I’m feeling good about the new duo album, ZenPoolz with my buddy and Shakuhachi master, Bruce Heubner. Recorded by Jim Clouse with artwork by the gifted Yuka. Hear it and buy it here: https://zenpoolz.bandcamp.com
International Orange will play Salzy in Brooklyn on September 11th at 10pm and The Bitter End on Sunday, September 17th at 10pm. We’ll be shooting some video on this one.
The new album, “Buds” from Pam Fleming will be out in the coming weeks.
9/11
IO plays Salzy, 5th ave at 12th st in Brooklyn, 10pm, 1 set, FREE
9/15
Gerry Cruz Band, Bean Runner Cafe in Peekskill, NY 8 to 11
9/17
IO Plays The Bitter End, Bleeker st in NYC, 10pm
10/28
Ghouls and Goblins Festival, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, with Jenny Hill’s Groove Garden
“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. Available through Hal Leonard, Amazon, etc.
International Orange… Videos from various times , groups, places…
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
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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
Reviews of “You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This”
internationalorange.bandcamp.com
www.jennyhilljazz.com – mad saxophone jazz
www.fearlessdreamer.com – Pam, one of a kind.
International Orange
Texas guitar takes a trip around the world. Watch for upcoming gigs, tours. http://www.internationalorangeband.com Hear IO and purchase music at http://www.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
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.
Imani Uzuri Imani will take you lots of places, all accompanied by an incredible array of cool instruments.
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.
Ghetto Garbo (TrBeCaStan)
Puddle
Baiao
Nutria Nougat
Kyrematen
Lumiere
Bed of Pines
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 co-leads International Orange, who released their debut album in ‘2013. He has two recordings under his own name, 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 as well performing and teaching extensively in Brazil.
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, Sting, Steve Turre, Melvin Sparks, Cisao Machado, Mike Gordon, Bakithi Kumalo, Ivan Neville, Betty Buckley, Badal Roy, Francis Mbappe, Jack McDuff, David Krakauer, Al Kooper, Charlie Burnham, and many others. He has performed with several dance companies throughout the United States, many of whose performances featured his original compositions. Todd endorses Sonor Drums and Bosphorus cymbals.