North Indian Vocal - Pdt. Sanjoy Banerjee
Tabla - Pdt. Samir Chatterjee
Harmonium - Nilesh Nadkarni
Pandit Sanjoy Banerjee
Raga is a Sanskrit word which means an act of coloring. In musical terms it represents feeling of emotions. One of the unique characteristics of Indian music is the assignment of definite times of the day and night for performing Raga melodies.
Through his soulful presentation and improvisations, combined with mastery over sargams, taans, and renditions of Khayal, Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee explores the evening ragas, the melodic beauty and majestic splendor of which evoke deep emotions within his listeners.
Pt. Sanjoy Banerjee is one of the finest vocalists of international repute from India and a distinguished exponent of the Kirana Gharana of North Indian Vocal Classical Music. Sanjoyji was a scholar at ITC Sangeet Research Academy under the able guidance of Late Pt. A.T. Kanan and Sangeet Bidushi Late Malabika Kanan, who considered him as their successor to their musical heritage. With his sonorous and unwavering voice he has enthralled audiences at home and abroad, performing extensively in the UK, Germany, Bangladesh, Canada, USA and within India including at Sur Singar, Swai Gandharva, Sangeet Piysi, Ustad Faiz Khan Sangeet Sammelan.
He has received many awards and honors including Surmani Award from Sur Sringar Samsad, Mumbai, National Scholarship from Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Government of India and Junior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Govt of India. In addition, Sanjoy Banerjee is a successful Guru teaching at his own institution - Kolkata Suromurchhana in India, and at Chhandayan Center of Indian Music, New York, producing students who have already earned appreciation.
Pandit Samir Chatterjee
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.
Samir atterjee began his studies early with Pt. 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 of India. 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 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. Nasiruddin Saami, Ud. Shujat Khan, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty, Ud. Nishat Khan, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pta. Veena Sahashrabuddhe, 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, Joshua Bell, 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. He also collaborates with Sufi-Rock singer Salman Ahmad of Junoon from Pakistan. He is the composer and director of Indo-Flame – a blend of Indian and Flamenco dance and music, Chhand-Anand - a world percussion ensemble, RabiThakur – a ballet on the life of Tagore, Meghadootam – a feature program of music and dance on an ancient Indian poem, 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.
Directions to 410 Lorenzo Lane Irwin PA 15642 (from Pittsburgh)
Take PA turnpike Rt.76E towards Harrisburg
Drive to Exit 67 - Rt 30/Irwin/Greensburg
After paying toll, stay to right and follow Rt. 30 East - Greensburg
At the first light, turn right onto Arona Road (BP gas station on the right corner across the light).
Go through the 4-Way stop sign
Take the second left onto DaVinci Drive (Bronze Renaissance Development sign at the corner).
Go 100 feet and take another left onto Renaissance Drive
Go uphill. At the top of the hill make a right onto Lorenzo Lane.
410 Lorenzo lane is a French Provincial in the cul-de-sac.