https://tinyurl.com/ydca7rxu District of Raga Presents: Neel Murgai

$10 *cash only accepted at the door

Details: 9:00 PM Neel Murgai: sitar & vocal Avi Shah: tabla

10:15 PM Raga Jam Session

Bossa Bistro & Lounge 2463 18th Street NW Washington, DC 20009

In this unique concert Neel Murgai shares his interdisciplinary talents in two parts. The first part will feature Neel's overtone singing with live looping, to create a psychedelic experience of just intonation drones and chords, mixed with primal guttural rhythms and harmonic counterpoint. The second part of the concert will be a North Indian classical performance with Neel on sitar accompanied by District of Raga's own Avi Shah on tabla.

Neel Murgai is a sitarist, daf player, overtone singer, composer and teacher from Brooklyn, NY. He is a cofounder and artistic director of Brooklyn Raga Massive, a nonprofit musicians collective dedicated to Indian music. Neel has studied sitar for over 20 years, currently with his guru Pundit Krishna Bhatt. He learned overtone singing from Timothy Hill of the Harmonic Choir. He is a graduate of Goddard College's MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts program. Neel has performed around the world with numerous artists from varying disciplines including, Bill T. Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Wyclef Jean, Andre DeShields, Karsh Kale, Vijay Iyer, Daniel Bernard Romain, Dana Leong, Ellen Stewart, Laraaji, Yuerba Buena, Baba Israel, Raz Mesinai, Mission on Mars, Akim Funk Buddha, Loren Conners, Louis Bellogenis and Cosmo Vinyl. He has performed at venues ranging from the Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center to the David Letterman Show to jazz clubs such as the Blue Note and at festivals around the U.S including Art Wallah, Arts Plosure, Masala! Mehndi! Masti! and many others. Neel played in the orchestra for Disney’s musical theater adaptation of “The Jungle Book” directed by Mary Zimmerman. Neel has composed music for many film, TV, video, theater and dance projects including the features, “The Yes Men Fix the World", which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and "A Decent Arrangement" starring Shabana Azmi. His music has been featured in the BBC series, “Holiday’s in the Danger Zone", and TBS programs, “Women of the Ink", and “Spotlights".

Raised in the US, Advait Shah (Avi) has been playing tabla since the age of eight. Largely a self taught musician, Advait has developed much of his musical knowledge and skill through listening to recordings and attending concerts. He received a basic training at the Faculty of Performing Arts of the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Baroda during a trip to India in 1986. Upon his return to the USA, he began accompanying musicians in all genres of Indian music including Hindustani classical, ghazals, qawalis, film and devotional music. He later received advanced training from Ustad Tari Khan in Chicago, IL., and has had the opportunity to attend workshops taught by the great Ustad Zakir Hussain. As an accompanist, he has shared the stage with Nisar Bazmi, Ustad Nafiz Ali Khan and Pandit Subroto Roy Choudury, among others. Through his training and self study, Avi has developed a unique style which creatively blends a mix of East and West. Along with Karavika, he also plays with fusion alternative rock/Indian group Banyan Trees. Avi's musical interests also extend to singing ghazals and Hindi film songs as well as playing the dhol, and other percussion instruments. By profession, Avi is a practicing dentist in the Baltimore area.

After the performance our jam session will follow. We are focused on encouraging spontaneous collaboration between smaller groups of musicians. Pairs, trios, quartets: join up with other musicians that are present or that you've met at past events and sign up for a slot to play. We only ask that your performance is rooted in or inspired by the tradition of Indian Classical Music.

Hosted, organized, and curated by Nistha Raj and Avi Shah, District of Raga is a monthly event for Indian Classical music with featured artists followed by a jam session. All are welcome to participate. We are focused on encouraging spontaneous collaboration between smaller groups of musicians. Pairs, trios, quartets: join up with other musicians that are present or that you've met at past events and sign up for a slot to play. We only ask that your performance is rooted in or inspired by the tradition of Indian Classical Music. More info: https://www.facebook.com/districtofra ga/

Thank you for your support!! District of Raga