David Chong is the lead vocalist and founder of Tatu Rei. David grew up in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte. David's musical experience includes being one of the main soloists with the Brazilian vocal ensemble Borboleta and has performed and recorded with guitarist Doug de Vries.
Neda Rahmani plays percussion for Tatu Rei. Neda a fulltime musician. Neda plays in a range recording and touring acts Tumbarumba, Mista Savona and Deeline Briscoe. Neda's foray into various musical styles and her extensive performance experience over the past decade has culminated in a highly original sound ripe to enthuse audiences. Incorporating elements of electro, roots, hip hop and Latin, Neda's eclectic music style also reveals her love affair with Brazil.
Nathan Slater plays guitar with Tatu Rei. In 2004, Nathan began his Bachelor of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts. Whilst at the VCA, he received numerous awards including the Athenaeum award and the Professors Award. With virtuosic guitar technique and an amazing repertoire of original music, Nathan has a musical maturity well beyond his years.
Nathan has studied with some of the finest guitarists in Australia including, Geoff Hughes, Stephen Magnusson, Doug De Vries and Richard Tedesco. He has also performed with a range of groups including the Gian Slater Band, String Theory, Kate Vigo Quartet, FGHR (featuring Leonard Gregorian), and Andy Sugg Quintet.
Mark Grunden plays drum kit and percussion with Tat Rei. Mark started playing music with his father at the age of 7. His passion for Brazilian music came when he saw street kids from Braz performing with so little yet so much talent, style and passion.
Mark performs with a number of groups including Bad Boys Batucada, Tumbarumba and M.D of O'Ziriguidum escola de Samba.
James Gilligan plays bass guitar with Tatu Rei. James developed a passion for Brazilian music during his time at the VCA secondary school, where he studied with prolific bassist Chris Hale. After finishing high school, James had a gap-year and spent a 6-week period studying and residing in Berne, Switzerland with bassist, Björn Meyer. James has just commenced a 3-year bachelor of music degree at the Victorian College of the Arts (improvisation stream).
James performs regularly with Hinterland, Lightly Toasted and Austin Busch.
Ben Winkelman plays piano with Tatu Rei. Ben is a well known jazz pianist and composer. Ben currently plays with the Ben Winkelman Trio, an innovative and dynamic trio that draws on diverse influences including Afro-Cuban and Brazilian.
Ben is the newest addition to the band and together with James and Nathan lifts the jazz to a quality that has to be heard to be believed.
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