MonkeyDragon
Biography
About MonkeyDragon
The Dynamic collaboration of Adham Shaikh and Buckman Coe
Its a live-electronic horn-fuelled space odyssey thru spaghetti western landscapes blending Funk, Cumbia, Dub and Psychedelia.
Sounds fun right ?!
After working together on “Malama Ka’ Aina” and “Gathering Storm” Buckman and Adham began expanding their ideas of what collaborations could sound like.
This side -project is a portal for both to explore new things and new techniques. Incorporating looping pedals and electronics , brass , guitars layered vocals and live guests , the shows were a flying carpet ride of high vibes and joyous dancing
A lot of fun is had developing songs across Bc at festivals and sweaty community halls with the tremendously towering trombones of Andy Cakes and the Sassy Brass of Harvey Paris. Most of the live shows are recorded and many very sweet moments get integrated back into the rich tapestry of the finished Tunes.
thank you for supporting this Project!
Adham Shaikh is a Emmy and Juno Award-nominated music producer, composer, sound designer, and DJ who brings his uniquely powerful global sounds to the world stage and screen, not to mention many a crowded dance floor.
Adham has scored original soundtracks for numerous film and television productions, including National Geographic (Emmy nomination) , Sacred Planet (Disney Imax), Velcrow Ripper’s Fierce Light (National Film Board, Fierce Light Films), Rainbow Jaguars’ Earth Pilgrim, 940 Caledonia, Changing Course (history of columbia river) Getting Married (TVO), The Edge of the World: BC’s Early Years (Knowledge), and Secrets: A Parent’s Guide to the Teen Sexual Revolution (CBC’s Passionate Eye, Make Believe Media), for which he received a Leo Award for Best Musical Score in a Documentary Program. His music has also been licensed to an extensive list of media productions, including BBC Orphan BlacK , Suzuki Speaks (Avanti Pictures). . Look out for his latest original work on the upcoming television series Shared Planet
As a music producer and composer Shaikh skillfully weaves organic and electronic sounds into global music tapestries that take listeners on sonic journeys transcending time and place. He has released 14 albums and many individual compositions, among them the 2004 release, Fusion, which was nominated for a Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) in the World Music category and Universal Frequencies (2010) which won best album ( BC Independent Music awards) Music labels from around the globe have released his music, including BlackSwann Sounds Interchill, Dakini Records, Electronic Soundscapes, Liquid Sound Design, Native State, One World Music, Water Music, Nia, Sounds True, Stoned Asia, and the infamous Six Degrees. Recently, Shaikh co-produced and mixed the award-winning debut CD for global fusion group Delhi 2 Dublin, Produced the new Buckman Coe album and has finished re-mixing tracks for internationally renowned world fusion artists Nickodemus, Deya Dova, Kaya Project, Tripswitch and David Starfire. Shaikh has most recently completed remixes for Delhi2Dublin, Desert Dwellers, Juno nominated artist Eccodeck, Issa Bagayogo, Ganga Giri , and the Footsteps in Africa Project (Turag remix)
Shaikh’s work as both a live performer and a DJ has taken him to international festivals, events, and night clubs, including the Waveform Festival (UK), Envision Festival (Costa Rica), Water Women Festival (Ecuador) Samothraki Dance Festival (Greece), Dakini Nights (Tokyo), Luminate (New Zealand), The Maori Peace Festival at Parihaka (New Zealand), Hadra Trance (France), Goulash Disko Festival (Croatia) and Boom Festival (Portugal). He has toured extensively across North America, Highlights include headlining sets at The Royal Ontario Museum, Basscoast Festival, Shambhala Festival, Lightning in a Bottle,(ca), Beloved Festival (Or), Symbiosis(ca), Raindance (ca), SonicBloom (co), Meme (Winnipeg) Astral Harvest (AB) and Snowblower Festival (Calgary) From Folk and Jazz Festivals to premier electronic festivals and clubs, adham brings the show and the heat for any occasion.
Buckman Coe is a seasoned performer, touring and performing at festivals in Canada, United States, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore, and
Indonesia. Gathering Storm, Buckman Coe’s aptly-titled 7th release, comes as the follow up to Buckman Coe’s Altar (2018), a folk-driven album. While Altar is reminiscent of earlier Buckman Coe rootsy folk songs, Gathering Storm pools together a wider array of genres in Coe’s signature style. It is at times edgy and psychedelic, with guitar-driven sections and explorations into blues-tinged Americana, world, contemporary and throwback soul. “2019: Wester Canadian Music Awards: ‘World Musician of the Year’”. buckmancoe.com
and our extra crew members who join us when they are not off
galavanting around the mulit-verse.
Harvey Paris, (Salsahall Collective), has been playing trumpet/keys for Adham over the last year. Bring his jazz and reggae roots to Adhams mix Harvey truly believes there are no limits to music. Harvey been lucky to share stages with Toots and the Maytals, Shaggy, The Skatalites, The Slackers, Ozomatli, Rootz Underground, Delhi Dublin and many more
Andy Cakes the Wind and Fire of MonkeyDragon. The Towering Trombone and rhythmics of this multi dimensional artist spanning twenty plus years playing with everyone from Reggae, Beanie Man, Yellowman, Beres Hammond, Isreal Vibrations, Jimmy Cliff, Toots and the Matalls, The Wailers, Chronixs, The Skatalites, Ska, Selector, Bad Manners, Ny Ska Jazz Ensemble, Skaflaws, Bosstones, Mu330, Pietasters, Memphiskaphiles, The Slackers, Hepcat, Aggrolites, The Toasters, Real Big Fish, Mad Caddies, Fishbone, Alton Ellis, Skanking Pickle, Mustard Plug, Goldfinger, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, The Beat, Planet Smashers, Dance Hall Crashers, Easy Star Allstars . ………….
Marty Carter . Bio- Marty Carter has been performing at Music Festival’s and varies venues across Western Canada for 33 years in an original Art Rock Reggae Blues Band called New Moon and as a sideman with many other Bands and DJ’s. As a professional multi-instrumentalist musician specializing in Flute’s and Saxophone’s and an EWI (Electric Wind Instrument). Marty performs as a Solo Singer Song Writer and does educational presentations in school’s for kid’s. Marty has composed and produced two ambient albums (Heaven in Earth with Water) and (Hummingbird Kiss) all original music at his home studio, and continues to create new music for his performances.
Alex Moffat. talented videographer. with his fingers in so many different projects. always there to capture the magic and join us on harmonica for our special dubs.
Testimonials
What People are Saying
“Beyond the reaches of the rational”
The sounds the pair have cooked up definitely emerge from somewhere just beyond the reaches of the rational, a place where melodies are dreamed and envisioned rather than composed, somewhere on the other side of conscious thought.
DHeselgrave
“Fabulous work”
“ Like touching down with Kool and the Gang at an Amazonian medicine ceremony, it is the perfect ending to the musical journey as we are scooped up by the warm beats to be safely deposited back on the shores of everyday life. “
Douglas Heselgrave
“Vibrant, soothing and upliftinge”
“Enter the Multiverse’ is tuned into the subtleties of the moment and effortlessly reads and reflects back our collective pulse”
DH
“Awesome”
“The entire record is gorgeous, let’s hope this tree continues to grow, as the first sprouting has created a host of beautiful colors for us to contemplate and enjoy.
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Drop Us a Line
Don’t be shy. Let us know if you have any questions!