Kaleidhaphonic is a dynamic musical quartet that is breaking new ground in the fusion of world, trance, ancient and modern musical genres. In Kaleidhaphonic, African, Indian and Western instruments combine, weaving a colorful and mesmerizing soundscape of deep grooves, dancing rhythms, and simply beautiful sounds.Kaleidhaphonic began as a duet between mbira player, Kevin Nathaniel and Tabla player Tripp Dudley. They were soon joined by Salieu Suso on Kora and John Ragusa on flutes to create a new sound based on traditional African music and the intricate rhythms of the Indian Tabla, with the added wildcard of a free-improvising jazz flutist and multi-instrumentalist.


Kaleidhaphonic’s live performances are receiving a joyous and enthusiastic response from their audiences. They are quickly building a reputation as a new kind of band, dancing at the musical crossroads of Africa, India, Europe, and America. Their music moves from the meditative to the ecstatic and back again, digging into the deepest of grooves, and celebrating the essence of sound. Catch them and join the party!

The members of Kaleidhaphonic are:

Kevin Nathaniel - mbira and shekere
A pioneer on the African music scene in NYC, Kevin worked closely with the late mbira legend, Ephat Mujuru for 16 years building mbiras and playing traditional and contemporary mbira music. As a founding member of the Spirit Ensemble, Kevin collaborated with the late mbira master Zeleka, and is now one of the very few keepers of the Zeleka mbira stlye.
 
Tripp Dudley - tabla
A musician since the age of 10, Tripp started studying Indian rhythmic systems on frame drums and tabla while attending Berklee College of Music. Since graduating in 2005, Tripp has performed throughout the USA, and the UK with acclaimed singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman, and currently resides in New York studying under the guidance of Tabla master Pandit Samir Chatterjee.
 
Muhamadou Salieu Suso - kora  (West African Harp)
Salieu was born into a family of farmers and traditional Gambian musicians and Griots that extends back nearly 1000 years. He is a direct descendent of the inventor of the Kora, JaliMady Wulayn Suso, and was trained to play the 21 stringed Kora by his father and renowned Kora player Alhaji Musa Makang Suso. Salieu performed widely throughout Africa and Europe before settling in the United States in 1989
 
John Ragusa – flutes, pennywhistle, jews harp, conch shell
John has been called “One of today’s finest improvisational flutists” by the legendary Paul Horn, and has built a career performing jazz, folk, roots, latin, blues, and world music with a wide variety of artists in the U.S. and around the world. John is one half of the award-winning blues duo, Mulebone, and for the past 10 years has been featured in concert and on recordings with the Nashville singer-songwriter Beth Nielsen Chapman.