Dialects, the debut album by Electric Kulintang is an album that perfectly distills electronic, dance and Kulintang music. Kulintang music comes from the Philippines, named after a percussion instrument that consists of eight gongs it is also used as the name of the music being played. The duo, Susie Ibarra (composer/percussionist, vocals) and Roberto Rodriguez (composer/percussionist, beat maker) colaborate in the blending and creation of this Filipino trip-hop.

Filipina-American Composer/Percussionist Susie Ibarra is best known for her individual artistry on percussion and genre-defying music. Cuban born drummer/percussionist and composer Roberto Rodriguez brings groundbreaking new music through his original musical voice.

Electric Kulintang formed in 2005, after Ibarra and Rodriguez, traveled to the Philippines to research live Kulintang music and dance. Ibarra, in 2002, composed and performed with an electro-acoustic ensemble that included the kulintang instrument but through the encouragement of Rodriguez to make the kulintang electric, EK was born. With Rodriguez programming beats and Ibarra composing the music, Electric Kulintang has already caught the attention of the Magic Triangle Festival in Amherst, Musica a Metronom in Barcelona, and the American Composers Out Front! series at Joe's Pub at the Public Theatre in NYC. These live performances have been joined by the likes of Thurston Moore (who guests on Dialects), Oz Noy (also guests on Dialects), Sean Lennon, Craig Taborn and Trevor Dunn.

Electric Kulintang's Dialects is cinematic in many ways, telling short stories and poems to its listeners. Each piece is a scene, sometimes nostalgic of a place, sometimes nostalgic of a memory. Listeners of Jazz, Pop and Rock Noise, Indie and Experimental all have something to look forward to in Dialects. Not to mention the world of New Composers, Improvisors, Avant-Garde and World Music aficionados who have been waiting to see what Susie Ibarra and Roberto Rodriguez's new genre-bending music will bring to the plate.



About the artists

Susie Ibarra
www.susieibarra.com
Filipina-American Composer/Percussionist Susie Ibarra is known for her individual artistry on percussion and genre-defying music. "In the past decade, her willingness to step out from behind the kit and embrace non jazz forms- opera, poetry experimental sound, dance-has taken her from that initial buzz from below Houston Street (NYC) to international reknown as a composer, performer and proponent of folkloric music." Catapano, NYTimes. Susie Ibarra, a Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth and Paiste artist, received nomination for Best Emerging Percussionist in Downbeat Poll Aug 2006. Recently, she performed a NY Premiere of her solo drumset piece titled Optical Illusion: 4 Meditations in Light at Zankel Carnegie Hall. Several other current works include solo piano Dancesteps for CAG artist fellow Jade Simmons; Shangri-La, a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize poet and librettist Yusef Komunyakaa at the Kitchen; and Dreams, etudes for her trio. She has toured extensively in the US, Europe and Asia as well as performed and recorded with noted artists such as John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Pauline Oliveros, Trisha Brown, Ikue Mori, Sylvie Courvoisier, Thurston Moore, Yo La Tengo, Yusef Komunyakjaa among others. Some of her music can be heard on recordings: Songbird Suite; Susie Ibarra Trio, Tzadik Records, Folkloriko: Susie Ibarra compositions, Tzadik Records, Entomological Reflections; Mephista, Tzadik Records, and new Nov 2006 release EK Dialects, Electric Kulintang on Plastic Records.

Roberto Rodriguez
www.robertojuanrodriguez.com
Born in East Havana, Cuba, percussionist and composer Roberto Rodriguez draws upon his influences of world music, pop, rock, jazz, electronic, avant garde and classical, making him one of the most versed performers as well as a unique artistic voice. Rodriguez, a Grammy nominee and American Music Award Recipient, has performed with notable artists such as: Rufus Wainwright, Joe Jackson ,John Zorn, Marc Ribot, Celia Cruz, Israel "CACHAO" Lopez, Paquito D' Rivera, Julio Iglesias, Miami Sound Machine, Paul Simon, Lloyd Cole, Dr. L Subramaniam, Kavita Krishnamurti, Lester Bowie and Wadada Leo Smith. Rodriguez can be heard on recordings:
Roberto Rodriguez ~ Baila! Gitano Baila! ~El Danzon de Moises (Tzadik Records), Oy Vey! Oley! Irving Fields & Roberto Rodriguez (Tzadik Records); Maurice el Medioni meets Roberto Rodriguez: Descarga Oriental, Piranha Records; Joe Jackon Live - Two Rainy Nights (SONY); Marc Ribot & los cubanos postizos (Atlantic Records); John Zorn, Taboo & Exile (Tzadik Records); Miami Sound Machine, Into the Light (Epic Records) and new Nov 2006 release EK Dialects, Electric Kulintang on Plastic Records.