WAHH World Fusion Band

Sitar recital by Hindol Deb
Shankh Lahiri on Tabla

followed by energizing
WAHH World Fusion Band

• Concert Date: Saturday 26 October 2024
• Concert Time: 6 - 9 PM EST
• Concert Venue: FSW Carl & Diana Grissom Community Room, AA-177 , 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33919 (Parking Lot 1)
• Parking Lot 1 is the first from College Pkwy.
  Enter through Walker Hall/Medical Museum of History and the first hallway on the right leads you to AA 177. Look for RAAGA signs.
• Admission: FREE. Please register below on our website to attend.

DONATIONS ENCOURAGED!

Hindol Deb our Sitarist for this evening, started learning the Sitar at the age of five from his father Sri Panchanan Sardar. Thereafter, he received training from other imminent teachers like Pandit Santosh Bannerji from the Rampur gharana (school of thought)whose profound influence on of Been-ang (special style of playing Veena) on Surbahar inspired him to imbibe that style in his performance. Later he went on to learn from Pandit Deepak Chowdhury who taught him the tantrakari of the Maihar gharana. Some of the other eminent artists who have been a source of Hindol's inspiration are Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, Pandit Nikhil Bannerji, Pandita Girija Devi, Pandit BhimsenJoshi, Pandita Kishori Amonkar among others have shaped Hindol's style of performance.

As one of the Indian music critics wrote in his column,”Hindol’s performance is marked by a combination of technical finesse and a deep sense of maturity.” His indian classical renditions are marked by maintaining the aethetics of the Raga, carefully crafted Improvisation with elaborate rhythmic sections. Hindol’s deep interest in creating meaningful compositions to play together with non-indian instruments led him to finish Masters in Jazz Improvisation from the Hochschule für Musik, Köln. During his study at the University his interest was drawn towards the medieval western music as well as Jazz followed by several sessions with the musicians. The outcome of these sessions are his own projects – Medieval Raga, with Indian & Medieval music composed for Sitar, Cello and Percussion and Essence of Duality , a Crossover-jazz Quartet composed for Sitar, Piano, Double Bass and Drums.

Apart from his own projects, Hindol has been actively involved in combining different other genres with Indian music exploring the infinite combinations in the crossover of Indian music with various other genres like Contemporary Western Classical, Jazz, Flamenco, Nordic folk, Balkan music. In 2015 he did a Crossover Project together with German double Bassist Sebastian Gramss called Roots & Shoots touring India and Germany. He also worked with the well-known Swedish Duo Nina and Mattias Perez on their Nordic-Indian Crossover Northlight to give performances in Sweden and India. In 2018 he recorded for Marcus Stockhausen together with other musicians in Eternal Voyage, released by SONY music. In 2019 he worked with Marina Abramovic in her Project ‘Anders Hören’ performed at the Alte-Oper Frankfurt. He was commissioned by the well-known danseuse Daksha Mashruwala to compose for a music Dance Choreography 'Crossing Oceans' has been staged in all major dance festivals in India.

Hindol has also been invited to several artists-in-residency programs like the Carnegie Hall Alumni residency, Recollets - french ministry of culture, Rikskonzerter Sweden to participate in Ethno, Goethe Institute Germany among others. He has toured internationally in various countries including US, Germany, France, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Japan, Denmark, Switzerland, Luxembourg.

As a dedicated teacher Hindol conducts Sitar lessons and workshops of Indian Classical music, Improvisation, interpretation of Indian music in Western musical context. Among some of the Institutes he has conducted workshops in Hoschule for Muzik und Tanz in Cologne, Popakademie Mannheim, Rheinische Musicschule Cologne, Arvika, Karlstad and Lund University in Sweden to name a few. Since 2017 Hindol teaches Indian Music at the Popakademie in Mannheim.

Hindol is accompanied on the Tabla by Shankh Lahiri
Shankh Lahiri - Tabla Virtuoso, Composer, and Music Educator

Shankh Lahiri is an internationally acclaimed tabla player, composer, and singer with deep roots in Indian Classical Music. Born into a musical family, he received intensive training in vocal music and tabla from his father, sitarist Shri Rabi Lahiri. Shankh later studied under Pt. Sandeep Dev and is currently a senior disciple of tabla maestro Pandit Nayan Ghosh.

As a performer, Shankh has shared stages with legends like Pandit Jasraj and Ustad Shujaat Khan. His global tours have included performances at prestigious venues such as the Sanremo Music Festival in Cuba and South by Southwest in the US. Shankh also performed for Raaga earlier this year, accompanying Veena Maestro Rajesh Vaidhya.

Shankh is also a dedicated music educator and cultural ambassador. He founded the Shruti Foundation, Shruti School of Music, and WAHH! World Fusion Band. Through these organizations, based in Tampa, Florida, he promotes Indian Classical and intercultural music in the United States through classes, concerts, and workshops.

Shankh Lahiri's multifaceted career as a performer, composer, and educator makes him a significant figure in the global Indian Classical Music scene. His work continues to bridge cultures and inspire new generations of musicians and music lovers.

See also
shankhandfriends.com
shrutifoundationtampa.org
shrutischoolofmusic.com
wahhmusic.com

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ShankhLahiri/featured 

WAHH World Fusion Band:
Peter Mongaya - Guitar, 

Seth Lynn - Bass, Michael Washington - Drums

Hindol Deb - Sitar, Shankh Lahiri - Tabla
WAHH World Fusion Band, founded by tabla virtuoso Shankh Lahiri, is an innovative musical ensemble that seamlessly blends Eastern and Western musical traditions. Winner of the 'Best of the Bay' award in 2016, WAHH crafts original music that fuses Indian classical elements with contemporary Western styles.

The band's unique sound, dubbed 'RaagaJazz', intertwines Indian ragas with rock, jazz, and funk, creating a captivating and dynamic musical experience.

Since their debut in Tampa in 2009, WAHH has rperformed at the SanRemo Music Festival in Cuba, South by Southwest, Tropical Heatwave Festival, Gasparilla Music Fest, House of Blues LA, Rockwood Music Hall in New York City, and the Straz Center for Performing Arts.

As described by Leilani Polk of Creative Loafing Tampa, WAHH's music is "heady and inherently exotic, while remaining intriguingly listenable." Their innovative approach to world fusion music continues to unite diverse audiences under a creative new sound, bridging cultural gaps through the universal language of music.

For more information and to experience WAHH's unique sound, visit wahhmusic.com or their social media channels on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. Listen to a sample below.