Svara is a poly-musical ensemble. Our goal is an innovative foray into unexplored musical spaces. We are 4 musicians who have experienced deep training in a variety of very traditional music forms (including western traditions), from renowned and insightful teachers. We each bring musical ideas and experience from all over the world: India, Bali, Brazil, Europe (Eastern and Western), America and use rock, jazz, classical and contemporary creative music.

We have tried to channel that training, that exposure into what we hope is an organic expression, one that incorporates what we have learned from our wonderful teachers into a unique music. We are acoustic. There are no electric instruments on this recording, no synthesizers; nothing against them! It's just not what we bring to our musical experience. All of our music incorporates improvisation - some pieces are almost completely improvised, others have an 'open' section for spontaneous exploration. As closely as possible, this recording represents the way we really play.

David Trasoff - sarode
Has studied sarode performance under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, India's 'Living National Treasure,' since 1973. Acclaimed for his performance in both the United States and India, David has appeared in concert in arts centers, universities, conservatories and festivals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He served as Director of the Indian Music Ensemble at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and has taught at the California Institute of the Arts and Pomona College. David has composed and performed music for film, theater and dance projects, including an award-winning Los Angeles production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the acclaimed Indian art film Leela.

Robert Jacobson - guitar
A guitarist, composer, and improviser based in Los Angeles, holds degrees in guitar performance from USC and the California Institute of the Arts. He has studied under the direction of Scott Tennant, Miroslav Tadic, Vinny Golia, Pat Kelly, Joe Diorio, and Frank Potenza. His music reflects his training in classical guitar, jazz, free improvisation, and Balinese gamelan. He was featured soloist on the soundtrack to "What Matters Most". In 2004 he released a CD of original compositions titled Coldwater on his new record label, Banana Bread Records.

John Graves - bass
Has studied composition with Boulanger pupil Joel Feigin, classical bass with Nico Abondolo. and North Indian classical music with David Trasoff and at the Ali Akbar Khan College of Music. In 1998 John moved back to his native Los Angeles where he delved more deeply into jazz improvisation with Harold Land, Billy Higgins, Roberto Miranda and Kenny Burrell. John has worked as a composer, bassist and producer in such diverse areas as pop, Arabic, gospel, hip-hop, Western swing, film music and reggae.

Randy Gloss - tabla and percussion
A founding member of the renowned percussion group Hands On'Semble, has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Randy has collaborated with a wide array of highly esteemed musicians, including Swapan Chaudhuri, Adam Rudolph, Aashish Khan, Miroslav Tadic, Vladko Stefanovski, David Rosenboom, and Glen Velez. He has been involved in numerous projects fusing world music with new music and jazz, and has contributed percussion for film soundtracks by composers Danny Elfman and Gary Chang. Randy teaches at the California Institute of the Arts.

New World