The sounds of Indian classical music filled the Guggenheim Theatre at UC San Diego Park & Market on Thursday, February 16, when virtuoso tabla player Samir Chatterjee and his trio performed as part of event series Intersections.
Samir Chatterjee is considered one of the world’s leading tabla players and an expert in Indian music. Tabla, a musical instrument consisting of a pair of small drums, is fundamental (since the 18th century) to Hindustani music of northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The music produced is intricate, rhythmic and expressive. From an early age, Samir studied under the teaching of musicians from the Farrukhabad Gharana (school) of tabla-playing, which he now represents. Today, he lives in the New York / New Jersey area and travels frequently to perform for festivals and events, including for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway, in 2007 and for the United Nations General Assembly on multiple occasions. He is a member of jazz trio SYNC and quintet Inner Diaspora and has recorded with a wide array of both Indian and non-Indian musicians. In addition to performing, Samir is known for his writings, compositions and as a teacher. He authored a comprehensive 654-page book entitled ‘A Study of Tabla’ and a guide book to Indian music titled ‘Music of India’. As the Founder-Director of CHHANDAYAN, he is dedicated to promoting and preserving Indian music and culture. He is also on the faculty at Yale University, Manhattan School of Music, University of Pittsburgh and New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music.
Joining Chatterjee for the concert at the UC San Diego downtown hub of Park & Market were Paul Livingstone on sitar and Suman Laha on other Indian stringed instruments.The performance by the trio can be viewed on UCTV at: Intersections-Presents the Samir Chatterjee Trio
Intersections at Park & Market is an interdisciplinary event series presented by UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies at UC San Diego Park & Market downtown. Intersections offers new, diverse takes on traditional ideas and forms in a variety of disciplines. Events include concerts and other artistic performances, spoken word, educational presentations and lectures, demonstrations and more.
The series is curated by Andrew Waltz, Director of Arts Management at Park & Market along with leading ethnographer-artist Yale Strom, who also serves as host of the concert series offering authentic explorations of global music. Following each performance, Yale Strom moderates a Q&A with the artists, an opportunity for attendees to be inspired by their creativity and develop a deeper appreciation for their craft.
“We are thrilled to introduce San Diego audiences to ideas or approaches to traditional forms they might not otherwise encounter in a live space, in lineups they may not previously have imagined, all with thoughtful narrators to guide them through the experience,” shared Waltz.
Ongoing Intersections events will take place at UC San Diego Park & Market’s Guggenheim Theatre, a state-of-the-art, 220-seat venue. The next event on the calendar is:
- April 20, 2023, 7pm: “Gilbert Castellanos Quintet”
Guadalajara-born and San Diego-based jazz trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos will give the audience a grand tour of jazz a’la John Coltrane. Get tickets here.
For more information about Intersections or other upcoming events at Park & Market, please visit: parkandmarket.ucsd.edu/events/