the Shahbad Government Resthouse at dawn and turned onto the still empty highway. Sometimes [...]

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till the cows come home

By robbert | Published: 10 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Oohhh I like it here. Warm and welcoming and friendly. Mister Gautam showed me my room [...]

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test ride day one – my way is the highway

By robbert | Published: 9 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Got up in my Nautanwah hotel just before sunrise, brushed my teeth, paid my rs 50, [...]

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siddhartha’s way

By robbert | Published: 8 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Taking off from Pokhara, I easily found the Siddhartha Highway. This road was constructed in the [...]

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mountains! please?

By robbert | Published: 6 November 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Last night in Pokhara, and I realised I didn’t know where to get a nice thukpa. [...]

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lalala – a week in katmandu

By robbert | Published: 31 October 2011

tweet window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: “”, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true}); }; (function() { var e = document.createElement(“script”); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + “//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js”; document.getElementById(“fb-root”).appendChild(e); }()); Two crows in a tree are fighting over a flattened rat. I don’t quite get the [...]

Also posted in trips & thoughts | Tagged enfield bullet, motorcycle, nepal, travel | 1 Comment

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@ShadyarOmrani thank you very much for your compliments! more #elephantsongs (recordings, videos, stories, photos) at http://t.co/YVB4da32az
2 days ago
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I liked a @YouTube video from @vh_robbert http://t.co/O9G6BlfLEg elephant songs @ rood|noot, utrecht: 3+2+2+3
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I favorited a @YouTube video from @vh_robbert http://t.co/O9G6BlfLEg elephant songs @ rood|noot, utrecht: 3+2+2+3
6 days ago
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looking forward to play at #vrooom with #oto.3 tonight - sharing the bill with phil minton & audrey chen and mystery guests.
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day 6 of oto.3 rehearsals. the sun has caught up and we're getting ready to be fantastic at vrooom, at klooster, rotterdam, on 16 may.
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