United Nations of Indian Classical Music

On Monday 21st December I had a concert which I organised with the assistance of Kashika Music Ashram, principally so that Canadian tabla player Shawn Mativetsky and I could see each other playing. With participants from Japan, Canada, Australia and India we entitled the event "United Nations of Indian Classical Music". Held in a simple room in a lane just off Bengali Tola, the venue was quite small - capacity around 40 - and by the time Shawn was presenting his tabla solo the room was packed and half the audience were watching through the doors from the lane outside. Chhote Lal Chaurasia of Kashika Music Ashram has plans to organise a large-scale, well-sponsored concert featuring foreign ICM artists, so this was a highly successful first step in test-marketing the concept. Good on us!

A few days before the show we did a newspaper interview and publicity shoot.
L to R: Shen Flindell (tabla) , Yuki Taniguchi (mantra) , Yasuhiro Minamizawa (sitar) , Shawn Mativetsky (tabla)

Yuki opened the night with a selection of Sanskrit mantras from her extensive repertoire, creating a serene atmosphere for the appreciation of Indian Classical Music.

Shawn performing tabla solo accompanied by Aneesh Mishra (sarangi). It was a very enjoyable performance featuring very typical Benares Gharana Sahai-baj compositions.

Pooran Maharaj (son of Late Pt Kishan Maharaj) made good on his promise to come, adding to the excitement and complimenting Shawn profusely.

Minamizawa-san (sitar) and I performed Raga Puriya Kalyan, as we did at Guru-ji's Memorial Concert in 2006.

All the gang after the show - thanks for a great night!

You can read Shawn's report on this concert in his blog post Benares Chronicles, Part 3 - The United Nations of Indian Classical Music. Many thanks to him for the comment "Shen played an uthaan that I would describe as being 'deep'. His time-feel is right on, and his baya playing is very smooth and melodic; a very sweet sound overall."

日本語で、ユキちゃんのブログポスト、「United Nations of Indian Classical Music」。