Cello Concert at The Owl Music Parlor
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
Juno Orchestra: Family Connections
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
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
Golestan at Festival Accès Asie, Montréal
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
Collaborative Trio at BRM
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
Kathak @ Marlboro College
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
Holi! Kathak celebration in VT
I had the privilege of performing alongside my partner in crime and ultra-talented kathak danseuse, Veronica Simas de Souza, bringing Indian dance, music, and culture to my hometown of Brattleboro VT for the benefit of Planned Parenthood. It was an incredible evening of music, dance, color, and joy. Holi is the Indian festival of colors which is celebrated on March 21st this year. It is a celebration of the arrival of spring, fertility, color, love, and the triumph of good o
Orakel at Brooklyn Raga Massive
Sweet performance the other night with Roshni Samlal and Kane Mathis at Brooklyn Raga Massive as a guest artist along with Utsav Lal. Roshni Samlal, in her duo project Orakel with Kane Mathis, brings together multiple, tangential musical circles, in an expansive project incorporating traditional and experimental works. The set will include both original and emblematic song forms of the West African jeli repertoire, classical Turkish oud (Kane Mathis), recontextualized tabla s
