Bansuri - Jayanta Banerjee
Tabla - Avirodh Sharma
Join us for an in-person concert by Bansuri master Jayanta Banerjee. This performance will also be streamed live.
Jayanta Banerjee
Jayanta Banerjee is a renowned master of the Bansuri (Indian Flute). He received his Initial training in music from his father, the Late Shri Purna Ranjan Banerjee (disciple of Pandit Girijashankar Chakravarty & Pandit Jamini Ganguly of Kolkata) and uncle Pandit Bijoy Ranjan Banerjee (disciple of Sangeetacharya Pandit Tarapada Chakravarty of Kotali Gharana). He then learned from masters from three great gharanas of Hindustani Music- Imdadkhani Itawa Gharana, Gwalior Gharana, and the Maihar Gharana. He was Aftab-e-Sitar Ustad Vilayat Khan’s Only Ganda-bandh disciple of Bansuri. He also was a disciple of the last direct descendant of Gwalior Gharana Pandit Balasaheb Poochwale, and also a disciple of Pandit Ravi Garud and Pandit Devendra Murdeshwar (the son-in-law and chief disciple of Bansuri pioneer Pannalal Ghosh) of the Maihar Gharana. He also received in-depth guidance from Pandit Ramdas Moongre (a disciple of Pandit Kumar Gandharva) , and the great Beenkar (Veena Player) and doyen of Dagar Dhrupad Gharana Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Khan Dagar.
He has performed at various major music festivals in India and around the world and garnered attention of the Western as well as Indian Media. Until he came to the US in 1998, he was a regular performer on All India Radio
He has been awarded the Prestigious Title of SURMANI (Jewel of Music) by Sur Shingar Samsad, Mumbai and ABHINAV SWARNA SAMMAN by Abhinav Kala Parishad, Bhopal.
In addition to his classical Hindustani music career, he has played duet concerts with Jazz legend of USA, David Liebman with rave reviews by US critics.
Avirodh Sharma
Avirodh Sharma is considered one of today’s leading exponents of the tabla, carrying on the tradition of rhythm that originated on the Indian Subcontinent. Trinidadian born Guyanese American artist, Avirodh Sharma was trained by his father, Dr. Ravideen Ramsamooj, managing director of the East Indian Music Academy who, together with his mother, Bharati Ramsamooj (Principal), have produced over 20,000 students in New York City. As a Director/resident teacher at the Academy for over 24 years, Sharma has trained tabla players nationwide. A multifaceted artist, he is also a composer and music producer, with work featured in films, documentaries, fashion shows, on radio and in television commercials. He has been featured in The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, NY Daily News, NY1, TV Asia, STARZ NETWORK, Zee TV and NPR Radio. Sharma has worked with Grammy-winning artists including Shakti and Masters of Percussion, Vikku Vinayakram, internationally acclaimed Kailash Kher, Suresh Wadhkar, Shivamani, Amaan and Ayaan Bangash and many more. A multi genre artist, he has also collaborated with Asian Underground musician Karsh Kale, fiddler Patrick Mangan (Riverdance), world acclaimed dance choreographer David Parsons and David Bowie’s drummer Sterling Campbell. He’s also made special appearances in music ensembles such as the Queens Symphony, Sukarma, Sufiana, Riyaaz Qawaali and Melodic Intersect. In 2015, his debut recording as a tabla soloist was nominated for the 14th Independent Music Awards “Best World Beat Album.” In 2018, he was commissioned by Parsons Dance Company to compose and perform Microburst in NYC’s Joyce Theatre, receiving critical acclaim in Italy and across the United States. January 2019, he performed at Kumbh Mela, in India, the biggest religious festival in the world, where millions were in attendance. In the realm of American Theatre, he composed and performed for Dishwasher Dreams which was developed at the Joseph Papp Public Theater in NYC and in 2021-2022 season was produced in Chicago at Writers Theatre and then in Hartford Stage in Connecticut receiving great reviews.
In January 2022, Avi released the highly anticipated album Crossing Continents which features his trademark mix of Classical Indian, Caribbean, and electronic music. The album features Vikku Vinayakram, Fazal Qureshi, Selvaganesh, and many other guest artists. The album in its opening 8 weeks charted Top 10 on world music terrestrial radio stations across the United States and the world.
A Carribean Savant in rhythm, his performances have captivated audiences in Italy, Switzerland, Nepal, India, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and the U. S. He has appeared at the international festivals Artisti in Piazza (Italy), Hindustani Music Fest (Bahamas), Drive East Festival (New York City) and Taj Mahotsav (Taj Mahal, India).