Band History

Devidasa brings together a diverse array of musicians from a broad range of musical backgrounds and has been performing its unique blend of musical styles at clubs, festivals, and concerts in the Rome-Chattanooga-Atlanta area for the last five years. Co-founder Jeffrey Lidke studied tablas in India and met saxophonist Phil Lawson in Santa Barbara, California, where they both played in the world music ensemble Dreamtime Continuum. When Jeffrey joined the Berry College faculty in 2002, he and co-founder Megan Yalkut (vocals and sarod) began assembling a group of like-minded musicians committed to the idea that music is the universal language. Phil moved to Rome in 2004 to join the band, by which time guitarist Jim Watkins was a regular member, and Devidasa took root in southern soil. After Megan’s departure in 2006, bassist Chris Korb soon joined, followed shortly thereafter by percussionist/vocalist Kash Patel and flutist/vocalist Lauren Moneyhan. Kash and recording engineer extraordinaire Ken Hutton produced Devidasa’s self-titled CD in 2007. The most recent additions to the band are Sarah Armstrong and Jesse Head on vocals and Derek Hay on drums.

Description

Eclectic and distinctive repertoire of originals and covers ranging from funk y world groove and Indian classical to rock, reggae, jazz, and R&B.

Influences

Zakir Hussain, Ali Akbar Khan, Anoushka Shankar, John Coltrane, James Brown, Bob Marley, Ry Cooder, John McLaughlin, King Sunni Adé, Fela Kuti, Parliament-Funkadelic, The Meters, The Clash, etc.

Group Members

Jeffrey Lidke (founder): tablas, djembe, dumbek, marimbas, and other percussion, vocals

Phil Lawson: vocals, saxophone, flute, percussion

Jim Watkins: vocals, guitars

Chris Korb: bass guitar, sitar, mandolin, vocals

Kash Patel: vocals, percussion

Lauren Moneyhan: vocals, flute, percussion

Sarah Armstrong: vocals, percussion

Jesse Head: vocals, percussion

Derek Hay: percussion

Genres

World Music, Funk, Jazz, Rock, Reggae

Contact Information

Call Jim at 706 936-3859

info@devidasa.com

www.devidasa.com