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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2016
Tickets & Information: (212) 279-4200
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“Leaders of the Raga renaissance."
— The New Yorker on Brooklyn Raga Massive
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WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE
begins its Global/Local series with
Brooklyn Raga Massive's
John Coltrane Birthday Celebration
The celebrated local Indian classical music collective pays tribute to
Coltrane's legacy through a stunning reinterpretation of his music
on what would have been his 90th birthday
Friday, September 23, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Littlefield
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From WMI Artistic Director Par Neiburger:
“John Coltrane remains an incredibly influential artist of late-20th century music. What is often overlooked in his enduring legacy is the strong influence that the music of India had on his art and how important he was within world music, not just jazz and the avant-garde. Brooklyn Raga Massive's unique tribute sheds light on this important aspect of the master's music. Just as Coltrane reimagined Indian music in his own artistic pursuits, Brooklyn Raga Massive, in turn, reinterprets and reimagines his music from the vantage point of an Indian classical music ensemble fused with jazz elements. In doing so BRM not only honors Coltrane's cultural legacy, it honors the innovative spirit which was so fundamental to who he was as an artist.â€
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Global/Local Series
Friday, September 23, 2016, 8:00 p.m.
Littlefield
622 Degraw Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue, Brooklyn
In celebration of John Coltrane (1926-1967) on what would have been his 90th birthday, the dynamic and hugely popular Brooklyn Raga Massive—a collective of forward thinking musicians rooted in and inspired by the classical music of India—pays tribute to his legacy through its interpretation of his music. John Coltrane remains a pivotal force in the styles of modal jazz, avant-garde jazz, hard-bop and world music. Through his truly unique music, Coltrane bridged seemingly disparate cultures the way only few figures in modern music ever did. With records like Om and songs like India, Coltrane and his legacy have led a movement towards bringing Indian music influences closer to the world of Jazz music.
Brooklyn Raga Massive will be joined by special guests including the highly revered post-bop jazz pianist Marc Cary and harpist Brandee Young, who "has become a harpist of rare prominence in jazz, building on an African-American legacy largely defined by Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane" according to Nate Chinen in The New York Times this past February.
This show takes place at Littlefield, an exciting state-of-the-art performance and art space in Brooklyn's Gowanus neighborhood that was formerly a 6200-square foot textile warehouse dating from the 1920s.
PERFORMERS:
Sameer Gupta, Musical Director, Drumset, Tabla
Jay Gandhi, Bansuri flute
Pawan Benjamin, Saxophones, Arrangements
Arun Ramamurthy, Carnatic violin
Abhik Mukherjee, Sitar
Marc Cary, Piano
Trina Basu, Violin
Brandee Younger, Harp
Michael Gam, Bass, Arrangements
Rashaan Carter, Bass
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WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE
GLOBAL/LOCAL SERIES
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WMI’s Global/Local initiative is dedicated to discovering and celebrating the international richness of the musicians and dancers living in the New York area. This series exposes these artists to wider audiences while celebrating the diversity of our city.
Additional concerts in WMI's Global/Local series
will be announced in January 2017.
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“A decidedly edgier, more forward-looking new direction."
— THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
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Founded in 1985 as a not-for-profit, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as the leading presenter of world music and dance within the United States.
WMI is committed to presenting the finest in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world with the goal of inspiring wonder for world cultures through music and dance. WMI aims to enrich the lives of people living in New York by promoting awareness of other cultures and their traditions. WMI collaborates with community organizations and academic institutions in fostering greater understanding and appreciation of the world’s cultural traditions and presents at venues throughout the city.
Under new leadership since 2015, its 30th anniversary season, World Music Institute has introduced an ambitious expansion of concert offerings that include contemporary, experimental and avant-garde presentations, as well as the traditional music that WMI has long been known and admired for. In addition, the institution is thrilled to have launched new partnerships with BAM, 92nd Street Y, SummerStage, Merkin Concert Hall, National Sawdust, Storm King Art Center, Le Poisson Rouge, Littlefield and Drom—while continuing partnerships with The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Town Hall, Symphony Space, French Institute Alliance Française, and Apollo Theater (the annual Africa Now festival).
WMI has presented more than 1,500 concerts and events featuring artists from more than 100 countries across all continents. Through powerful programming, WMI is creating a movement that promotes awareness and engagement of other cultures, helping to encourage deeper understanding of communities around the globe.
“A widely copied and influential force in New York cultural circles.â€
— THE NEW YORK TIMES
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For further information, press tickets, photos, and to arrange interviews,
please contact Aleba & Co. at 212/206-1450 or aleba@alebaco.com. |
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