Taarka
Encyclopedia
Taarka is a Portland
, Oregon
-based musical group, originally formed in 2001 by the husband/wife team of David Tiller (mandolin) and Enion Pelta-Tiller (violin). The group originally included Jarrod Kaplan (percussion) and James Whiton (stand-up) bass. Since their departure Taarka has largely consisted of a rotating membership. Recent Taarka contributors include Dale Largent (percussion), Daniel Plane (cello) and Troy Robey (bass).
, took a hiatus and Tiller moved to New York City
. In New York, Tiller met Enion Pelta through a band called Brooklyn Browngrass. Tiller and Pelta started playing and writing together in early 2001, and shortly after the couple moved to Oregon. In the coming months, Taarka was formed. In 2002, Taarka: Live In the Studio was recorded and released, and although it is currently out of print, it is still available for digital download on iTunes
. In 2003, ThaMuseMeant
re-formed with a new member: Enion Pelta–Tiller on violin, David Tiller's new wife. In the same year, the Tillers released an acoustic duo album, Man Chasing Woman around Table. On the Frogville Records
website, Man Chasing Woman is listed as being out of print, but "maybe available for download soon". With 2004 came two new albums; ThaMuseMeant's Silver Seed
and Taarka's Even Odd Bird. Even Odd Bird is the oldest album by Taarka that is currently available for sale on their website. After constant touring for several years, Taarka announced in early 2007 that a new album and EP were to be released that year, titled The Trailer and The Martian Picture Soundtrack. Both the EP and the album featured renowned bluegrass fiddler Darol Anger
on "The Creepy", a song written by David Tiller, and Joe Craven
("Tutu Tango") and Casey Driessen
("Lonely Woman") were featured on the album.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
-based musical group, originally formed in 2001 by the husband/wife team of David Tiller (mandolin) and Enion Pelta-Tiller (violin). The group originally included Jarrod Kaplan (percussion) and James Whiton (stand-up) bass. Since their departure Taarka has largely consisted of a rotating membership. Recent Taarka contributors include Dale Largent (percussion), Daniel Plane (cello) and Troy Robey (bass).
History
In 2000, David Tiller's band, ThaMuseMeantThaMuseMeant
ThaMuseMeant is an American folk-rock quartet. The band has had three permanent members since the beginning: Aimee Curl , Nathan Moore , and David Tiller . Prior to 2001 the band contained Jeff Sussman on percussion instead of Enion Pelta-Tiller on violin, who joined in 2003...
, took a hiatus and Tiller moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In New York, Tiller met Enion Pelta through a band called Brooklyn Browngrass. Tiller and Pelta started playing and writing together in early 2001, and shortly after the couple moved to Oregon. In the coming months, Taarka was formed. In 2002, Taarka: Live In the Studio was recorded and released, and although it is currently out of print, it is still available for digital download on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
. In 2003, ThaMuseMeant
ThaMuseMeant
ThaMuseMeant is an American folk-rock quartet. The band has had three permanent members since the beginning: Aimee Curl , Nathan Moore , and David Tiller . Prior to 2001 the band contained Jeff Sussman on percussion instead of Enion Pelta-Tiller on violin, who joined in 2003...
re-formed with a new member: Enion Pelta–Tiller on violin, David Tiller's new wife. In the same year, the Tillers released an acoustic duo album, Man Chasing Woman around Table. On the Frogville Records
Frogville Records
Frogville Records is an American independent record label, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The label features bands and artists from New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, Kentucky and Montreal as well as several significant artists in the jam band circuit, such as ThaMuseMeant, Taarka, and Surprise...
website, Man Chasing Woman is listed as being out of print, but "maybe available for download soon". With 2004 came two new albums; ThaMuseMeant's Silver Seed
Silver Seed
Silver Seed is a CD released by the folk-rock band ThaMuseMeant in 2004. ThaMuseMeant is Aimee Curl, Nathan Moore, Enion Pelta-Tiller, and David Tiller...
and Taarka's Even Odd Bird. Even Odd Bird is the oldest album by Taarka that is currently available for sale on their website. After constant touring for several years, Taarka announced in early 2007 that a new album and EP were to be released that year, titled The Trailer and The Martian Picture Soundtrack. Both the EP and the album featured renowned bluegrass fiddler Darol Anger
Darol Anger
-Career:Darol Anger entered popular music at the age of 21 as a founding member of The David Grisman Quintet. Anger played fiddle to David Grisman's mandolin in The David Grisman Quintet's 1977 debut. He co-founded the Turtle Island String Quartet with David Balakrishnan in 1985 and performed,...
on "The Creepy", a song written by David Tiller, and Joe Craven
Joe Craven
Joe Craven is a Freestyle folk, world and roots music multi-instrumentalist, singer and award winning educator. Joe is the Director of RiverTunes Music Camp and a Co-Director of the Wintergrass Youth Academy...
("Tutu Tango") and Casey Driessen
Casey Driessen
Casey Christopher Driessen is an American bluegrass fiddler and singer. He plays acoustic and electric five-string violins, each of which has an additional low C string....
("Lonely Woman") were featured on the album.
Etymology
Taarka answered how the name "Taarka" came about on their website.Band members
- David Tiller - Mandolin, Guitars, Vocals, Bass, BouzoukiBouzoukiThe bouzouki , is a musical instrument with Greek origin in the lute family. A mainstay of modern Greek music, the front of the body is flat and is usually heavily inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The instrument is played with a plectrum and has a sharp metallic sound, reminiscent of a mandolin but...
- Enion Pelta–Tiller - Violins, Vocals
Albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Taarka: Live in the Studio | Omnivine Records |
| 2003 | Man Chasing Woman Around Table | Omnivine Records |
| 2004 | Even Odd Bird | Omnivine Records |
| 2007 | The Trailer | Frogville Records Frogville Records Frogville Records is an American independent record label, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The label features bands and artists from New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, Kentucky and Montreal as well as several significant artists in the jam band circuit, such as ThaMuseMeant, Taarka, and Surprise... |
| 2007 | The Martian Picture Soundtrack | Frogville Records |
| 2008 | Seed Gathering (EP) | self-released |
| 2009 | Seed Gathering For A Winter Garden | self-released |