Aashram is an assemblage of musicians based in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan. Mainly a quartet, Aashram often incorporates other auxiliary members into their ensemble. Currently, Aashram is functioning as a quintet with instrumentation including: piano/synthesizers, electric bass, drums/percussion, saxophone, and electric guitar. Aashram is an experimental group that questions conventionality and explores the possibilities that lye within contemporary music. Unconcerned with musical dogmatism, Aashram’s eclectic approach has incorporated an assortment of musical idioms, such as jazz, classical, soul, funk, r&b, blues, world, and afro beat.
Aashram is intrigued by various melodic and polyrhythmic forms, including the clave, rumba, samba, son, merengue, taquam, tala, and raga. The group is influenced by several musical styles, such as flamenco, reggae, salsa, classical, progressive rock, hip hop, country, rap, gospel, techno, cumbia, tejano, electronica, delta blues, ragtime, zydeco, reggaton, American and Latin American folk, bachata, tango, industrial, bluegrass, avant-garde and experimental music.
In January of , Aashram recorded minutes of music at Sound in Ferndale, Michigan. It was a live tracking set of three songs with no overdubs. Staff engineer Al engineered the session assisted by Joe Gruszka.
Aashram was formed in July of by Omar Taji, Eric Fillip, Joshua Thomson, and Jeremy Olsen. Aashram has since gone on to perform and collaborate with John Paul Dutka, and Uday Trevedi. The formation of Aashram started in Dearborn, Michigan when members Eric Fillip (drums), Omar Taji (piano), and Joshua Thomson (alto saxophone) began rehearsing various theoretical jazz concepts and techniques. Not long after came the addition of bassist Jeremy Olsen, which officially established the group as a quartet. The group played their first performance on September rd, at the Pontiac Arts, Beats, and Eats Festival. Aashram has been performing throughout Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Toledo.
Eric “Fil” Fillip is a native of Detroit, MI and was born on November, th . Fillip was introduced to the drum set (Fibes Cocktail Kit) at age . However, at age he seriously pursued the instrument. Throughout the last years, he has performed extensively and has recorded with several groups. Co-founder of the rock-fusion group Timecube, he gigged with Timecube during , , and and recorded twice with the group at Sound in , . Moreover, Timecube’s most recent recording was done in , featuring Joshua Thomson (Alto Sax) and Omar Taji (Wurlitzer). He has also performed with Seed of Being, Stereo Mystery, FBT, My Cousin Leonard, and Cosmic Orgasm. Fillip has studied various rhythmic techniques with several percussionists and drumming specialists. Presently, he studies with Detroiter Lewis Julian. Fillip earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Wayne State University in Criminology and Criminal Justice in . Currently, he is working on a Masters degree from Wayne State.
Joshua Thomson is a native of Detroit, MI and has been playing saxophone since the age of . At age Thomson began seriously studying jazz saxophone in high school and began performing live. Thomson has studied with several professional saxophonists and educators including Ben Janssen, Paul Vornhagen, Bradley Stern, Ernie Mitchelat, and Phil Lasley. Prior to Aashram, Thomson performed and recorded with Timecube in and . Thomson co-founded the band Cosmic Orgasm in and has performed with My Cousin Leonard, Seed of Being, Integrity, and Stereo Mystery. In , Thomson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Michigan -Ann Arbor. During , Thomson also spent time studying and performing in the Dominican Republic and Austin, Texas. Currently, Thomson is furthering his independent studies in jazz and resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jeremy Olsen is a native of Muskegon, Michigan, where he began playing bass at age . He studied jazz for five years under the tutelage of James Lawrence at Muskegon High School. In , Olsen began studies at Alma College. Prior to joining Aashram, he played bass and drums in the Detroit progressive/politico/surf rock band JewsKillingArabsKillingJews. Olsen currently resides in Hamtramck, Michigan where he has lived for two years.
Omar Taji was born in Windsor, Ontario and was raised in Detroit, Michigan where he began playing piano at age . During his early teens, Taji studied with jazz pianist Danny Fels in Florida. Classical music became Taji's focus during his late teens and studied intensively with classical pianist Mary Harrison. Later, he would go on to collaborate with various hip hop groups and rappers from around northern Florida. Most recently, Taji has studied with Detroit jazz educator Tad Weed and Windsor pianist Phil Whitfield. Taji has performed and collaborated with: The Greater Christ Ministry Church, My Cousin Leonard, Timecube, Exchange Bureau, Cosmic Orgasm, and Integrity. Omar currently resides in Dearborn Heights, Michigan.
Members of Aashram have collaborated with: Phil Whitfield, Bradley Stern, El-Mahdi Ahmed, Mike Leonard, Marco Coco, Mike Vial, Eric Fritts, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Jared Graf, Shane Dignan, Bryan Gurcynski, Tim Hutchla, Rico, Myron
Solo act, keyboards, guitar, vocals, programming, audience participation. I also have several other people I work with who sing and play an instrument.
Category:
Singers - Pop Singer
Additional Category:
Band
Genre:
60s Hits, 70s Hits, 80s Hits, 90s Hits, 2000s Hits, Ambient, Beach Music, Big Band, Blues, Brazilian, Broadway, Cabaret, Caribbean, Christian Rock, Classical, Country, Dance, Disco, Do-Wop, Electronic, Folk, Funk, Fusion, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Latin, Merengue, Motown, New Age, Oldies, Pop, Rythym and Blues, Reggae, Rock, Rockabilly, Salsa, Ska, Soul, Swing, Techno, Top-40, World Music
Party Band,will bring a great atmosphere into any venue,always a crowd pleaser, super charged non-stop energy, songlist can cover every range or jandra of music from one end of the specturm to the other...can do all original shows as well as , cover material..exceptional songwriting within band..
Category:
Band - Rock
Additional Category:
Band - Blues
Genre:
60s Hits, 70s Hits, 80s Hits, 90s Hits, 2000s Hits, African, Alternative, Bluegrass, Blues, Caribbean, Christian Rock, Country, Dance, Folk, Funk, Fusion, Jazz, Rythym and Blues, Reggae, Rock, Ska, Soul, Top-40
We are a 5 piece Christian band performing styles ranging from Rock to R&B to Hip-Hop to Raggae to Fusion. We praise God thru our music, lyrics and testimony. Most of our material is original with a few well know secular tunes where the words have been changed.
Category:
Band - Christian Rock
Additional Category:
Band
Genre:
Christian Rock, Funk, Fusion, Hip-Hop, Pop, Rythym and Blues, Rock
We call ourselves a rock band because we really don't know how else to define a band with as much diversity in influence as we are. Fusion would be the second guess. We focus on solid rythyms and emphasize melodic overtones, resulting in a hell of a show! Give us a shot, you might like us so much, you'll want us back...
Category:
Band - Rock
Additional Category:
Band - Rock
Genre:
90s Hits, African, Alternative, Ambient, Beach Music, Big Band, Blues, Caribbean, Folk, Funk, Fusion, Grunge, Jazz, Latin, Metal, Pop, Reggae, Rock, Soul, Top-40, World Music
