Dhol Foundation

Led by Johnny Kalsi, key drummer for the Afro Celt Sound System, Dhol Foundation creates an intense mix of rhythm and sound via bhangra, dance, and electronica - feeding the energy of the urban clubs with their own Punjabi spirit.

Kalsi, using the loud, open tone of the dhol drum (first used in the 16th century), has developed a style of powering big beats and dynamics that has become the focal point of his performance - a style that has come to dominate the bhangra and Asian-crossover scene.

Completely self-taught, Johnny Kalsi has been playing the dhol for sixteen years. His determination and persistence in learning to play came about when he could not find anyone who would give him any training. A little later Johnny was lucky enough to get a small break in a local band and gained some basic experience. After three years, he was fortunate to join the most popular bhangra band of that time called "Alaap". With the correct guidance from the strong rhythm section in the band, Johnny incorporated modern dance steps to enhance his performance. Powering big beats and dynamics became the focal point in his performance and soon began to dominate the bhangra scene.

Up to this point, Johnny had never thought about training others, but as his profile grew he began to receive inquiries as to whether or not he was teaching. Ultimately this led to Johnny creating the Dhol Foundation (TDF) - the largest dhol institute in Britain. The first Dhol Foundation class took place in 1991 in a community hall in Slough and within five weeks through word of mouth it had become a forty-strong student class. As demand grew Johnny started another class in East and West London. TDF now runs a total of 12 classes throughout the UK and - with nearly 200 students already on the register - the numbers are still growing. Going strong for nearly 10 years, TDF is still the only institute in the country that teaches the dhol at a professional level.

Taken from the Shakti Records web site

Album: Dhol Foundation - Big Drum : Small World