"There's a lot of emotion
in those drums"
-Ornette Coleman

Contact

To contact Todd send email to:

todd@toddisler.com

Book

“You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This” is Todd’s acclaimed book that utilizes the South Indian rhythm system to help all musicians ground and expand their sense of time and groove. This book is especially useful for those who want to get comfortable in odd time signatures. Includes CD.

To order send $25. (includes shipping and handling) to:

TaKaDiMi Tunes
360 Clinton Ave #2K
Brooklyn, NY 11238

Video

Here are some videos from several of Todd’s bands. Please select from the list to change videos.

Civebra concert Brasil '13
Alternative Guitar Festival (00: to 1:35 and 4:00 to 6:00)
Funk in 9/4
David Krakauer in Marseille

Mike Gordon Band
early MGB w/ special guest Ivan Neville
Mike and Todd Jam

International Orange

Spinner by David Phelps, arranged by IO
Kyrematen

Press

International Orange Review from The Blue Note: Click Here

Click here to read an interview with Todd at Glide Magazine (opens in new window).
Click here to read HighTimes Magazine unsigned band of the month article on International Orange (opens in new window).

Interview in Jazz Improv Magazine, Feb ’08 By Eric Nemeyer – read more
see less

JI: Tell us about some of the experiences you had visiting Africa that expanded your awareness about people, your sensitivity, and contributed to your artistic development?

TI: My trip to Africa was definitely eventful. I went in 2002 with a great musician, Stefan Bauer. He played vibes and on this trip, a big marimba. This trip was in some ways a test for me. Stefan had this music that was very through composed and intricate. Being a groove oriented player and being in Africa, I was having a tough time philosophically, getting with the repertoire. I had to swallow my pride and get with the program. Eventually I did, and things improved. We played in Ivory Coat, Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. We drove through Benin and Togo and just outside of Abidjan, our driver fell asleep at the wheel. We wound up in a ditch. Very close call. The best thing that happened on that trip was that I got to play with a Fela Kuti-type band in Lagos – quite a highlight in my life.

JI: What recording or recordings initially sparked your interest in jazz, and inspired your desire to perform?

TI: I was introduced to a very wide range of stuff at an early age. I mean every thing from Errol Garner to Weather Report. I think the first jazz concert I saw was the VSOP Quintet around ‘77. I had no idea what was happening technically, but I was so blown away by the whole thing, especially Tony Williams. I didn’t leave the basement for a month after that.

JI: Tell us about the unique sounds you bring to performances, recordings, ensembles with a few of the instruments you play: Kanjira, Janoon, and Hadgini.

TI: Along with drum set, I play some hand drums from around the world. M friend Jamey Haddad invented a drum called Hadgini. This instrument was made with our technique in mind. It’s an udu drum with two connected chambers. The pitch can be changed by controlling the amount of airflow through the ports on top of each chamber. It can produce deep liquid sounds as well as percussive hits. Another drum that can change pitch is the Kanjira from South India. I use it more like a talking drum than a classical Indian instrument. I also play different frame drums, which can simulate a whole kit in some settings. My newest drum is an Uduboo. It was invented by John Neptune in Japan. It’s made from the widest bamboo found on earth. It has two ports on top and it’s a little more than two feet long. Like Mridangam, it is played with both hands on the ends.

JI: Tell us about the concept of your first CD back in 1999, and how the music developed from concept to sound, and your selection of personnel, and a bit about your current project.

TI: My first CD as a leader, Two Step, Duets And Beyond was more of a calling card than a concept. I did it to showcase my drumming and hand drumming. I had some incredible musicians on it including Dave Kikoski, the late great Sam Furnace, as well as Cidinho Texeira. My new CD, Soul Drums, has more of a concept to it. There are five original tunes and two covers – Stevie Wonder’s, “Bird Of Beauty” and Joe Zawinul’s, “Badia.” Between each tune there are percussion vignettes, utilizing all the instruments I play.

NY Times review from 2012

“Joel Harrison, the festival’s curator, performed with Anupam Shobhakar on the sarod, a fretless Indian lute with sympathetic strings, and Todd Isler playing exotic percussion instruments. Mr. Harrison’s instrument was a National steel guitar, and his project with Mr. Shobhakar was a colloquy between two vocabularies full of bending, sliding notes: blues and Indian music. It was a fusion of equals, respecting differences as much as similarities: the liquid microtonal curves of the sarod lines and the twangy urgency of the steel guitar, the disparate modes of each idiom, the separate kinds of percussive acceleration each instrument could summon on the way to a big finish.”

Reviews of “You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This”

“If you want to work on something to raise your skills, this is the book. Whether you use the info in the context Todd lays it out or creatively transfer these skills to any musical situation, you will have (so to say) ‘earned your keep’. An excellent workbook, not for the faint hearted.” -David Liebman

“To expand your personal vocabulary beyond your instrument you have to study the world of music…..intervals, melodies, harmonies and rhythms have to vibrate in your body!! This book (You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This) will begin to help you focus and do just that.” -Joe Lovano

“A great book! Todd has clearly and methodically opened the door into the mysteries and intricacies of South Indian Rhythm. Bravo!” -Mark Feldman

“This book presents a clear and direct path to experiencing the FEEL of pulse and rhythm. The exercises are fun and mentally challenging while incorporating the use of our physical selves for a whole body experience of music. Todd Isler has found a way to illuminate the logic and beauty within even the most complex rhythmic system, and this guide will be invaluable for vocalists and instrumentalists alike.” -Judi Silvano, Vocalist and Educator

Photos

Links

internationalorange.bandcamp.com

www.tribecastan.tv

www.mike-gordon.com

www.jennyhilljazz.com – mad saxophone jazz

www.fearlessdreamer.com – Pam, one of a kind.

www.ricbecker.com – Trombone player, web designer, photographer

Projects

International Orange

The new trio with David Phelps and Gaku Takanashi. Watch for upcoming gigs, tours. Hear the band and get our debut album here: http://internationalorange.bandcamp.com

Todd Isler

I have two cd’s out under my name: Two Step, Duets and Beyond and Soul Drums. Hear them and purchase them at www.cdbaby.com and itunes

Mike Gordon Band

Mike is the bassist for Phish and is out on his own. Go to http://mike-gordon.com

The Mike Gordon Band has several releases, the newest being Live At The Egg in Albany, NY

My book, “You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This” is now out. It is a manual for all musicians to ground their beat and expand their rhythm comfort zone using Indian syllables.

Secret Stevie A group that celebrates our love of Stevie Wonder. Well known and not so well known Stevie tunes with a funky world influence.

Pam Fleming’s Fearless Dreamer

Trumpeter/Composer Pam Fleming puts it all out there with some wonderful musicians, playing her unique form of world jazz.

Check out the Randy McElliot interview. Click on this link: www.mcran.com and go to interviews

Gigs

June 8, 2013, 2:45 pm - 4:00 pm: International Orange
Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

IO hits Burlington! T.ice, David Phelps, and Gaku Takanashi

Past events

April 1, 2013: Imani Uzuri in The Blue Note, NYC
April 7, 2013: Mickika Jazz Band in The Garage, 7th Ave South, NYC
April 10, 2013: Chronic Orange in Two Boots Brooklyn
April 15, 2013: International Orange in ShapeShifter Lab
April 17, 2013: Miceli, Monroe, Marino and Isler in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County—145 West Rose Tree Road in Media—
May 10, 2013: Chronic Orange in Two Boots Brooklyn, 2nd St at 7th Ave, Park Slope
May 17, 2013: Isheeta Ganguli in Rubin Museum 150 W 17th St New York, NY 10011 (212) 620-5000

Listen

International Orange - Kyrematen

TriBeCaStan - Dive Bomber

Lumiere

Bed of Pines

Bio

Drummer, teacher and author Todd Isler is based in New York City, where he has been active in the jazz and world music scenes for over 20 years. He currently plays with Mike Gordon of Phish, his trio, International Orange, and several other projects. He has released two original CDs, Two Step: Duets and Beyond, and his current Soul Drums, as well as his book You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This, which utilizes the South Indian Rhythm System to help musicians ground and expand their sense of rhythm. Todd, along with the band Savane, won the Disc Makers Unsigned Band Contest. He was also a winner of the JAZZIZ Magazine Percussion On Fire contest. Todd has toured Africa under the Goethe Institute, and studied the South Indian Mrdangham with Ramnod V. Raghavan and Karaikudi R. Mani in India. Todd has also studied with Brazilian greats Portinho and Vanderlei.

In addition to his own releases Todd has played on hundreds of genre-crossing recordings and performed and/or recorded with a wide rang of artists including Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman, Steve Turre, Melvin Sparks, Bakithi Kumalo, Ivan Neville, Badal Roy, Francis Mbappe, Jack McDuff, David Krakauer, Al Kooper, Charlie Burnham, and others. He has performed with several dance companies throughout the United States, many of whose performances featured his original compositions. Todd endorses Sonor Drums, Bosphorus cymbals, and Agner sticks.