Vinay Desai, santoor
Anubrata Chatterjee, tabla
Vinay Desai is a direct disciple of the world renowned Santoor Maestro Padma Vibhusan Pandit Shivkumar Sharmaji. Vinay regularly performs throughout USA, including Hawaii, Argentina, Canada, The Bahamas, Australia, and India. He has performed for some of the well known organizations and prestigious festivals in different countries and in different genres. He is known for his meditative and dynamic musical phrases.
Born into a musical family, Anubrata Chatterjee learnt from his father, tabla legend Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. His debut as an accompanying artist was alongside Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia, and he has subsequently collaborated with eminent musicians in the Indian classical music realm, including Amjad Ali Khan, Birji Mahara, Shivkumar Sharma, Shahid Parvez, and others worldwide. Anubrata has performed both as a soloist and an accompanist through his tabla renditions, participating in numerous duet performances with his father. He has actively contributed to the genre, expanding upon his father's style and developing his own collection. Internationally, he made his solo debut on BBC World Radio in the UK in 1991, subsequently performing at venues and festivals globally, including Carnegie Hall in NYC, Kennedy Center in D.C. Singapore, Zurich, Chicago, Jordan, Greece, Croatia, Japan, and all major festivals in India.
The concert will begin with a meditative melodic improvisation that takes the listeners to a place of deep stillness. Once the mood of the raag is set and the ambience built, Anubrata ji will join Vinay in creating powerful rhythmic phrases that take the listeners on a melodic and rhythmic journey. The concert usually ends with a fast paced piece that enthralls the audience. Usually, this classical piece can last for about 1 hour and 15 minutes followed by a semi classical devotional piece. Vinay is known for his superlative melodic improvisations and sharp sense of rhythm. With Anubrataji on tabla, they have an astonishing ability to embrace, dive into and reinterpret traditional music.
Live at St. Paul’s Chapel — or, watch on YouTube.
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