8 months since the last time I wrote here. First time for many things... first time reporting from Chennai, first experience of a deluge here in the city of my birth. In awe at Nature and her immense capacity to bring the unexpected...
Rewinding back to summer 2015: Intense workshops, travel to India for the national program of music and Sangeet Samraat in Bangalore and Chennai. Fall 2015: Sounds of the Ancient tour with the wonderful Bansuri wizard Pandit Ronu Majumdar with Mridangam maestro Shri Thanjavur Murugaboopathi and Shri Ajeet Pathak from Bombay on Tabla. A lovely experience.
Thank you hosting organizations' hosts and the wonderful artists who were with me ... all brought together for my first tour with Minnesota's own Layyasaaram Institute for the Arts. Sangeet Samraat in Minnesota, Song of Wonder MSAB Arts Tour with David Harris and Voices of Sepherad in St.Peter and Northfield, Summer Rain with Zeitgeist in Grand Marais and Duluth.
November also saw Sublime Journey sitar/veena concert to Bahrain and Carnatica's Bharat Sangeet Utsav in Coimbatore, a solo in Dubai. Beginning the season with Parivaadhini and LayaMadhura..before the deluge descended in a big way.
It's been a humbling experience being involved in relief efforts in Chennai...Hailing the Spirit of the artist and organizations who are continuing with the music Season with a few schedule adjustments. Feeling blessed to have music be part of my life.
Chennaites, prayers for you all ---Take care !!!
-NR