Album Notes

Josh Feinberg was introduced to music through piano at age 4. He switched to the upright and electric bass at 8. He was soon playing in state orchestras and prestigious youth symphonies across the New York area, performing at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, Hofstra University and LeFrak Hall. In the 2000 NYSMA competition, he scored the highest marks in the eastern United States for his jazz bass playing. In 2002, he entered the New England Conservatory of Music, one of the world’s oldest and most respected music schools, where he was granted two merit-based scholarships. It was then that he heard the music of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee that he was so moved he began studying sitar with great discipline and enthusiasm. Practicing up to 10+ hours a day, he progressed quickly. Though he is young he is being lauded as a promising up and coming artist. Josh plays in the respected Maihar Gharana (school of performance) and follows the style of his hero, the incomparable sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. Josh had the distinction of being the only Sitar major at NEC in 10 years and earned his B.M. in Sitar Performance and Contemporary Improvisation in 2006. He has studied kheyal with Warren Senders. He received his first few sitar lessons from Vijaya Sundaram, and then perused his studies with Dr. Peter Row; with whom he studied for two years. Josh now receives training from Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. He has also received training from three of Khan-sahib's senior most disciples: James Pomerantz, George Ruckert in the USA, and Anindya Banerjee during his 2006- '07 Fulbright scholarship in Calcutta, India. Josh has served on faculty at the LearnQuest Indian music school (www.learnquest.org), The Queens College summer program and at the Surati School for Music and Dance (www.suratiinc.com). Some of his most notable performances include recitals at New England Conservatory, Brandeis University, Perdue University, and the Majestic Theater at Emerson College. He has given lecture/demonstrations at Harvard University, The Ali Akbar College of Music Annual Festival, Queens College in New York, Stoller Middle School in Oregon, the Pemberton School in Massachusetts and the Greens Farms Academy in Connecticut. Josh has also had the honor of accompanying Dr. Peter Row numerous times at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, the New England Conservatory of Music and Amherst College. Also a recording artist, Josh has explored the fusion of Indian and Western musics as well. He’s brought his sitar playing to Richie Barshay's album, “Homework,” with special guest Herbie Hancock, as well as to recordings with singer-songwriters Andrea Pauta, and Audrey Ryan. Josh would like to express his undying gratitude to all his teachers for their generosity and guidance in music and in life. (For booking or lesson information, please visit www.joshfeinbergmusic.com for more information.