Irvine - The Barclay will reverberate with the percussion sounds from India in a unique performance 'Sacred Drums of India' on Friday September 30 at 8pm. A joint presentation of the Irvine based Ektaa Center, Bay area based Tabla Rasa and The Barclay, this is the first appearance of master percussionists Swapan Chaudhuri on the Tabla and Vidwan T.H. Subhas Chandran on the Ghatam (clay pot) on the Irvine stage. Both accomplished musicians in their own genre, they showcase the unique characteristics of North and South Indian drumming respectively. This event is an official event of the third World Sacred Music Festival of Los Angeles.
On the faculty at the renowned Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri has accompanied practically every known master vocalist or instrumentalist in the Hindustani music genre including Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj and Dr. Balmurali Krishna. His virtuosity and remarkable style of tabla playing leave an indelible impression on audiences the world over. With a busy touring and performing schedule, he has made important contributions to music including his collaborative work with Vidwan Subhas Chandran. The ghatam (clay pot) is one of the most unique percussion instruments in the Indian musical genre. Having its roots in the south, the Ghatam is played with bare fingers and Vidwan Subhas Chandran is one of the reigning masters. Combined with his skill in Konnokkol or mouth percussion, he provides unique and exciting explorations of percussion in the South Indian musical genre.
The masters are joined by two of their brightest pupils Ganesh Kumar on the Kanjira (tambourine) and Jim Santi Owen on morsing (jaw harp). Using the unique and complex one handed drumming technique on the Kanjira, Ganesh Kumar has found unimaginable nuances of sounds that have earned him kudos and respect from many renowned artists in both the Indian and Jazz musical genres. San Francisco based Jim Santi Owen is a master percussionist who has been drumming since the age of eight. Introduced to Tabla by his Guru Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, he is proficient on a wide range of Indian instruments including the mridangam, tavil, ghatam, kanjira and morsing. Besides performing with his gurus, he also leads 'Tabla Rasa', a percussion ensemble that will perform as guests for this show.
This concert is a joint presentation of the Ektaa Center, Tabla Rasa and the Barclay. 'This is a great opportunity for the southland community to see the coming together of master percussionists from two different musical genres in India on one stage' said Harish Murthy, Executive Director of the Ektaa Center. The Ektaa Center is the first center in Southern California for the arts and culture of India. Based in Irvine, the Center serves the southland community with classes, events and activities that promote an awareness and understanding of the arts and culture of India.. For more details or information about the Center call Harish Murthy at (949) 300-8912 or visit www.ektaacenter.org. For tickets to the performance please call the box office at (949) 854-4646 go online to www.thebarclay.org. MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and Discover are accepted. The theatre is located at 4242 Campus Drive in Irvine.
