Eric Fraser performs on bansuri with Meghashyam Keshav (tabla) from 6-7am on the Ragas Live Festival 2014.

Meghashyam Keshav peforms a tabla solo with Harmonium accompaniment from Andrew Shantz from 5-6am on the Ragas Live Festival 2014.

Jim Palmer on Sarod and Shivalik Ghoshal tabla perform from 4-5am on the Ragas Live Festival.

Max ZT on hammered dulcimer and Karsh Kale on tabla perfom at 2-3am on Ragas Live Festival 2014

Ragas Live Festival 2014 # 2 Anupam Shobhakar - Sarod and Dan Weiss - Tabla perform Raga Hemant. Anupam Shobhakar, is an Indian musician, composer, instrumentalist, record producer, and classically trained sarodist currently living in Brooklyn, New York. He has released three World Fusion albums, and one classical Indian music album. He has performed live around the world at various venues and for charitable causes. Shobhakar's track "Water" made it to the first round of the Grammy Awards. Shobhakar met Ustad Aashish Khan briefly when he came to do a concert in Bombay and stayed at Shobhakar's apartment. Shobhakar states that he was "blown away by Khan's command over the Sarode," and has been studying with him ever since. Shobhakar lists Khan, and his father, Ustad Allaudin Khan (guru to Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan), as his main playing style influences: "Slightly aggressive in approach, but never at the cost of the melodic charm." Shobhakar was recognized for his talents as an Indian Classical Music performer by the Priyadarshni Academy, who awarded him the Best Young Artist Award. Shobhakar's current focus is World Fusion and Jazz Fusion.

Ragas Live Festival 2014 # 1 Raga Bagashree: Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury (Sitar)  Naren Budhkar (Tabla)

A real thrill: One of the most legendary musicians of Morocco, Hassan Hakmoun stopped by WKCR to give a sneak peak of his new album, Spirit, and performed live with Said Damir. As a master musician  whose vision and contributions have enabled a unique fusion and blending of traditions, cultures and genres in a world of ever-expanding global communication and exchange,  his work maintains its profound and enormous capacity to joyously inspire and heal the individuals and communities it reaches, as Hakmoun undoubtedly remains  a commanding and intriguing artist in the world music scene. Hakmoun'’s musical origins are rooted in the African folk music of the Islamic Gnawa sect, descendants from West African slaves brought to North Africa several hundred years ago.  Their music combines complicated West African syncopations with long, sinuous North African melodies. Tracing their roots back to the Bilal, a freed slave known for his beautiful voice and believed to have been chosen by the Islamic prophet Mohammed to serve as the first muezzin to call the people of the faith to their prayers, Gnawa musicians often express their religious devotion through their music, using it to enter into spiritual trance states. Since moving to the US in 1987 his music has absorbed elements from a variety of popular styles, from jazz and "world music" to neo-classical contemporary Western music and cerebral pop, resulting in a diverse, award-winning and critically acclaimed body of work. It’s been 26 years since the talented vocalist and sintir player released Gift of the Gnawa. yet the time has been spent well. Hakmoun’s latest album, ‘Unity’ is the finest example of ritual music combined with the heart of American rock, soul and blues ever recorded.

With super-ambitious arrangements and grooves from all corners of the globe, Numasbala brings a joyous, fun, freedom-loving spirit to the dancefloor. Fabio Montenegro - Bass / Voice (Colombia), Felipe Piedrahita - Guitar / voice (Colombia) and Javier Samayoa - Hammond B3 / Keys / voice (Guatemala) joined me at WKCR.

The world of music has just lost the Gentle Giant, Yusef Lateef.  WKCR will celebrate his life by playing his music for 33 hours from the stroke of midnight as January 1, 2014.  His bravery and expansive musical vision is unmatched.  I was lucky enough to interview Dr. Lateef in March of 2013, his longtime collaborator Adam Rudolph joined the conversation.    

  Clarinetist  Shankar Tucker performs with an all-star band of Rajna Swaminathan (mridangam), Michael Gam (bass), Max ZT (hammered dulcimer) and Jomy George (tabla),  and for the 2013 Ragas Live Festival. Shankar composed several of the pieces here for this Ragas Live broadcast and Michael Gam contributed a composition as well.  This was the first time this incredible ensemble performed together. Shankar Tucker is most widely known through his youtube channel the ShrutiBox, an ongoing series of internet music videos composed, recorded, performed and directed by the young clarinetist and composer.  The videos have created great excitement over the past year, garnering over 12 million views and a combined 100,000 fans. The series has been featured on the front page of YouTube, MTV India, and has recently been included in the Smithsonian Museum’s exhibition on Indian American Culture. As a clarinetist, Shankar has shared the stage with such legendary artists as Zakir Hussain, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Raghu Dixit and recorded with music director Amit Trivedi for MTV’s Coke Studio. Shankar’s ensemble has had the distinction of performing at the White House Diwali function of 2012, hosted by Vice President Joe Biden. Shankar blends Classical Indian music, jazz and popular music to create a unique and original fusion sound, both in solo recordings and with some of the most talented and accomplished young Carnatic and Hindustani vocalists and instrumentalists, including Vidya and Vandana Iyer, Nirali Kartik, Mahesh Vinayakram, B. Sree Sundarkumar, and others. Shankar himself plays a wide range of instruments in his recordings: piano, bass, kanjira, tabla, and other percussion instruments. The videos feature his own compositions, and his arrangements of traditional and classical songs, film and popular music, in Hindi, Tamil and English. Shankar’s videos are featured on the front page of YouTube and the MTV show, “Roots”, and in articles in The Indian Express, The Hindustan Times, and notably in The Hindu – “everything about this young American screams fusion, beginning with his name…” Shankar was in fact the name given him as a young child by “Amma” – the spiritual leader and renowned humanitarian Mata Amrityanandamayi Devi on her US tour, and he has gone by it ever since. He started to learn classical clarinet at age 10, and earned a scholarship to the New England Conservatory from an appearance on “From the Top”, the nationally syndicated youth radio show. He became deeply interested in improvisation, both in jazz and classical Indian music, while he continued to study and perform Western classical music at such venues as Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall in Boston. At the Conservatory he studied with Tom Martin of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, while the sitar player Peter Row taught him the fundamentals of Indian classical performance. More than anything else, Shankar wanted to study classical Indian music at its source in India, and on graduating from the Conservatory he was awarded a grant by the Frank Huntingdon Beebe Fund to pursue his ambition to adapt the clarinet to Indian classical performance. He was accepted as a student by the world famous Hindustani flute player Hariprasad Chaurasia at his Gurukul in Mumbai in the summer of 2010. Shankar describes this experience as “nothing short of life-changing” and that his “musical standpoint has completely shifted. Instead of thinking Western notation and chords or counting to 8 or 16, I think teentaal or aadhi taalam .” While in India he had the opportunity to perform Hindustani classical music on clarinet on stage with such legendary artists as Zakir Hussein and Hariprasad Chaurasia, and to record for MTV’s premier music platform, Coke Studio. Shankar has also performed with other leading musicians at major venues in Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, and has been invited to perform on Indian MTV, and at upcoming festivals throughout India,

Though this show has always been exclusively music, this topic is so timely I thought it worthwhile to spread the word.   Currently the fate of the Indian Point nuclear power plant hinges on whether the government grants them a 20 year license renewal and the state is holding public hearings.  In this jaw-dropping interview, Susan Hito-Shapiro of the Radiation and Public Health Project tells us of the conditions at Indian Point where 1,500 tons of radioactive waste are stored 22 miles from midtown. If you are moved to take action, as I was, after hearing her, there are links here and at www.riverkeeper.org.

"Genius is a word too often tossed around in musical circles, but it has been applied rightfully to Stanley Jordan, the guitar virtuoso." -Leonard Feather   It was a thrill to have one of the world's most inventive guitarists visit us at WKCR.   Stanley Jordan, hosting the musician show, performs here live, solo, and with the good friend of NYC Radio Live, Abdoulaye Alhassane Tourre (Check podcast 49 for more Live Abdoulaye Alhassane.) Stanley's original style of two handed tapping, the touch technique, allows him to play the guitar with the freedom of a keyboardist.  The voices are so independent on his instrument that on record it is almost hard to believe that the music is coming from one person  (See the video below!).   A four time-Grammy nominee, Jordan's album Magic Touch was #1 on Billboard's jazz chart for 51 weeks, setting a new record.  He has toured in over 60 countries and now focuses much of his attention to the direct healing power of music: music therapy.  

  A musician her whole life, Camila Celin began playing guitar at age 9.   For the last 5 years she has been intensely studying the Indian Sarod.  In Kolkata she learns from sarod player Sougata Roy Choudhury, and in New York she learns from sitar maestro Pandit Krishna Bhatt.   In 2009 she was nominated for a Grammy for best world music album in a collaboration with slide guitar maestro Debashish Bhattacharya and has been a very active performer in her native Colombia, the US and in India.   She has composed music for several films, theater, as well as commercials and currently lives between New York and Kolkata, India. Ehren Hanson has been playing tabla for over 17 years.   A disciple of the great Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, he is an active performer as both a soloist and an accompanist.  His recent review in the "Times of India," Kolkata called his solo performace "enthralling." Together, the couple have founded the Anindo Chatterjee School of Tabla in New York, where they host some of the greatest maestros of our time, hosting classes, workshops, and concerts.   Their performance is celebrated for its intimacy with the deep and fated connection between them felt in every beat.

  Krishna Bhatt and Anindo Chatterjee, two of the premier musicians on their instruments, performed Raga Darbari Kanada from 9-10pm on the 24 hour 2013 Ragas Live Festival.  The video of the live broadcast was filmed and edited by Bernhard Fasenfest, and audio was mixed by Ahmet Ali Arslan. To study with either of these giants of music check out Krishna Bhatt's school  and Anindo Chatterjee's school.

Samarth Nagakar, Anirban Roy Chowdhury and Indradeep Ghosh performed from 4-5pm on the 2013 Ragas Live Festival. Samarth Nagarkar is described by critics as one of today’s foremost torchbearers of Indian classical vocal traditions. He is known for his eclectic, captivating performances rendered within a traditionally rich approach towards raga exposition and gayaki. After graduating as a Grade-A scholar of the prestigious ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, Samarth currently divides his time between India and the US pursuing an active music career as a leading performer, composer, teacher and author Indradeep Ghosh: One of the most talented young Violinist of India & a torch bearer of Seni – Maihar gharana, Indradeep was initiated in the art of playing Violin at his tender age of six under the able guidance of Sri Anamitra Mustafi. From the year 1991, he is under the tutelage of Prof. Smt. Sisirkana Dhar Chowdhury. He has also the privilege of getting occasional talim from other maestros of Indian Classical Music like Pt. V.G.Jog and Pt. Kumar Bose. Apart from Indian Classical Music, Indradeep has the fondness toward the Western Classical Music too, and he has received his western lessons from late Sri Samir Sil. Along the years, Indradeep has participated in several music festivals and concerts of India and abroad like – Asia Festival in Barcelona, Memorial Concert for Chile in Koln, Biswa Banga Sammelan, Baba Allauddin Memorial Festival, Salt Lake Music Festival, Prativa Utsav organised by EZCC, Dover Lane Music Festival, Kal Ke Kalakar Sangeet Sammelan Mumbai, Kala Prakash Varanasi, Kashi sangeet Samaj, Cultural Exchange Programme organised by Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan in Chennai, IIT Delhi, Delhi Cant.etc and has also performed extensively in USA and several European Countries like Germany, France, Austria, Luxemburg, Spain, Denmark, Netherland etc. Moreover he has participated as a guest violin player in “Evening Live Show” & “Subha Savere” from Doordarshan Kendra New Delhi and is a regular performer from All India Radio Kolkata. He is also associated with several top grade fusion music bands like “Rhythmscape” of percussionist Bikram Ghosh and “Karma” of Subhen Chatterjee. He has composed theme music for the Kolkata Children’s Book Fair 2008. He has to his credit many Classical and Fusion Music albums. The major among them is “Flames – The passion of Indian Raga”, where he has been accompanied on tabla by Pandit Kumar Bose. Anirban Roy Chowdhury born in a musical family in Assam is a young promising tabla player, both as a soloist as well as an accompanist. Anirban's training in tabla started at a very young age of 5 years from his father Akhil Roy Chowdhury and afterwards from his elder brother Animesh Roy Chowdhury. In the year 1995, Anirban arrived in mumbai and had the privilege of getting direct training from the great tabla Maestro Ustad Allarakha Khan for a period of 7 years. Later on, he continued his training under Ustad Zakir Hussain & Pandit Yogesh Samsi, one of the senior most disciples of Ustad Allarakha Khan. He has had the privilege of tabla accompaniment with musicians like Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas, Ghulam Ali, Rakesh Chaurasia, Rupak Kulkarni, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini,Pandit Arvind Parekh, Pandit Dhruv Ghosh, Pandit Pradeep Barot, Smt. Konkana Banerjee, legendary flute Maestro Pandit Hariprasdhad Chaurasia, Ken Zukerman, pandit Tejemdra narayan Majumder & Grammy Award Winning Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.. Anirban is currently a faculty member at the Academy Of Indian Music (AIM) South Plainfield New Jersey and has been regularly composing rhythms for famous Bollywood composer Jatin- Lalit.

Michael Braudy and Roger Lipson with Roshni Thomson plus Ravi Rao on sitar with Roshni Thomson 3-4pm on the Ragas Live Festival #17 Michael Braudy is a violinist who specializes in Western classical and Celtic music and the music of India.  A versatile improviser, he collaborates with poets, storytellers, dancers, theatre and mime, and performs in the US and abroad.  He has also explored the effects of music on health, and teaches workshops worldwide on sound and meditation.  His recordings include Awakening Peace, Vriddhi, Sumanas, Celtic Afternoon and From the Ganga to the Tay. Roger Lipson  Roger has played the classical music of India since 1988, and he has toured all over the country. He trained on the sitar under Pandit Krishna Mohan Bhatt of Jaipur, India, and master musician Frank Menusan of New York City. Roger also plays the shehnai (sometimes described as the Indian oboe), an historic instrument which is featured in Indian weddings and temple ceremonies. For the shehnai, Roger studied with Pandit Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, including an intensive residency in Benares, India. As a classical Indian musician on sitar and shehnai, Roger can be heard playing sitar on The Easy Star All Stars’ #1 Billboard recording of “Lonely Hearts Dub Band” and The Cringe’s “Tipping Point”. He was a consultant to the Weinstein Company to get the Indian oboe (shehnai) into the movie Our Idiot Brother (directed by Jesse Peretz. Roger’s sitar can also be heard in other collaborations: on recent albums “The Tipping Point” by The Cringe, and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band” by The Easy Star All Stars, as well as on the Nova episode “Saved by the Sun” for PBS.     Ravi Rao studied with Krishna Bhatt and Shahid Parvez amongst many other top players and dedicated his performance or Raga Madhuvanti to his late father. Roshni Thompson is a NY based tabla player who hails from the West Indies, where she was initiated into the ancient tradition of indian classical music by her vocalist father. She has continued her tutelage in the Benares style of tabla playing under Shri Tapan Modak and is currently a student of the epic Farukhbad exponent, Pt. Anindo Chatterjee. While her passion is Indian classical tabla, she has played in folk, jazz and multi-genre modalities. Roshni has performed at notable local venues such as Pianos, Knitting Factory, The Bitter End, The Shrine and Tea Lounge.        

  Suphala performed a tabla solo accompianied by Andrew Shantz on Harmonium from 2-3pm on the 24 hour  Ragas Live Festival on WKCR. Suphala is one of the most versatile young tabla artists making music today. Raised in the U.S. by Indian parents, Suphala began learning western classical music on the piano at age four, performing at age five, and as a teenager transferred her passion to one of the world’s most complex percussion instruments: the tabla. She combines an unparalleled technical command of her instrument with a playful sense of experimentation as she switches effortlessly between composing, producing and performing. Suphala is a protégé of the great tabla masters Ustad Allarakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain, whose constant inspiration compels her not only to dedicate herself to the study of Indian classical music but also to extend the reach of the tabla into an ever-growing variety of musical genres and cultural contexts. Her fluency in a diversity of musical traditions informs her unique compositions and her highly improvisational performances. The three albums she has released to date – Instru Mental (2000), The Now (2005) and Blueprint (2007) – go beyond the limits of genre and style while referencing such diverse influences as Western classical, Indian classical, jazz, folk and soul. But it’s not just her original music that is groundbreaking, her concerts provide an inspiring case-study in cultural diplomacy: she made history in early 2005 when she traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan as the first musician to play in public since the fall of the Taliban. According to The New York Times, “Kabul’s badly depleted music scene received a welcome injection of excitement last week. [Her] arrival… caused a sensation in the war-torn country. ‘I have not played with a woman before,’ one Afghan tabla master said. ‘Our grandfathers do not even know of it.’” Collaboration is one of the touchstones of her prodigious musical output: the musicians she has recorded or performed with include Norah Jones, Perry Farrell, Edie Brickell, Vernon Reid, Timbaland, Sean Lennon, 4Hero, Harper Simon, Yoko Ono, Vijay Iyer, Joan Osbourne, and Michael Bland among others. Many of these artists have sought Suphala out to lend her talents to tours, her songwriting skills to specific tracks or her producing prowess to recordings. The artistic alliances Suphala forms — including ensembles with vocals, strings, woodwinds, reeds and percussion — are an integral part of her innovative approach to making music.

  Shiv Subramaniam, Carnatic Vocal;  A.R. Balaskandan, mridangam;  Radhika Mani, violin performed Carnatic music from 10-11am on WKCR's Ragas Live Festival. Shiv Subramaniam is a Carnatic vocalist who has performed regularly in Chennai's December music festival since 2007. He has been a disciple of P.S. Narayanaswamy since 2001 and received early training from Vani Sateesh and his grandmother Lakshmi Balasubramaniam. Shiv is currently based in New York, pursuing graduate studies in Sanskrit literature at Columbia University.

2 days shy of turning 9 years old, Vivek Pandya performed this incredible tabla solo accompianied by Kalpit Pandya on harmonium  from 1-2pm on the Ragas Live Festival at WKCR 89.9 FM-NY.   Vivek Pandya is disciple of Pt Anindo Chatterjee and the 1st place winner of the Swaradhara competition held on 23rd Feb 2013.  An interview revealed that he was excited for the end of school. Interview by Sophie Rubashkin. Engineered by David Ellenbogen

Eric Fraser on Bansuri and Naren Budhkar on tabla performed noon-1pm on the 2013 Ragas Live Festival. Eric Fraser is a disciple of Pandit Gopal Roy of Kolkata, India, a leading exponent of the Padmabhushan Pannalal Ghosh and Pandit Gour Goswami lineage. Eric's “gayaki ang”or vocal approach to the bansuri flute is unique and rare, deep and sincere. Merging a healing breath with craft and musicality, Eric brings an exciting, meditative and moving performance. While at home in New York, Eric continues to perfect his art under the guidance of master musician Steve Gorn, a bansuri player from the same "Gharana" (lineage). Eric regularly performs Indian classical music on the bamboo flute in India and the USA, including much collaboration as an accompanist for dance and theatre. He has made contributions with his bansuri to music ranging from Hip Hop to children's music. Besides flute, Eric Fraser is a music therapist (MA-BC), freelance teaching artist and singer/songwriter.  Check out his new album of lullabies,  Raga Bye Baby . Naren Budhakar was born in Pune, India, and was first exposed to classical music by his father who was a violinist. From his cousin Shashikant Purandare he learned Delhi style percussion and began performing at a young age. He was initiated as a disciple by Tabla Maestro Ustad Shabbir Nisar. Naren has been performing and teaching both in the U.S. and abroad, lending his percussion skills to various forms of world music. He is on the faculty of the East-West School of Music, where he teaches Tabla classes and performs regularly.  

Rajeswari Satish, vocals; Radhika Mani, violin; A.R. Balaskandan, mridangam; Arthi Suresh vocals for the 11am-noon performance on the 2013 Ragas Live Festival.  Rajeswari opened with  Raga Hamsadhwani and Puri Kalyan then most deeply explored Raga Vasantha As a performer of South Indian Classical (Carnatic) vocal music, Rajeswari strives to balance both tradition and trend. As a teacher, she strives to impart this art form in all its purity to her students , but with a modern approach. Rajeswari was introduced to music at early childhood by her mother Vijayam Ranganathan, who is a vainika. She began her formal music education at the age of seven, under the caring and nurturing tutelage of Prof. Sri M.A. Venugopal. In three years, Rajeswari won the Government of India National Talent Search Scholarship and pursued thirteen years of advanced training with the renowned teacher and scholar, Sangeetakalacharya Sri C.S. Krishna Iyer. At present, she continues to receive guidance from Padmabhushan Sri P. S. Narayanaswamy. Rajeswari had the opportunity to learn new repertoire with renowned musicians Sangeetakalacharya Sri Chingleput Ranganathan and Sangeetakalanidhi Smt. R. Vedavalli on various occasions. Rajeswari has performed extensively in India, USA and the UK. Notable among the venues are All India Radio, December music festival (Chennai, India), Cleveland St. Tyagaraja Aradhana, Milapfest (UK). Rajeswari's approach to music is based on the soul of the raga, with bhava and sahitya given utmost priority. She has received critical acclaim for her variety of repertoire and sensitive approach to rendering kritis. Her training with eminent teachers, coupled with a sincere and dedicated approach , has molded Rajeswari into a capable and sought after teacher. At present, she resides in NJ, USA, where she teaches a select group of students.Many of her students have won top awards in prestigious competitions, and are upcoming concert artists.

  The stellar vocalist Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik  performed with Indradeep Ghosh on violin and  Samir Chatterjee tabla from 10-11am on the 24 hour Ragas Live Festival. Engineered by Ahmet Ali Arslan Mitali Banerjee Bhawmik, an artiste of Hindustani Classical vocal music, was born in Nogaon, Assan, where she started her initial lessons in music at a very early age from Sri Ajit Dutta.  Later she had the privilege of receiving extensive training in the different styles of Hindustani Classical vocal music from Sri Biren Phukan in Guahati, Assam.  For further training, Mitali came to Calcutta in 1983 where she initially received lessons from Srimati Meera Banerjee, the noted vocalist.  Since 1984 Mitali is under the tutelage of Padmabhushan Pandit V. G. Jog the famous violin maestro. Pandit Jog's vast and extensive experience in the different musical styles and traditions have helped Mitali to blend the best of few styles (Gharanas) in her music in contrast to sticking to a single traditional Gharana style.  This has been the essence of Pandit Jog's philosophy in music and training methodology.Mitali also received training in semi-classical (thumri, dadra, hori etc) music from Smt. Dahlia Rahut, a senior disciple of Smt. Girija Devi. Mitali has performed in several concerts both in India and USA.  To name a few, in USA, she has performed at the Ali Akbar College of Music in California, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Yale University in Connecticut, Princeton University, Rutgers University in New Jersey, Chhandayan All Night Concert,  other universities in US and also at several locations in New York and New Jersey area. In India Mitali has performed at the Sangeet Research Academy, Salt Lake Music Festival, Bhawanipur Sangeet Samaj, Dover Lane Music Conference periodicals, Calcutta School of Music, World Bengali Conference, SPIC-MACAY concerts, West Bengal State Music conference in Kolkata, Delhi habitat center, IIC Delhi, NCPA Mumbai, Varanasi, Rajkot & Surat & several others. She has also performed at the Nehru Centre and Stratford in London UK. Her melodious voice and perfect rendition of the "raga's" have won her numerous acclaims and appreciation from the listeners.  Besides Khayals, Mitali also specializes in semi-classical music like Thumris and Bhajans. Mitali has a few CDs, one of them is “Vandana”, where her Guru Pandit V. G. Jog has accompanied her on the violin. She has another album, named “Rasiya” where she has been accompanied by Pt Ramesh Mishra on Sarengi and Pt Samir Chatterjee on tabla. Mitali is the director of Ethnomedia Music Studio where she teaches Hindustani Classical Music to several students in the area.  Mitali along with her students has won the prestigious New Jersey Council of the Arts grant for four years. Indradeep Ghosh: One of the most talented young Violinist of India & a torch bearer of Seni – Maihar gharana, Indradeep was initiated in the art of playing Violin at his tender age of six under the able guidance of Sri Anamitra Mustafi. From the year 1991, he is under the tutelage of Prof. Smt. Sisirkana Dhar Chowdhury. He has also the privilege of getting occasional talim from other maestros of Indian Classical Music like Pt. V.G.Jog and Pt. Kumar Bose. Apart from Indian Classical Music, Indradeep has the fondness toward the Western Classical Music too, and he has received his western lessons from late Sri Samir Sil. He is born with gifted talent of creativity and having such a strong guiding line-up, his performance has naturally became sweet, soothing, fascinating yet thrilling and is full of creative intelligence, excellent bowing technique and melody. His style of playing is a blend of ‘gayki’ and ‘tantrakari’ ang. His fortes are ‘taan’ and ‘jhala’ Along the years, Indradeep has participated in several music festivals and concerts of India and abroad like – Asia Festival in Barcelona, Memorial Concert for Chile in Koln, Biswa Banga Sammelan,

Roger Lipson performed raga Malkauns on Shenai and Saraswati on Sitar, with Stephen Celluci on Tabla and Andrew Shantz on harmonium from 8am-9am on the Ragas Live Festival 2013 Roger Lipson is currently playing bass (he’s also on sitar, vocals) with The Truants, a New York City band specializing in early garage and British Invasion rock, blues, and soul, and he also makes regular guest appearances with other musical groups. Roger has played alongside Shawn Pelton, Glen Burtnik, Larry Russell, John Korba, Dan Weiss, The Easy Star All Stars and many others. His performances include such well respected venues as the Lincoln Center Out of Doors Festival, Symphony Space, Joe’s Pub, World Live Café in Philadelphia, the Count Basie Theater and State Theater of New Jersey, and others around the country.  He was recently named aHofner Artist as an electric bass player. Roger has played the classical music of India since 1988, and he has toured all over the country. He trained on the sitar under Pandit Krishna Mohan Bhatt of Jaipur, India, and master musician Frank Menusan of New York City. Roger also plays the shehnai (sometimes described as the Indian oboe), an historic instrument which is featured in Indian weddings and temple ceremonies. For the shehnai, Roger studied with Pandit Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, including an intensive residency in Benares, India. As a classical Indian musician on sitar and shehnai, Roger can be heard playing sitar on The Easy Star All Stars’ #1 Billboard recording of “Lonely Hearts Dub Band” and The Cringe’s “Tipping Point”. He was a consultant to the Weinstein Company to get the Indian oboe (shehnai) into the movie Our Idiot Brother (directed by Jesse Peretz. Roger's sitar can also be heard in other collaborations: on recent albums “The Tipping Point” by The Cringe, and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band” by The Easy Star All Stars, as well as on the Nova episode “Saved by the Sun” for PBS. Stephen Cellucci has studied tabla under the guidance of Pdt. Samir Chatterjee since 2000. He was initiated as a disciple of his Guruji in 2005 and has shared the stage with him several times since. He performed at the well-known Chhandayan All Night Concert of Indian Music in New York City in 2004 and 2009. He also has extensive experience playing with kirtans and accompanying dance -- both traditional Indian kathak and western modern forms. Stephen's background in western classical music and piano complement his ongoing, rigorous study of Indian music. His scope of musical influences gives him the versatility to adapt the tabla to most any musical need. He resides, teaches, and plays in New York City. Contact him at [email protected]. Andrew Shantz  is an emerging keyboard improviser, vocalist and composer with a background in Jazz and an appetite for musical exploration. Since graduating from William Paterson University in 2003 with a B.M. in Jazz Studies Andrew has continued to develop his musical skill and vocabulary and in 2006 began studies of Hindustani classical music in Kolkata, India with Pandit Samar Saha and Shrimati Madhumita Saha. This year Andrew debuted his group Colors of Tarab at Alwan for the Arts in a concert featuring traditional pieces and original compositions combining elements of Indian and Arabic music and Jazz improvisation.

Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury, Sitar; and Ehren Hanson, Tabla  performed the raga Nat Bhairav at the Ragas Live Festival 2013 at 7am for the Ragas Live Festival. Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury is a disciple of the sitar maestro Pandit Subroto Roy-Chowdhury.  Groomed in the Veen-kar style of the Senia Gharana, which maintains the Dhrupadi origins of Indian Classical music, Indrajit strives to innovate while keeping a firm connection with the past.  While completing his undergraduate studies at Duke University, Indrajit received the Bennenson Award for the Arts to further his study of Indian Classical music.  Since then he has taken the profession of a full-time sitarist and has performed on stages across the world including such prestigious venues as Gyan Mancha (Kolkata), Hammerstein Ballroom (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.) and has had his concerts telecast by Doordarshan (Indian National Television).  During the 2010 Fall semester Indrajit was a visiting faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and taught the University's sitar course. Ehren Hanson began learning tabla when he was 15 years old under Misha Masud of New York City. In 2000, he was accepted as a disciple by the great Pandit Anindo Chatterjee and has developed into an exciting performer and a dynamic teacher. Ehren then went on to teach rhythm as an assistant professor at Bard College in 2002 and in 2005 he received the prestigious Senior Performing Arts Fellowship from the American Institute of Indian Studies. He has had the honor of accompanying great musicians such as Pandit Debi Prasad Chatterjee, Pandit Subrata Roy Chaudhuri, Steve Gorn, and others. In 2012, The Time of India described his tabla solo performance as "enthralling." Ehren currently lives in New York where he is an active performer and teacher. He is also the director of the Anindo Chatterjee School of Tabla.  

 Mithun Radhakrishna (mandolin) and A.R. Balaskandan (mridangam) treated the WKCR Ragas Live Audience to Carnatic ragas from 6am-7am They performed 1) Raga Bhairavi - Viriboni, 2) Raga Kanakangi - Sri Gananatham 3) Raga Mohanam Kapali and finally, 4) Raga Sindhu Bhairavi - Srujana Mithun has been playing the Mandolin since the age of 10.Inspired and initiated to the instrument by the pioneer of Carnatic mandolin, Mandolin Srinivas, Mithun began performing at the age of 15. Mithun has undergone rigorous training under Vid Sri Prasanna Kumar and from renowned violinist Vid Sri TKV Ramanujacharyulu with whom he is still learning. Mithun has performed throughout India under various platforms and also been performing in New York since 2009.   A.R. Balaskandan is a performer, teacher and composer in Carnatic Violin and South Indian Percussion (Mridangam, Kanjira and Konnakkol). As a Mridangist, he belongs to the school of Sruthilaya of Sri Karaikudi R. Mani of Chennai, where he has received advanced training from Guru Karaikudi Mani. As a Carnatic Violinist, he initially trained under Sri Sarweswara Sarma and obtained his Teaching Diploma. He has been under the guidance of Smt. T. Rukmini of Chennai since 2000. He has also received advanced training in Carnatic Vocal from Sri Seethrama Sharma and in general Percussion Techniques from Prof. T. V. Gopalakrishnan Balaskandan has accompanied established international artists such as Sri O. S. Thyagarajan, Prof. T. V. Gopalakrishnan, Sri T. K. Govinda Rao, the Carnatica Brothers, the Bombay Sisters, Smt. Sankari Krishnan and others. He has also accompanied senior Bhratanatyma dancers from both India and the US. He has been performing for over 20 years in prestigious venues around the world including India, Europe and North America. Performance credits include the Lincoln Center, NY, the Lighthouse International Theatre in NY and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. He also has several large music and dance productions to his credit, including "Urban Kutcheri," which premiered at the Joyce/SoHo in June 2006, “Pallavi: Exchange of Ideas between Western and Indian Classical Traditions over the Century” presented in London, “Innovation and Inspiration: A Rhythmic Project to Encourage Creativity Among Young Musicians” in London, as well as the dance dramas “Mother Theresa” and “Kastur Bhai” in Canada. He is a featured musician on several music recordings. He is also a recognized composer of rhythmic segments, known as Jathis, in Carnatic music. He is the founder and lead artist of “Akshara,” a percussion based orchestra. Balaskandan has worked in the development of organizations promoting South Indian music and dance in Canada and in the UK. He co-founded SIMDA, a promotional organization, in Toronto, Canada. He was a founding member and trustee of Sruthi Laya Seva (UK) Trust, an educational and promotional organization under the auspices of Guru Karaikudi R Mani. He is currently based in New York, NY, where he teaches and performs regularly.

Anjana Roy and Michael Lukshis performed Raga Ahir Bhairav from 5 to 6 am on the Ragas Live Festival.  As well as being a great musician Anjana is the author of Acharya Ustad Allauddin Khan: Musician for the Soul Anjana Roy comes from Delhi, India, where she had her early initiation in music under Shri Rebati Ranjan Debnath, her father and guru, who was a disciple of Ustad Allauddin Khan of Miher. Later she learned from several masters of the art. Anjana earned her Master’s in Arts (instrumental music-sitar) from Banasthali Vidyapith of Jaipur, Rajasthan under the guidance of Shri Rameshwar Dayal Verma. She continued her training under Shri Sachin Datta (disciple of Ustad Allauddin Khan) in Delhi. Afterwards, Ms Roy received the degree of Master of philosophy (instrumental music-sitar) form the University of New Delhi, under the guidance of Pandit Debu Chaudhuri. She further studied sitar with Pandit Manilal Nag, and later Shri Prasanna Kumar Singh, a disciple of Pandit Manilal Nag. Settled in New York, Ms. Roy has taught sitar music at the Shikshayatan Cultural Center in Queens, New York, and has performed at the Queens Conservatory of Music, Brooklyn Public Library, International house, the Indian Consulate and in many private concerts. Currently Ms. Roy is studying under the tutelage of Shri Parimal M. Sadaphal from Delhi, who is a senior disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar and one of the foremost sitarists of India. Ms. Roy released a CD of India Classical Music on sitar featuring Raga Bageshree in the year 2006. Michael Lukshis is originally from East Brunswick, NJ. He holds a B.A. in Music from Rutgers University, and is a dedicated disciple of Pandit Divyang Vakil. In addition to his tabla performances as a soloist and accompanist in the US and India, Michael has performed with several New Jersey-based bands, such as Natural Breakdownand Amber Blues.  He has also performed with Glen Burtnik and Friends at the State Theater in New Brunswick, NJ and Symphony Space in New York, NY.  Furthermore, Michael is an accomplished guitar player and is the guitar instructor at the Taalim School of Indian Music.  

Gargi Shinde, Aditi Beghwat, Jin Won and Michael Lukshis. From 4am to 5 am on the Ragas Live Festival,  sitarist Gargi Shinde and dancer Aditi Beghwat experimented with combining the sitar with the foot percussion associated with khattak dance.  Then Jin Won took an amazing tabla solo with Michael Lukshis.  

  Dinesh Mirchandani performed rag Malkauns and Basant on the fourth performance of the 24 hour Ragas Live Festival. Dinesh Mirchandani comes from a family of gifted singers. He started singing at the age of 6, performing stage and private music shows. Born and brought up in Mumbai, Dinesh has won several national music awards in India. His first TV performance in Bombay was at the age of 15, when he sang traditional Indian folk music. Since then, he has performed several times on Bombay Doordarshan and National Network Television in India. He has performed on stage with great playback singers like Mahendra Kapoor, Sudha Malhotra and Rajkumari. Dinesh acquired his initial training in Hindustani Classical music from Pt. Govindprasad Jaipurwale in Bombay. With Panditji, he trained in ragas and taals and vocal enhancements. Next, under the guidance of Shri C. Laxmichand, Dinesh learned traditional folk Sufi kalams, Sindhi Ladas, Ghazals and Bhajans. He currently learns Hindustani Classical music under the guidance of his Guru, Smt. Tripti Mukherjee, who is a disciple of Pt. Jasraj.

Samir Chaterjee, Dan Weiss, tabla duo accompanied by Arun Ramamurthy             Samir Chaterjee and Dan Weiss performed a tabla duo while Arun Ramamurthy kept time on the violin.  You can hear both improvisations and compositions within this rhythmic tour-de-force. This was the third performance in the 24 hour ragas live festival.  Samir Chatterjee  was not only a performer on this year's festival, his organization Chandayan were one of the organizers and his collaboration with David Ellenbogen in 2006 planted the seeds of the Ragas Live concept. Samir Chatterjee is a virtuoso Tabla player from India. He travels widely across the world throughout the year performing in numerous festivals as a soloist or with other outstanding musicians from both Indian and non-Indian musical traditions. Samir performed at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway in 2007. He also performed a few times at the United Nations General Assembly. His compositions are widely acclaimed as well as his writings. Samir is a firm believer in the transforming effect of music on the society and all aspects of his work reflects this conviction. Chatterjee began his studies early with Pandit Bankim Ghosh, Pt. Balaram Mukherjee, Pt. Rathin Dhar and Mohammad Salim. His later formation as a musician occurred under the guidance of Pt. Amalesh Chatterjee (since 1966) and Pt. Shyamal Bose (since 1984). All of Samir's teachers have been from the Farrukhabad Gharana (school) of Tabla-playing, which he now represents. Samir is rated ‘A’ as an artiste of Indian national radio and television. He can be heard on numerous recordings featuring as soloist, accompanying many of India's greatest musicians and in collaboration with western musicians of outstanding caliber. In concert Samir has accompanied many of India's greatest musicians including Pt. Ravi Shankar, Ud. Vilayat Khan, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Pt. V.G. Jog, Pt . Shivkumar Sharma, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, M. S. Gopalakrishnan, Ud. Amjad Ali Khan, Ud. Salamat Ali Khan, Smt. Lakshmi Shankar, Ud. Aashis Khan, Dr. L. Subramanium, Ud. Shujat Khan, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Ud. Rashid Khan, Pt. Tejendra N. Mazumdar, Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya, to name only a few. Samir Chatterjee lives in the New York-New Jersey area, and has been a catalyst in the fusion of Indian and Non-Indian music, in his own creations and others as well. He performs with Pauline Oliveros, William Parker, Branford Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane, Dave Douglas, Steve Gorn, Glen Velez, Boby Sanabria, Ben Verdery, Dance Theater of Harlem, Boston Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Ethos Percussion group, Da Capo Chamber Orchestra, Boston Musica Viva and other jazz, classical and avant guard musicians and ensembles. He is member of jazz trio SYNC with Ned Rothenberg and Jerome Harris and quintet Inner Diaspora together with Mark Feldman and Eric Friedlander. He also collaborates with Sufi-Rock singer Salman Ahmad of Junoon from Pakistan. He is also the composer and director of Indo-Flame and Nacho Nacho - both blends of Indian and Flamenco dance and music, Chhand-Anand - a world percussion ensemble and Dawn to Dusk and Beyond – on the effect of music on humans and nature. He performs with Sanjay Mishra on his CD "Blue Incantation" featuring Jerry Garcia as guest artist.   Samir Chatterjee has been teaching for the last 35 years and many of his students are established performers. He is the Founder-Director of CHHANDAYAN, an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Indian music and culture. He has authored a comprehensive 654-page book entitled ‘A Study of Tabla’ and a guide book to Indian music titled ‘Music of India’. He is on the faculty at Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, University of Pittsburgh, New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and University of Bridgeport in CT. He also contributes to several newspapers and periodicals.

Kanika Pandey, (Vocals) Arun Ramamurthy (Violin) Samir Chaterjee (tabla) The second set of the Ragas Live Festival 2013 featured vocalist Kanika Pandey. Kanika belongs to the new generation of musicians who believe in developing and evolving a personalized musical idiom while still maintaining the authenticity of the Hindustani classical music.  Kanika has a rich and mellifluous voice and a very eloquent style of singing. She carries with her a rare artistic blend of Kirana and Banares gharana. Her training is very evident in her shruti shuddha swara, gradual unfolding and development of the raga, combining the poetry and its expression into singing. Her music emerges not only from her own virtuosity and versatility as a performer but also from her intellectual and diligent eclecticism as a student of Hindustani classical music. Besides maintaining the technical aspects, Kanika also gives a lot of focus on the aesthetics and the mystical/spiritual aspect of Hindustani music, thus resulting in a unique style that is technically fine and yet very soulful and aesthetically appealing.

  The 2013 Ragas Live Festival, was 24 hours of raga performed live in the studio by over 50 world class artists.  It was  broadcast throughout New York City WKCR 89.9 FM-NY and worldwide at www.wkcr.org.   The first set was a beautiful jam session by members of the Brooklyn Raga Massive, represented by Max ZT (hammered dulcimer), Eric Faser (bansuri), Camila Celin (guitar) , Sameer Gupta (tabla) and Ben Stuart (tabla).   These great musicians jammed on the Raga Kirwani.  Engineered by Ahmet Ali Arslan. 23 more performances to come!

This episode came from a WKCR broadcast a year after the passing of  the master drummer Frisner Augustin whoose Troupe Makandal has brought Vodou ceremonial drumming to the world. It features a recent live performance from La Troupe Makandal recorded at the Afro-Roots Series at the Space at 9 Bleecker. Guests Morgan Zwerlein from Troupe Makandal and producer of the Afro-Roots series and good friend, Kevin Nathaniel joined me to explain about the man and the magic of Vodou drumming. This is from his obituary in the New York Times: Mr. Augustin had an encyclopedic knowledge of the rhythms of vodou (the word is the Haitian Creole spelling of voodoo), in which more than 100 spirits are represented and summoned, each by a distinctive rhythm... La Troupe Makandal has performed for both Haitian and world-music audiences. When it brought abridged vodou ceremonies to public stages, the rhythms were so traditional and intense that unplanned spiritual possessions sometimes took place in secular spaces. The troupe also performs choreographed programs devoted to Haitian history and culture. It has made four albums of traditional Afro-Haitian music: “A Trip to Vodou,” “Èzili,” “The Drums of Vodou” and “Prepare.”  

Hugh Masekela is the most well known jazz musician from Africa.  His first big hit was in 1968 and he has sold millions of albums, won multiple Grammys and worked with everyone from Stevie Wonder to Dizzy Gillespie. Fresh off a tour with Paul Simon, he and his band are super-refined, with perfect vocal harmonies, deep grooves, and inspired improvisations.    Masekela is considered a legend of South African Music and the apartheid struggle, but that's not how he see's it. I got to spend sometime backstage with him and now so do you!   Here's one quote from the interview: "I never had a career, I had an obsession with music.  And my obsession with it, and maybe a little gift that I had, threw me into the area, but my aim, even when I came overseas, was to learn and to study and everything else is a coincidence.  But I didn't plan to make it for myself.   If you look at anybody who is out there to make it for themselves they self-destruct.  They become very big and then they self-destruct. As long as you've got the "me" thing in your head you're doomed." - Hugh Masekela      

As the world's eyes turn to her hometown of Timbuktu, Awa Sangho, the golden voice of Mali,  visits NYC Radio Live.   Awa, who learned song-craft from Ali Farka Toure, has since toured the world with a who's who of African Music:  Salif Keita, Manu Dibango, Amadou and Mariam, Habibe Koite, Cheick Tidiane Seck,  Marc Cary, Bassekou Kouyate and Oumou Sangare. Her exquisite new album, yet to be released, was first heard this night by the listening audience of WKCR. She is joined by master percussionist Daniel Moreno, who has collaborated with countless jazz and world music legends from George Benson and Roy Haynes to Chico Buargue.

  To celebrate the release of their new album Shruggy Ji, (currently #1 on iTunes World Music Chart) NYC Rado Live is going back to the archives to share a 2009 live radio performance by Red Baraat. Red Baraat is the first and only dhol ‘n’ brass band of its kind in the States, melding the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with brass funk and expressing the human spirit through improvisation and a powerful, live, raw sound.  Comprised of dhol (double-sided, barrel-shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder), percussion and horns, this NYC-based group plays fresh originals, as well as traditional Punjabi songs and Bollywood numbers with a modern touch. Baraat is Hindi for a marriage procession.  In North India, it is a tradition on the day of the wedding for the groom to travel to his bride’s home on a magnificently decorated horse, surrounded by an entourage of family and friends.  Led by a dholi and/or a marching band, this joyous celebration naturally induces dancing and singing and is inseparable from the energy and excitement of the musical festivities. The line-up when we broadcast this show was: Sunny Jain                        Dhol, drumset, percussion, vox Rohin Khemani                   Tavil, percussion Greg Gonzalez                   Drumset, percussion Arun Luthra                       Soprano saxophone Mike Bomwell                    Tenor saxophone Sonny Singh                      Trumpet MiWi La Lupa                    Bass trumpet Dave Smith                      Trombone John Altieri                       Sousaphone Jeffery Kandel and David Ellenbogen  produced and engineered the original broadcast.  

  This is not your grandmother's Gamelan.  Gamelan are the mesmerizing orchestras of giant gongs and other metal percussion instruments from Indonesia.   Taylor Kuffner's  Gameletron project combines the instruments of the Gamelan with robotics, creating an incredible immersive experience.    He came to WKCR to share his own recordings he made throughout Indonesia highlighting rarities in the genre including ensembles made of bamboo, iron and beyond.

Podcast: Download on iTunes Grammy Nominated, BBC Award winner Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya is widely recognized as one of the worlds greatest guitarists. A prodigy, he first performed on-All India Radio at the age of 4. He has since amazed audiences worldwide performing with such luminaries as John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Jerry Douglas and Dereck Trucks.  NYC Radio Live, Bread and Yoga, Rageshree Music, and HarmonyOm teamed up to create a  benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Sandy  Featuring the legendary slide-guitarist from India Pandit Debashish Bhattarcharya with Subhasis Bhattarchaya / Tabla and Introducing - for the first time in New York, his daughter Anandi Bhattarcharya / Vocal  

Guitarist Rez Abbasi brought his burning new trio of John Hebert on the bass and Satoshi Takeishi on the drums to WKCR before their new album -Continuous Beat- is released on November. Here's his words on the trio: “I wanted to excite the listener with a new guitar trio experience. One that retains the warmth of the established trio sound but also employs electronics in order to expand the timbral pallet, especially for the melodies. Ultimately, this approach not only gives clarity to the solos but also keeps the listener’s aural sense stimulated.” More info on http://www.reztone.com/ Recorded on Friday, October 12th in WKCR studios. Engineered by Ahmet Ali Arslan.

Oumar Konate performs live at the WKCR studio joined by guitarist Dramane Toure, bassist Mohamed Ag Mohamed, and percussionist Mahalmadane Abbanassane.  We were lucky to catch these gentlemen on their way to perform at Lincoln Center.  Earlier in the summer they had been touring and recording  with Tibuktu's Khaira Arby, the "Nightingale of the North." Like Abdoulaye Alhassane of Podcast 49, Oumar was born in Gao in Northern Mali an area where all music has been silenced by extremists this year, we'll hear an interview with him about that along with his manager, the producer and music critic, Christopher Nolan.   For more music recorded by Oumar check out Podcast 19.

Indian Classical vocalist Manoj Govindraj sings 2 compositions based on Raag Megh, accompanied by Swarup Swaminathan on harmonium and Sai Shyam Mohan on tabla. Here's what Manoj says about the performance: "Raag Megh -also called Megh Malhar- is a seasonal Raag, sung typically during the rainy season. That's the reason why the compositions which are based on this raag are worded according to the rainy season. I'll be presenting 2 compositions: one in a 10 beat rhythmic cycle, which we call Jhaptaal, and this is going to be in middle tempo. The second composition will be in a 12 beat rhythmic cycle, which is Ektal. It will be in a faster tempo. Both of the compositions have words, which talk about the rainy season and the feeling that everyone gets when the rains come after the heat of the summer." Manoj found his calling in music early on in life. He began his formal training at the age of seven, though his initiation was even earlier when he was all of three, singing bhajans while on a pilgrimage to Shirdi. By the time he was eleven, he was learning Hindustani music professionally under the tutelage of Mrs. Vineeta Tembe. His mentors include Mr. Prabhakar Karekar and Mrs. and Mr. Prem. A rank-holder and a gold medalist from Mumbai University, Manoj completed his Master of Fine Arts in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in 1999. He was the recipient of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi scholarship Hindustani music at post-graduate level in 1998-99. He has won several awards, the most prestigious one being the Sur Singar Samsad Award in 1995 for light vocal. Manoj has been teaching Hindustani classical and light music (vocal and harmonium) at the Academy of Indian Music, South Plainfield, New Jersey, since March 2004. His repertoire includes Hindustani classical (Khayal), semi-classical (Thumri, Dadra), bhajans, ghazals and old film songs in Hindi and Marathi. Manoj has conducted several lecture demonstrations on topics including “The Thaat Series” [conducted in 5 sessions, introducing Thaat System in Hindustani Music], “Music Appreciation”, “Introduction to “Hindustani Music” at Keane University, NJ, and other institutions. Recorded July 21st at WKCR studios.

  Abdoulaye Alhassane performs live with Deep Sahara at WKCR in 2010.  w/ Yacouba Diabate (Kora) Frederika Krier (Violin) and David Ellenbogen (guitar) By Banning Eyre | April, 2007 [guitar player mg] Abdoulaye Alhassane Toure has brought string-picking wizardry from the desert towns of West Africa to the nightclubs of New York City. Born in 1963, in Niamey, Niger, to a Sonrai family from Gao, Mali, he passed his youth in a multi-ethnic neighborhood surrounded by Peul, Bambara, Sonrai, and other peoples, and as he put it, “They all played music.” Local radio filled his ears with the sinuous, bluesy strains of desert folklore and the melodious bombast of Mande griots. When his parents returned to Mali, Toure recalled, “They came back with cassettes by Ibrahim Hamma Dicko, Fissa Maiga, and Ali Farka Toure, who sang in a language we understood, and I was incredibly inspired by the originality of this music.” Toure’s musical gift became obvious when he started hanging out in the Niamey nightclub where his uncle, Johnny Ali Maiga, led a band. “Johnny Ali Maiga played folklore, like Ali Farka Toure,” said Toure, “But he also loved rock. His group was on the radio in Niamey, and it sounded like the Malian music I was listening to at home, but sung in Zerma, the national language of Niger.” By the early ’80s, Toure was playing guitar and flute, and his first band incorporated electric guitar, bass, drums, and brass, and merged regional folk styles with international pop. When the group took first prize in a national competition, Toure became a full-time musician. By the late ’80s, he was leading Super Kassey—the first Niamey band to travel abroad and record in a modern studio. Before long, Toure was working as a guitar instructor at the European-run Center for the Education and Promotion of Music. In 1992, Toure teamed up with singer/flutist Yacouba Moumouni to create Niger’s most successful roots pop band to date, Mamar Kassey. Mamar Kassey’s two electrifying CDs, Denke Denke (1999) and Alatoumi (2000) showcase Toure’s guitar mastery and formidable arranging skills. The music is rooted in tradition, but molded into brisk arrangements that include key modulations and bursts of solo improvisation. “Improvisation existed in Sonrai music,” explained Toure, “but in another form. In our ceremonies, there’s an original melody that is played by the kurbu [a 3-stringed lute]. When the energy rises between the players and the dancers, the kurbu player leaves his melody, and follows his heart. But if you tell that kurbu player to work with a modern group and ‘improvise,’ you have to explain to him what it means.” Mamar Kassey’s travels eventually brought Toure to New York City, where he now lives and performs with his current band, Deep Sahara. Toure can cradle an acoustic guitar and fingerpick his way through desert trance grooves, and he can also take up a flatpick, and wail on electric—edging desert folklore into the realm of blues and rock. One day, he plans to return to Niger to set up a studio and form an international touring band. For now, Toure is merely one of the most riveting African guitarists to be found in the United States.

Tomchess (Oud) and Shane Shanahan (Frame Drums and Percussion) performed live at WKCR on Sunday July 15, 2012. Tomchess is a Multi-instrumentalist/Improviser/Composer. He plays Reeds, Western Flute, Arabic/Turkish Ney flute, Oud, and Guitar. He also has a history of using electronics /sampling/live-sampling/loops/fx. He has performed with Drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson' Decoding Society, Butch Morris's Sheng Skyscraper, recorded with Tenor players Dewey Redman, Pharoah Sanders, Morrocan Sintarist Hassan Hakmoun and Butch Morris. He has also led a guitar trio with Drummer Phil Haynes and bassist Drew Gress called Seven Times a Year. He has studied Middle/Near Eastern and West African musics, spending time in West Africa playing and performing. He  says:"...My inspiration is drawn from my evolving realizations of love and life; listening to an inner convergence, the rhythms of life, nature/city sounds, my experiences as a human being and artist and listening to music from all parts of the world. The deeper I listen, the more I hear unity/universals in how sound is used and celebrated, as well as differences. The World is chock-full of beautiful and multi-colored infinitudes of expression through sound. Music embraces within it the means to overcome and transcend religious, political and social boundaries as a powerful transformative vehicle. Its also simply just alot of fun. My playing is an expression of my past experiences re-coded into a vision through the present co-emergent moment towards beneficial future possibilities; its an expression of celebration. Shane Shanahan has cultivated his own unique and highly sought after sound by combining his studies of drumming traditions from around the world with his background in jazz, rock and Western art music.   His interest in other cultures has lead to extended visits to Turkey, India, and Tajikistan, among others.  Shane’s rare set of diverse skills is what attracted Yo-Yo Ma when he was forming the Silk Road Ensemble.  In the summer of 2000, Shane was invited to Tanglewood where he played an important role in the formation of the group.  Ever since, he has been touring around the globe performing side-by-side with Mr. Ma as an original member of the award-winning Silk Road Ensemble.  Shane's playing can be heard on all three of the ensemble's top-selling recordings for the SonyBMG label and the two most recent albums feature his arranging skills, as well.  These arrangements have brought ecstatic audience to their feet in the top concert halls of North America, Europe and Asia. Shane can also be seen and heard on Mr. Ma's Grammy Award winning holiday CD/DVD release "Songs of Joy."   He is also a member of frame drum master Glen Velez' Handance Ensemble and cellist Maya Beiser's Provenance project.  He has performed and/or recorded with Philip Glass, Alison Krause, Sonny Fortune, Fantasia, Chaka Khan, G. E. Smith, Simon Shaheen, Jamey Haddad, Cyro Baptista, Anindo Chaterjee, Sandeep Das, Shahram and Hafez Nazeri, Alim Qasimov, Kayhan Kalhor, Howard Levy and Steve Gorn, among others.

Kiran Ahluwalia (vocals),  Rez Abbasi (guitar), Nitin Mitta (tabla). Ragas Live Festival #24 11 pm-12 am during our 24 hour Ragas Live Festival. Expressing her muse through ghazals and Punjabi folk songs, Kiran Ahluwalia explores the language of the heart with beautiful artistry and smoldering intensity. Born in India, raised in Canada, and now living in New York City, her enchanting and seductive music has garnered glowing praise from critics around the world. Her’s is “a voice destined to enchant more than one generation” (fROOTS) and she possesses “a deep spirituality and tranquility that borders on the mystic” (Sing Out Magazine). But most of all, Kiran Ahluwalia is a unique and inspiring performer and composer, who’s legion of fans continues to grow with every captivating performance and each new recording project. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, removed at the age of four to relocate to Southern California, schooled at the University of Southern California and the Manhattan School of Music in jazz and classical music, as well as a pilgrimage in India under the tutorial of master percussionist, Ustad Alla Rakha, Rez Abbasi is a vivid synthesis of all the above stated influences and genres. Making New York home for the past 18 years, Abbasi has developed a unique sound both as a composer and an instrumentalist and is considered by many to be one of the foremost modern jazz guitar players the world over. He has honed his skills with performances through out Europe, Canada, the U.S., Mexico and India. He has performed and recorded with many jazz greats including, Grammy winner Ruth Brown, Peter Erskine, Kenny Werner, Barre Phillips, Tim Hagans, Marc Johnson, Billy Hart,  Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, Gary Thomas, Rick Margitza, DaveDouglas, DD Jackson, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Tony Malaby, George Brooks, PanditRonu Majumdar, Pandit Kadri Gopalnath, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, MarilynCrispell, Greg Osby, Howard Levy and a host of others.

Arun Ramamurthy (violin),  Akshay Anantapadmanabhan (mridangam), Nitin Mitta (tabla). Ragas Live Festival # 23 8-9 pm during our 24 hour Ragas Live Festival. Arun Ramamurthy is a gifted violinist who is making his mark in Indian Classical and World music in the United States. Disciple of Dr. Mysore Manjunath & Sri Mysore Nagaraj, he has become one of the most sought after violinists in the US.  Arun has carved a niche for himself in the Indian Classical music scene in NYC as a versatile musician, playing together with artists from both Carnatic and Hindustani styles.  Born and raised in the US, Arun utilizes his Carnatic training to collaborate with western musicians, recording & performing with artists from various genres. Arun released his debut Carnatic CD “Geethanjali” with percussion stalwarts Thiravarur Bakthavatsalam and Giridhar Udupa.  His newest project, the Arun Ramamurthy Quartet, presents fresh arrangments and improvisations of classic Carnatic compositions, including some original music.  Arun curates the innovative series, “Carnatic Sundays” at Cornelia Street Café in New York City, a concert series dedicated to presenting Carnatic music to wider audiences. –[email protected]  

Vivek Rudrapatna (violin),  Sriram Raman (mridangam). Ragas Live Festival # 22 5-6 pm during our 24 hour Ragas Live Festival. Vivek Rudrapatna is a seasoned Indian Classical violinist who has played a central role in the Indian Classical music circles of the tristate area and New England for over 10 years.  He began study of the violin under Ms. Jennifer Curran, a passionate music teacher in the New Jersey Public Schools who taught him Western Classical technique and guided him from elementary through high school.  Around the same time, he was fortunate to discover the Carnatic Violin under the guidance of Mysore Sateesh, an inspired violinist from the prized "MSG" lineage.  Since 2001, he has performed as both a soloist and in collaboration with many talented local and international artists in a variety of prestigious venues including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, The Egg in Albany, and the Sanders Theatre at Harvard University.  Over the years, Vivek has honed his skills under the guidance of renowned artists such as Anantha Krishnan, the Mysore Brothers, and Dr. L. Subramaniam.  Vivek's long standing interest in world fusion led to the creation of his successful college group "Saptaswara", a melting pot of Gypsy, Bluegrass, Western, and Indian music.  In his other life, Vivek is an MD/PhD candidate at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

Shanti Shivani (vocal),  Peter Fagiola  (pakhavaj). Ragas Live Festival # 21 11 am-12 pm during our 24 hour Ragas Live Festival. Shanti Shivani is one of the few Western pioneers bringing the sacred traditions of Nada Yoga and Dhrupad, the most ancient style of Hindustani classical music, to the West. She brings a wealth of vocal, meditative, movement and experience to her classes and performances. She had the great fortune to be accepted as a paramparastudent of the premier family of the Dhrupad lineage, the Dagar family. Her first teacher was Dr. Ritwik Sanyal before continuing her studies with his gurus, the late rudra veena maestro Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar and his brother Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar. Their family has been passing on the Dhrupad tradition for nineteen generations. Her studies with Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar enriched her understanding of Nada Yoga.