Taarka

Taarka is a Lyons, Colorado-based musical group originally formed in Portland, Oregon in 2001 by the husband/wife team of David Tiller (mandolin) and Enion Pelta-Tiller (violin). The group originally included Jarrod Kaplan on percussion and James Whiton on stand-up bass. Since their departure Taarka has primarily consisted of a rotating membership. Recent Taarka contributors often include Dale Largent on percussion, Daniel Plane on cello, and Troy Robey on bass.

Taarka
OriginLyons, Colorado, Portland, Oregon
GenresFolk rock, experimental, jazz
Years active2001–present
LabelsFrogville Records
Associated actsThaMuseMeant
Websitewww.taarka.com
MembersEnion Pelta–Tiller
David Tiller
Dale Largent
Troy Robey
Past membersDaniel Plane
Jarrod Kaplan
James Whiton
Damian Erskine
Adam Hill

History

In 2000, David Tiller's band, ThaMuseMeant, took a hiatus and Tiller moved to New York City, where he met Enion Pelta through a band called Brooklyn Browngrass. Tiller and Pelta started playing and writing together in early 2001, and the couple soon moved to Oregon. In the coming months, Taarka was formed.[1]

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."[2]

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.[3]

Beginning on March 18th, 2020, Taarka began hosting live social isolation concerts through Facebook due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Etymology

Taarka answered how the name "Taarka" came about on their website.

"We came up with the name on a spring day in 2002, when Enion, who loves to cook, especially indian food, thought of it: the word which describes roasting spices to create the base for an indian culinary delicacy. There are two kinds of t(a)arkas - wet and dry. A wet t(a)arka is a mix of garlic, ginger and onions sauteed in ghee. A dry t(a)arka is a mixture of whole spices, dry-roasted or fried in oil, til the seeds begin to pop."[4]

Band members
  • David Tiller - Mandolin, Guitars, Vocals, Bass, Bouzouki
  • Enion Pelta–Tiller - Violins, Vocals

Discography

Albums
Year Title Label
2001 Taarka: Live in the Studio Omnivine Records
2003 Man Chasing Woman Around Table (Tiller and Pelta duo album) self-released
2004 Even Odd Bird Omnivine Records
2007 The Trailer Frogville Records
2007 The Martian Picture Soundtrack Frogville Records
2008 Seed Gathering (EP) self-released
2009 Seed Gathering For A Winter Garden self-released
2012 Adventures in Vagabondia self-released
2015 Making Tracks Home self-released
2017 Fading Mystery self-released

References
  1. "Story of Taarka". taarka.com. 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  2. "Dave & Enion Tiller - Man Chasing - Out Of Print". Frogville Records. 2007-11-01. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  3. The Martian Picture Soundtrack liner notes
  4. "Often, we're asked, what does TAARKA mean?". taarka.com. 2007-10-11. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
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