The Undiscovered: Ivan Tucakov

After self-producing his first CD in 2006 ("Sunrise On A New World"), guitarist Ivan Tucakov is back with his latest CD, Viaje, (in English - "Journey"). A primarily instrumental effort, Tucakov leads Tambura Rasa through the diverse material, which counts influences such as Afro-Latin, Flamenco, Irish, Indian classical, Balkan, Middle Eastern, Gypsy jazz, Persian and more. It's like a trip around the world, and you don't need to pack or track down your passport. Brian Poulsen adds a second guitar to the mix, while significant instrumentation is also provided by Tarun Nayar on tablas, Suzka on violin and Mike Michalkow on percussion. The skill level of the performance ensemble is quite high, so world guitar fans should almost consider this a must-have; at the very least, have a listen and hear for yourself. Highly recommended.

Ivan grew up in Turkey and Serbia, the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures. Throughout the years, he also traveled to Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Peru and throughout Canada and the United States in search of new inspiration. Recently he came back from Spain where he studies flamenco guitar techniques. He currently lives in Vancouver, Canada. Tambura Rasa plays sold-out shows in Vancouver on a regular basis, in different clubs, concert venues and private functions. In March 2006, they opened up for renowned guitar duo Strunz and Farah. Ivan continues to be involved with various other multi-media projects, one of which is Brian Harris' "Beauty and Transformation" slide show.

In addition to his involvement in the production and promotion of music, on of Ivan's main goals is to tour with Tambura Rasa and introduce his music to the whole of Canada and beyond.

Ivan Tucakov / Tambura Rasa
Canada

Web site: www.tamburarasa.com