Abhijit and Paul have an 8 year record of musical collaboration. They have developed a dynamic rapport through international performances & recording
projects, including concerts around the US, India, Mexico and Indonesia.
Paul Z. Livingstone is one of the few American disciples of the living legend Pandit Ravi Shankar. An international performing artist known for his virtuosity on the sitar Paul also plays a colorful array of stringed instruments including fretless guitars and requintos of his own design. He is a dynamic performer
in the rigorous improvisational realm of Indian classical music and through the vehicle of his own original ‘ragajazz chamber music’. He has devoted the past 28 years of his musical life to the intensive study of the sitar and the ragas of North India from his teenage days when he lived in India. Paul received his BFA & MFA from Cal Arts learning under Amiya Dasgupta, Rajeev Taranath, John Bergamo & Charlie Haden among others. Livingstone has performed around the world and in India was recognized as “an Indian soul in white skin” in the Calcutta press. He has worked with diverse virtuoso artists such as Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri, Geetha Bennett, Kenny Burrell, Prince Diabate, Hossien Alizadeh, Ali Jihad Racy, Miroslav Tadic, the Liän Ensemble, and popular artists Ozomatli, Cypress Hill, Alanis Morissette & Rufus Wainright. In addition to leading the Arohi Ensemble he has composed scores for film, television and live theater, was on the music faculty of Cal Arts for 5 years and is the Founder & Director of the Sangeet School of World Music in Los Angeles and. He has received numerous awards, grants and fellowships for his unique work and leadership in the field of ‘world music synthesis’ as a composer, educator and ensemble leader. His vision to blend and coalesce diverse global traditions into a compelling cross-cultural sound reflects his innermost social, political and spiritual values. Paul online: www.tanpura.com
Abhijit Banerjee is among the premier tabla players of India and is one of the most sought after performers of Indian classical music. For the past twenty years, Abhijit has crafted a unique style and creative approach, which has garnered accolades and awards from all over the world for his sensitivity, skill and deep musicality. Along with his contributions to Indian classical music he has left his mark as a crossover artist, both as a performer and composer. Abhijit has accompanied most of the major figures of Indian music including Pt. Ravi Shankar, the late Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Begum Parweena Sultana, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma & Dr.Balamurali Krishnan. As a tabla soloist, he has made his mark through performances and recordings in India and abroad. His crossover work includes collaborations with musicians such as Ry Cooder, Larry Corryell and Trilok Gurtu. Abhijit founded his own touring ensemble TARANG performing his original compositions and released a CD of the same title. He founded & established Dhwani Academy of Percussion in Los
Angeles, New York, Singapore and Calcutta attracting talented students from around the world. Abhijit online: www.abhijitbanerjee.com
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