The Band
Jiva Train (l to r): Derek Turner, Satyen Thaker, Kevin Reitz
Band Description:
"Jiva" is a Sanskrit word for soul. It also embodies the musical ideal of Jiva Train: music that comes from the soul. Their compositional approach to music is rare in our current age of mainstream entertainment. Every song they write is intentional and thoughtfully composed. In its fundamental form, their music stems from a refreshing mixture of Rock, Latin, Funk, and Classical. They create vocal harmonies and lyrics that stick in your head, like Ween, and The Flaming Lips. They write instrumentals that bridge the enormous gap between Rock and Classical, a path once beaten by Phish. They find a pocket and groove as one funky unit, like Medeski, Martin and Wood. The instrumentation is unusual for a rock band; featuring Satyen Thaker (Guitar/Vocals), Kevin Reitz (Drums/Vocals), and Derek Turner (Keyboards/Vocals). This trio has come together for the pure love of making music, and the energy created from their music is a true testament to that. Jiva Train enjoys the spontaneity and freshness of improvisation, but songwriting/composing will always be a core value.
Band History:
Jiva Train was formed in March of 2004; featuring Satyen Thaker on guitar and vocals, Derek Turner on keyboards and backup vocals, Jimmy Farrell on bass guitar and backup vocals, and Nick Cobbett on drums. They completed work on their debut album Trance Castle near the end of 2004. Nick Cobbett left the band in May 2005, and Kevin Reitz became the new drummer. In January 2006, they completed work on their second release, an EP called Train Tracks Vol. 1. Jimmy Farrell left the band in February 2006. While they were searching for a new bass player, they continued to practice, and enjoyed the new sound so much that they decided to stay as a trio. They are currently performing in the Boulder/Denver,CO area.
Satyen Thaker, the songwriter/composer and guitarist for Jiva Train, is a graduate of the University of Colorado Music School at Boulder, receiving a BA in Music. Derek Turner (Keyboards), and Kevin Reitz (Drums) both have performed in numerous bands prior to Jiva Train, and all have had extensive live experience.
