Here’s an excerpt of this gorgeous piece that I commissioned by Akshaya Avril Tucker and premiered last Sunday at the Brattleboro Music Center - in my hometown! Akshaya crafted this piece with me in mind, using the open tuning I use for Indian music and leaving space for improvisation and ornamentation. While the piece makes use of the fluidity of Indian techniques, its subject is more personal. This is what Akshaya wrote about this music: Asleep, with waves of rest and rest

This bandish in Raag Darbari has several versions with different lyrics which express devotion, both Hindu and Muslim. Whatever the lyrics, the mood is Darbari; somber, majestic, profound, and noble. Living musical traditions transform and evolve, absorbing new elements along the way. My guru, Dr. N. Rajam, was already a virtuoso in her native Carnatic tradition by the time she traveled from Chennai to Benares to learn N. Indian music from her guru, Omkarnath Thakur when she

I performed a solo show in the Owl Music Parlour part of the Open Grounds Series. I have always advocate for programming new music for solo cello in recital alongside Hindustani music. I'm grateful for the opportunity to present this work. For the set of solo hindustani music my friend and tabla player Mir Naqibul Islam accompany me. PROGRAM - ' Poetic Moments' composed by Adam Rudolph, which is partially improvised and was designed to smoothly segue into Indian classical mu

This one was a once a lifetime experience. I performed a brand new concerto by my dad back home in Brattleboro VT. My worlds came together, playing with a top notch chamber orchestra in my hometown for an audience of people who I mostly have known since childhood, conducted by my first cello teacher, Zon Eastes, improvising a cadenza using the language of Hindustani music that I have immersed myself in. I am so grateful. PROGRAM J/J

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

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

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

Veronica Simas de Souza and I spent a week in Montréal rehearsing with Ziya Tabassian, an old friend from Montréal and India, and young master of Persian percussion. We explored the intersection of Hindustani and Persian music and dance (with a slight Arabic detour as well). The show, 'Golestan' was presented in the beautiful hall of Jeunesses Musicales. Couldn't have asked for a sweeter venue, and we were extra lucky to have my guru's daughter Dr. Sangeeta Shankar in atten

Arun Ramamurthy curated this month of collaborative trios at Brooklyn Raga Massive. This new group is his brainchild and what incredible musicians to work with! This has been one of the more exciting collaborations I've been a part of in years and a real antidote to all the cheesy fusion I've had to do in India. So fresh to approach Indian music as a vehicle for contemporary expression, still giving respect to the tradition. https://www.facebook.com/events/1021326028256414

Once again giving accompaniment for the incomparable Veronica Simas de Souza. This time at Marlboro College with Mike Lukshis providing a brilliant tabla accompaniment. So cool to present Indian music with such sincere practitioners. None of us were brought up in the tradition, but all of us fell in love with it, and have pursued it seriously and with dedication. It's also always special for me personally to bring this art form to the place where I grew up. Performance Jo