Dharmakasa

"An alchemy of spiritual music incorporating ancient and modern instruments from India and Japan to create mystical soundscapes. A meditative musical journey to light the soul."

Dharmakasa was formed in 2001 from a chance meeting at a musical night at a yoga school in Vancouver, BC, Canada. From then on, Andrew and Al have embarked on a musical journey that has included various tours of BC and the Gulf Islands as well as a number of Japanese cultural and musical festivals. They have put on their own "sacred ethnic music nights" at yoga schools and other venues. They have also collaborated with dancers including butoh master, Yukio Waguri. On the way they have mesmerized audiences with their haunting soundscape that draws from musical traditions based on Eastern and Middle Eastern spiritualities including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sufism. They've been featured numerous times on TV, radio, and newspaper.

Alcvin Ramos

Alcvin was born in Japan where he spent many years studying shakuhachi. He has studied extensively with the greatest masters of the instrument. In 1996 he moved to Vancouver, Canada and befriended shakuhachi master Takeo Yamashiro. He returned to Japan to deepen his studies and in 2001, he received his Shihan (master) license from the doyen of shakuhachi masters, Katsuya Yokoyama. Alcvin is one of the few Westerners to be granted this honour. In October 2001, Al returned to Vancouver, Canada to engage in the Bamboo-In, Canada's first shakuhachi centre.

Alcvin pursues an active solo as well as collaborative career with the shakuhachi, seeking to expand the horizons of the shakuhachi flute. Alcvin has played with various musicians and groups including: John McLaughlin, Bill Laswell, Kazutoki Umezu, Katsutoshi Kondo, Uzume Taiko, Joseph "Pepe" Danza, The Vancouver Symphonietta, and The Dreamtime Continuum. Alcvin has played in numerous festivals including the Vancouver Jazz Festival, Vancouver New Music Festival, Powell Street Festival, World Sacred Music Festival in Hiroshima, Japan and the Vancouver Sacred Music Fest. In addition, Alcvin has organized many concerts and workshops for visiting shakuhachi masters from Japan and abroad. Alcvin maintains an active schedule of shakuhachi teaching and performances between Japan, Canada and the US.

Press coverage: Alcvin has been featured on VTV, NHK in Japan, and KCTR radio in the US.

Andrew Kim

Andrew Kim is an incredibly diverse multi-instrumentalist with 25 years of experience studying ethnic music from around the world. Instruments that he plays include the sitar, kemenche (Persian spike fiddle), ersaj (Indian bowed instrument), acoustic, electric, and synth guitar (from solo instrumental to African rock), violin, (unique 5 or 9 stringed), cell-violin, bass, cello, and various traditional African instruments. He also performs on his own inventions, including the electric sitar, 9-stringed Indian violin, cello-violin, drone guitar, and various other inventions.

Andrew has performed at various festivals, CBC social events and venues either solo or as part of various projects. He has also performed in the local Indian community for various bhajans (Indian devotional music concerts). He has put on various musical evenings at local yoga schools. Andrew has also played on many recordings and movie soundtracks. Bands he has performed with include: Spearhead, Indian pop band Dal Dil Vog, and African rock bands Soukous Rhythyms, Feso, Kow Kanda, Njacko Backo, Shodoman, as well as various other projects.

Press coverage: Andrew has been featured on CBC radio, The Province newspaper, and various TV appearances.

Contact:

• Alcvin Ramos at mailto:ramos@telus.net, or phone 604.905.2069.
• Andrew Kim at andrewkim87@hotmail.com, or phone 604.524.8101.