Robert Browning Previews 2016-17 World Music Concert Lineup
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 05, 2016
From his years at the Alternative Center for International Arts / Alternative Museum to his 26-year tenure at World Music Institute (which he co-founded and directed from 1985 - 2011) and his past three seasons as the director of Robert Browning Associates, he has presented over 1,800 concerts of world music and dance from internationally renowned figures and emerging artists from over 100 regions.
The 2016-17 season begins with two concerts featuring masters of South Indian music: mesmerizing violin and veena duets with R. Kumaresh and Vijayanthi Kumaresh (Oct 1), and a concert of meditation (which includes interactive chanting with the audience) with Ganesh Rajagopalan on violin and vocals (Oct 7). These are followed by a concert of Persian music with the young tar and setar virtuoso Sahba Motalebbi (Oct 21); a two-part program with South African guitarist Derek Gripper, who has transcribed the kora music of Malian masters to the guitar, and Trio da Kali, a "Malian supergroup" (The Guardian) from a long line of griots(oral historians/praise singers) (Nov 12); Spain's La Banda Morisca which performs a riveting blend of flamenco with Arab-Andalusian music (Nov 19); The Secret Trio, featuring three outstanding artists - Tamer Pinarbasi, Ismail Lumanovski and Ara Dinkjian -with roots in Turkish, Armenian and Macedonian Roma music (Dec 3); the brilliant Ahmet Erdogdular Classical Turkish Music Ensemble, led by one of Turkey's leading vocalists (Feb 17); Ireland's Lúnasa, "the best Irish traditional instrumental band on the planet" (Irish Echo), with special guest Karan Casey, a stunning voice in Irish folk music (Mar 3); Chicago's great bluesman Lurrie Bell (Mar 25); Indian slide guitar pioneer Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and tabla player Subhen Chatterjee (Apr 8); Haiti's electrifying Lakou Mizik coalition (Apr 22); and the third annual A World in Trance Festival (Apr 28-30), which includes Niyaz featuring Azam Ali, an exciting electro-acoustic ensemble that blends Sufi poetry and folk songs from Iran and surrounding countries (Apr 29).
Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 8:30pm $28; seniors, students $24; day of show $32
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC
R. Kumaresh & Jayanthi Kumaresh
Carnatic Masters: Violin & Veena Duets
The husband-wife duo of violin maestro R. Kumaresh and veena (lute) virtuoso Jayanthi Kumaresh, two of the foremost instrumentalists in their respective fields, performs a soulful evening of solos and duets accompanied by R. Sankaranarayanan (mrdangam - double-headed barrel drum) and S. Krishnaswamy (ghatam - clay pot). Kumaresh, who has 40 years of concert experience, has been internationally acclaimed both as a soloist and for his duets with his brother, Ganesh Rajagopalan. Jayanthi Kumaresh, who traces her musical heritage back six generations, has captivated audiences around the world for 30 years and collaborated with many of India's major artists.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEGH5rrDv_U
Friday, October 7, 2016 at 8:00pm $30; seniors, students $26
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
GANESH RAJAGOPALAN
Carnatic Masters: Swara Yoga - Meditation Concert
South Indian classical violin maestro Ganesh Rajagopalan (of Ganesh-Kumaresh duo fame) has been acclaimed for his performances and compositions over the past four decades. As a child prodigy he began performing at the age of seven, and made 100 stage appearances by the time he was 10. He has toured the world, appearing with a wide array of classical, jazz and world music artists, including Zakir Hussain, and composed numerous ragas, varnams and thillanas, as well as music for dance ballets, theatre, and films. In this concert, where he will explore the divine and healing through music, he will perform on violin and sing and also lead an interactive meditation of chanting with the audience. He will be accompanied by Abhinav Seetharaman on mrdangam (double-headed barrel drum).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rONpB4BrRA
Friday, October 21, 2016 at 8:30pm $28; seniors, students $24; day of show $32
Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC
SAHBA MOTALEBBI
Persian Music
Sahba Motalebbi, born in Iran, is recognized internationally as a virtuoso of the tar and setar, lute-like stringed instruments central to one of the world's great musical traditions. She graduated from the Tehran Conservatory of Music, and was named Best Tar Player at the Iranian Music Festival for four years running (1995-98). She went on to help found the groundbreaking women's ensemble Chakaveh, and, in 1999, was invited to join the Iranian National Orchestra, thus beginning her career as an international performer. Her greatest honor has been performing and recording with Hossein Alizadeh and the Hamavayan Ensemble. For the past decade, she has lived in southern California, continuing to perform worldwide. In this concert, she performs a repertoire of traditional Persian music and original pieces accompanied by Naghmeh Farahmand on tonbak (goblet drum) and daf (frame drum).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ7IoylGLM0
Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 8:30pm $39, $46
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street & 7th Avenue, NYC
DEREK GRIPPER / TRIO DA KALI
Malian Voices
This exciting 2-part program features South African guitarist Derek Gripper, who has transcribed the kora (harp-lute) music of Malian masters Toumani Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko and others for classical guitar, and Trio da Kali a group of musicians from the Mandé culture of southern Mali who come from a long line of distinguished griots (oral historians /praise singers). Derek Gripper, acknowledged for his virtuosity throughout the world, recently searched for new directions in African music and has magically conjured anew a centuries-old ancient African musical heritage. Trio da Kali is comprised of Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté, daughter of the legendary Kasse Mady Diabaté and one of the finest griot voices in Mali; master balafon (xylophone) player Lassana Diabaté, formerly of Afrocubism and Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra; and bass ngoni (lute) player Mamadou Kouyaté, the eldest son of the instrument's leading exponent, Bassekou Kouyaté, and one of Mali's most creative musicians of the new generation.
Derek Gripper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSIGLpK9aQI
Trio da Kali: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSXOILHBnSs
Part of Carnegie Hall's World Views series. Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Robert Browning Associates
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 8:00 PM $25; seniors, students $21
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
LA BANDA MORISCA
From Andalusia to North Africa and the Near East
La Banda Morisca, from Jerez de la Frontera in the heart of Andalusia, performs an intoxicating blend of traditional flamenco with Arab-Andalusian melodies and rock. Composed of musicians from different backgrounds who have collaborated with many remarkable world music bands, including Radio Tarifa, La Banda Morisca evokes the cultural heritage of ancient al-Andalus and its reflection in the sounds of the current Andalusia, the Maghreb, and the Near East. The group features a singer and four musicians on traditional and contemporary instruments, including oud (lute), guitarra Morisca (Moorish guitar), tarota (oboe), banjo, bass, percussion, saxophones and drums.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHlUsBhdGQo
Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 8:00pm $30; seniors, students $25
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
THE SECRET TRIO: TAMER PINARBASI, ISMAIL LUMANOVSKI & ARA DINKJIAN
The Secret Trio is composed of three extraordinary musicians rooted in Turkish, Armenian and Macedonian Roma music who came together to create a new type of chamber music. Not bound by a single tradition, they perform original pieces and traditional melodies that incorporate the microtonal modes and improvisation of the Middle East, dance beats of the Balkans, and elements of jazz, rock, and classical music. The trio features Tamer Pinarbasi, a leading kanun (zither) player and a member of the New York Gypsy All-Stars; Ismail Lumanovski, a master clarinetist born in Bitola, Macedonia, who was lauded in the New York Times as a "brilliant, fearless young clarinetist" and has launched a major career as a soloist and a chamber musician in both the classical and cross-over repertoires; and Ara Dinkjian, one of the world's top oud players, who is best known as the founder of the highly influential and groundbreaking instrumental group Night Ark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6ZAoy-m43U
Friday, February 17, 2017 at 8:30pm $39, $46
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street & 7th Avenue, NYC
AHMET ERDO?DULAR CLASSICAL TURKISH MUSIC ENSEMBLE
The Venetian Republic, bridging East and West, linked the Byzantine and Ottoman empires with Europe. Ahmet Erdo?dular, one of Turkey's foremost vocalists, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the classical vocal tradition from Ottoman Turkey that many Europeans first heard in Venice centuries ago. He studied with his father, Ömer Erdo?dular, an important ney (flute) player who will be performing in this program, and later with Niyazi Sayin, one of the most influential Turkish musicians of the 20th century. His repertoire includes classical vocal music, gazels (sung poetry) and Sufi music, particularly that of the Mevlevi (Whirling Dervishes). He is joined by musicians on ney, oud (lute), kanun (zither) and kemenche (spike fiddle).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z04xt8qgcVg
This concert is part of Carnegie Hall's World Views and La Serenissima: Music and Arts from the Venetian Republic (Feb 3- 21). Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Robert Browning Associates
Friday, March 3, 2017 at 8:30pm $39, $46
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street & 7th Avenue, NYC
LÚNASA AND KARAN CASEY
Since its founding 20 years ago, Lúnasa has become one of the most popular bands on the international Celtic music scene. Its novel arrangements and distinctive musical approaches have created a singular sound that has propelled Irish acoustic music into exciting new territory. Performing on fiddle, flute, whistles, uillean pipes, double bass, and guitar, the group is joined by special guest Karan Casey, one of the most innovative and provocative voices in Irish folk music. In addition to her work as lead singer with Solas and her successful solo career, she has performed with James Taylor, Liam Clancy, Peggy Seeger, and Mick Moloney, among others.
Lunasa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJZUtloI8yo
Karan Casey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plZggQGlGFU
Part of Carnegie Hall's World Views series. Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Robert Browning Associates
Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 8:00pm $25; seniors, students $21
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
LURRIE BELL
Chicago Blues!
Lurrie Bell's intense guitar playing and passionate vocals have made him a favorite at clubs and festivals around the world and have earned him a reputation as one of the "leading lights" in the future of the blues. He has appeared on over 50 recordings either as leader or featured sideman and received numerous awards and honors, including Male Blues Artist of the Year (2008, 2012) in Living Blues magazine. Son of famed blues harmonica player Carey Bell, he picked up his father's guitar at the age of five and grew up surrounded by many Chicago blues legends. By 17, he was playing on stage with Willie Dixon. In 1977, he was a founding member of The Sons of Blues with Freddie Dixon and Billy Branch and a year later joined Koko Taylor's band. With his father he toured and made recordings, including the 2004 Alligator release Second Nature, which was nominated for a W.C. Handy Award. In this program he will be joined by his band and include selections from his acclaimed Delmark album Blues in My Soul.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiujMSlrN3s
Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 8:00pm $30; seniors, students $26
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
VISHWA MOHAN BHATT with SUBHEN CHATTERJEE
Indian Music for Mohan Veena (Slide Guitar) & Tabla
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt has been acclaimed throughout the world for his electrifying performances on the mohan veena, a slide guitar that he modified in shape and design and on which he assimilated techniques from the sitar, sarod and veena lutes. A top disciple of Ravi Shankar, he has received many honors including the prestigious Padma Shri, the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, and a Grammy® for Best World Music Album for his collaboration with Ry Cooder. He is joined by the brilliant tabla player Subhen Chatterjee, a disciple of Swapan Chaudhuri, who has performed with many of India's major artists, including Bhimsen Joshi, Girija Devi, V. G. Jog and Pandit Jasraj. He also created the fusion bands Karma and Friends of Drums (with Sivamani).
"one of the greatest and most expressive slide players in the world"- Acoustic Guitar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZXgui6GWN0
Saturday, April 22, 2017 at 8:00pm $25; seniors, students $21
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
LAKOU MIZIK
Haitian Roots & Grooves
Lakou Mizik ("Music from the Homeland") is a powerhouse collective of Haitian musicians who blend troubadou,vodou, rara carnival music, and urban soul. With such legends as master drummer Sanba Zao, and rising stars Steeve Valcourt and Jonas Attis, the group performs an exhilarating mix of traditional and modern roots music which blends the soulful spirit of a church revival, the social engagement of a political rally, and the trance-inducing intoxication of a vodou ritual. Formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake, Lakou Mizik communicates a message of pride, strength and hope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwXTm3U5buA
Friday, April 28 - Sunday, April 30, 2017
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
A World in Trance Festival - 3rd Edition!
Since earliest times music and dance have played a major role in uniting people through ritual, often seeking union with the divine through trance or ecstasy. This festival seeks to bring back some spiritual nourishment to our lives; to focus our physical and mental selves. While the music and rituals associated with each genre are very different from each other, they share a common thread in bringing people together in search of enlightenment. These are just a few of the many forms that music takes to enrich our lives.
Saturday, April 29, 2017 at 8:00pm $30; seniors, students $26
Roulette, 509 Atlantic Avenue at 3rd Avenue, Downtown Brooklyn
NIYAZ featuring AZAM ALI
Part of A World in Trance Festival
Niyaz has created a 21st century global trance tradition by seamlessly blending Sufi poetry and folk songs from its native Iran and surrounding countries with rich acoustic instrumentation and modern electronics. Formed in California in 2004 and based in Montreal, Niyaz has a far-reaching repertoire that tears down cultural boundaries and bridges the gap between East and West. The group was founded by the spellbinding vocalist/composer Azam Ali, whose Iranian heritage and Indian upbringing have deeply influenced her music, and multi-instrumentalist/composer Ramin Loga Torkian (oud & kamaan lutes). They are joined by Didem Basar (kanun-zither), Garbriel Ethier (keyboards, programming) and Vaneet Vyas (tabla-drums).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at4nOJ5Pl_c
The October 1st, October 7th, October 21st, November 19th and December 3rd concerts are made possible in part with public funding provided by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State legislature.
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