Ivan Tucakov was born in Belgrade, Serbia. He shared his childhood between southern Turkey and Serbia, where he was immersed within the cultural influences of both Eastern and Western music. During this time he developed an interest in guitar and studied under the Berkley School of Music curriculum. In 1998, Ivan moved to Vancouver and made the decision to pursue a career in computer science. He graduated with an honors degree in Computer Science and Physics at the University of British Columbia.
With a desire to maintain music in his life, Ivan formed the Tambura Rasa collective in 2004 with the aim of expanding the boundaries of world-fusion music. He studied flamenco guitar in Granada Spain, while his journey further took him in the direction of event management, music composition and musical direction. Ivan has since released seven collections of original compositions, influenced by Indian classical to Turkish, Balkan and flamenco music. He has produced electronic mixes, some of which were released on the European Cafe del Mar lounge compilations. Tambura Rasa's albums “Adsum”, “In Concert” and "Arribada" all got nominated for Best World Music Recording of the year at the West Canadian Music Awards (WCMA).
In 2012, Ivan started a classical world-fusion project called "Vino & Forte" with pianist Oriana White, and has since released two studio albums together. Vino & Forte currently organizes collaborative concerts and regularly performs for special events and fundraisers across the province.
In 2013, Toronto based radio station Jazz FM interviewed Ivan for a special edition documentary series called "Identities".
Tambura Rasa
Tambura Rasa is a buoyant cultural cross-pollination that fuses contemporary grooves and traditional rhythms into one energetic musical brand of its own. The act weaves a tapestry of sound and dance from The Balkans, Spain, Turkey, Middle East and beyond.
They have become BC’s favorite caravan of vivacious globalistas, filling everything from intimate soft-seat theatre shows to large dance filled festivals in attempt to bring joy, vigor and dance to the world around them.
Join them as they merge the sounds of the East and the West, of the present and the past - a show of contemporary musical fusion and variety of cultural styles from all around the world.
“As the globe stresses and strains along artificially drawn borders, Ivan Tucakov and Tambura Rasa pick up the musical threads that bind us all and weave them into a tapestry of discovery and delight.”
- Cal Koat - World Beats Radio Canada
Arribada (2014)
The latest album called "Arribada" is a remarkably diverse collection of music, which brings Tucakov's most recent compositions to an eclectic assembly of performers and cultures from all corners of the globe. The album lifts off with an outlandish and captivating cover of a classic rock & roll tune, which is followed by an upbeat dance clave taking you straight to Cuba! The journey then continues on with a luscious fusion of classical strings, traditional Balkan brass, tamburicas, Turkish darbuka, Indian tabla, bansuri, Flamenco guitar and more. Delve into this spellbound world of odd rhythms, dance grooves and sensual melodies. Experience the allure of “Arribada”.
Tambura Rasa core line-up:
Ivan Tucakov - guitar
Emily Helsdon - violin
Langston Raymond - trumpet
Oriana White - piano
Robin Layne - percussion
JeanSe Le Doujet - bass
Randall Stoll - percussion/drums
