Album Notes

"Out of this world, wholly unique vocals, unlike anything you've ever heard before" - Glen Starkey(New Times music critic)

Light at the Top serves up a beautiful entrancing mix of original music that truly exemplifies the essence of the term "World Fusion." Tim(Timo)Beckwith and Johnee Gange are both seasoned musicians and multi-instrumentalists, whose talents combine to create a magical blend.

Timo has been drumming since childhood and his unique vocals began to spring from rhythmic trance many years ago. Audiences often think he has learned an African Language. In truth, Timo writes "...(the singing) flows directly from my heart and spirit without thinking and my task is simply to surrender and allow it to happen." He also plays the rare and unique Ugandan bow harp, called the Ennanga, which blends soulfully with the richness of his voice and the resonance of Gange's Tabla.

Johnee is a life long musician and has traveled the world extensively, studying rhythm with particular focus on the Tabla. He lived in the north Indian cities of Delhi and Benares, studying Tabla primarily with I.S. Bawra. He has has continued his practice with various other gurus and by teaching many students. Johnee plays these alluring drums with musicians in many different genres, from classical Indian Kirtan to funk, jazz and blues. He has also been expanding his repertoire to include the Tabla tarong - an arrangement of many Tablas tuned in a chromatic scale.

The duo utilizes many other unique and exotic instruments on this CD. They alternate between Bendir, Frame Drums, Bansuri flute, Indian Banjo, Doumbek and Recorder.

This CD was recorded entirely on California's Central Coast, and was produced live, without any overdubbing. "Light at the Top" is a CD that sounds very much like Calinambe sounds in live performance. The result is a sublimely powerful and harmonious blend that listeners describe as completely exotic, yet somehow touching a deep and familiar place in the heart.

**As of 2006, Calinambe has expanded. They are now a quartet with the addition of Andrew Wise on flutes and Rob Strom on bass. These extrordinary musicians add entirely new dimension to the magical music.

to watch a performance go to youtube.com and search for Calinambe