

‘Tristan und Isolde’: Vermont’s first Wagner Opera
Last weekend was a momentous one for the arts in Vermont. The state produced its first professional Wagner opera, and it was an unqualified success. Adding to that, Vermont is home to a true Wagnerian soprano. That power was delivered in spades Sunday when TUNDI Productions presented the colossal love story “Tristan Und Isolde” at Brattleboro’s Latchis Theater and the power and beauty of that performance, conducted by Brattleboro’s Hugh Keelan. There are unique problems perfo

Marlboro Slipstream at Soapbox Gallery
Marlboro Slipstream Group (Matan Rubinstein – piano/electronics, Andrew Greenwald – drums/percussion, Ned Rothenberg – winds and myself) was conceived as a musical meeting of four performers/composers/improvisers of wildly different musical backgrounds, to make music that is betwixt and between. MSG is Ensemble In Residence at Marlboro College. Among the music performed, the program featured the New York premiere of Terraplane, an irreverent reconfiguration of the Romantic er


Michael Leonhardt Orchestra at Jazz Standard
For its ninth consecutive monthly appearance on Jazz Standard stage hails the return of the electrifying Michael Leonhart Orchestra (MLO). The program was The Blue Note Records Suite Part 2 featuring the compositions of Kenny Dorham, Eric Dolphy, John Scofield, Bobby Hutcherson, and others. This genrecrossing 15piece ensemble features players from such name aggregations as the DapKings, the Mingus Big Band, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and the Tonight Show band (The Roots),


Rite of Summer Music Festival: Brooklyn Raga Massive
Terry Riley composed the iconic work In C in 1964 and the piece, first performed with a group including Steve Reich and Pauline Oliveros is often credited with creating the genre of minimalism. Riley was influenced by Indian Classical music and later studied deeply initially under the guidance of Pandit Pran Nath. Brooklyn Raga Massive, “Leaders of the Raga Renaissance,” (The New Yorker) are an artist collective that share a love of Indian Classical music, and have made big w


Nakshatra Quartet: Carnatic-Inspired Chamber Ensemble at Drive East Festival
I was honored to perform with Nakshatra at Drive East Festival in New York. Led by violinists Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy, Nakshatra reimagines the potential of string Chamber Music for our global times. The group explores beauty found at the intersections of their musical paths, where original compositions weave together threads of South Indian classical, Western chamber music, jazz and creative improvisation. We were joined by Dan Kurfirst on percussion for a diverse s


Brooklyn Raga Massive Presents Hindustani Solo Cello at Jalopy Theatre and School of Music
I had a blast performing a set of solo hindustani music with my friend and tabla virtuoso Mir Naqibul Islam as the featured artist on one of Brooklyn Raga Massive's weekly events . I included raga Durga, a thumri in raag Mishra Kafi, two compositions from Natya Sangeet and concluded with Raag Bhairavi. PROGRAM - 'Raga Durga' A Bandesh in Japtaal and a faster one in Teentall- This raga is associated with the Hindu goddess Durga. Traditionally, the time for this raga is late