Niel Golden
	Niel shows his new instrument (the Swiss-German made "Hang") for the first time to John, Marc, and Ron on Bloor St. after lunch at the Nataraj. Photo by Eric Parker. Toronto-born Niel Golden is an early member of the Toronto Gharana and the Raag-Mala Society. While attaining an honours B.A. in music at Toronto's York University, he studied mrdangam with Trichy Sankaran, and then tabla with Bob Becker of the world renowned percussion ensemble, Nexus. In 1980 he began his studies with the tabla master, Pandit Sharda Sahai, the fifth generation leader of the Benares Gharana and soon after became his disciple. In 1990 and 1995, Niel traveled to Benares to continue his studies and to practice and perform with instrumentalists and dancers as well as to play tabla solo. Since moving to Victoria BC in 1986, he has specialized in bringing the tabla to listeners through Indian as well as Inter-Cultural Music. One such endeavour saw the creation of Djole a group which blended African, Indian, Western and other world music, their first CD, 'Indiscretion' earned them a Juno nomination as best global recording of 1995. Niel has also collaborated with many 'West Coast' artists, including composer Robert Rosen, Kokoro dance, Joseph 'Pepe' Danza, Celso Machado, Harry Manx, Andre Thibault, Daniel Lapp and Sal Ferreras to name a few. Working with Vancouver composer and orchestra leader Moshe Denburg for the past 16 years, he is a member of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra having performed as part of the 2000 , 2001 & 2002 West Coast Sacred Music festival finales as well as for the Dalai Lama in 2003. Niel also premiered his Tabla Concerto Kusumamaya with the VICO in October of 2003 in Vancouver. Recently, Niel has been performing with the slide guitar, blues artist, Harry Manx as part of the Urban Turban and appears on his new CD West Eats Meet. Harry Manx plays the Mohan Vina and has spent five years in Rajasthan with it's founder and Grammy award winner, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Graphic Design, Eric Parker and Assoc. Ltd., Copyright © 1997   All text Copyright © respective authors, 1997. All Rights Reserved   Original concept and inspiration, John Campana.   All comments and contributions to ericp@pathcom.com First Publication July 23, 1997 - This page updated October 8, 2004