By Mabel Pais

As part of the ‘COLLABORATIONS’ series, the World Music Institute of New York City with Absolutely Live Entertainment presents ‘Béla Fleck: Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody’ on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall, New York. Béla Fleck is joined by Ustad Zakir Hussain, Bruce Hornsby and Anat Cohen and Béla Fleck’s company.

This series of cross-cultural musical explorations often explores ways in which the music of artists from one culture have influenced the music of another culture, or the music of seemingly widely varying cultures can be strikingly similar or complementary.

PROGRAM 

Saturday, May 4, 2024

Doors: 7 PM  | Show: 8 PM

Carnegie Hall – 881 7th Ave. Manhattan

Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage

Co-presented with Absolutely Live Entertainment

Béla Fleck: Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody

Béla Fleck featuring

Eric Jacobsen & The Fleckharmonic

My Bluegrass Heart (Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses, Mark Schatz & Bryan Sutton)

Zakir Hussain – Honorary WMI Board Member

Bruce Hornsby

Anat Cohen

Performers

Béla Fleck, Banjo

Aeolian Philharmonic

Eric Jacobsen, Conductor

My Bluegrass Heart

– Michael Cleveland, Fiddle

– Sierra Hull, Mandolin

– Justin Moses, Dobro, Fiddle, and Banjo

– Mark Schatz, Bass

– Bryan Sutton, Guitar

Zakir Hussain, Tabla

Bruce Hornsby, Piano

Anat Cohen, Clarinet

TICKETS

Tickets are available on a tiered basis. To access tickets, visit carnegiehall.org/Cart/Event-Seating?itemNumber=46811#

BELA FLECK

Béla Fleck has virtually reinvented the image and sound of the banjo through a remarkable legacy of four decades that has taken him all over the musical map.

His musical journey has earned him 16 Grammy awards in nine different fields, including Country, Pop, Jazz, Instrumental, Classical and World Music. His newest project is no different, and yet, entirely original as Fleck expands and explores George Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ by paying homage to the legendary composer while redefining an American classic just in time for its centennial.

‘Rhythm, Raga & Rhapsody’ will celebrate the music of Fleck’s career, including his New York premiere of ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ performed with an orchestra, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. The multi-artist night features ‘My Bluegrass Heart,’ tabla master Zakir Hussain, pianist Bruce Hornsby, and woodwind player Anat Cohen.

ZAKIR HUSSAIN

Ustad Zakir Hussain is widely considered to be one of the greatest tabla players of all time and globally recognized not only as a tabla virtuoso but also as a composer, music producer, percussionist, and film actor. He has received the highest awards given by the Indian government such as the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhusha, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, as well as multiple Grammy Awards and the NEA National Heritage Fellowship for his contributions to Indian classical music and percussion. Zakir became the first musician from India to receive 3 Grammys at one time at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024, for Best Global Music Album, Best Global Music Performance and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. Learn more at zakirhussain.com.

He is a WMI Honorary Board member.

ERIC JACOBSEN

Already well-established as one of classical music’s most exciting and innovative young conductors, Eric Jacobsen combines fresh interpretations of the traditional canon with cutting-edge collaborations across musical genres. Learn more at jacobseneric.com 

BRUCE HORNSBY

Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Hornsby has won three Grammy Awards: a 1987 Grammy Award for Best New Artist with Bruce Hornsby and the Range, a 1990 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Recording, and a 1994 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. Learn more at brucehornsby.com. 

ANAT COHEN

Ever charismatic, prolific and inspired, Grammy-nominated clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen has won hearts and minds the world over with her expressive virtuosity and delightful stage presence.

Anat has been declared Clarinetist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association every year since 2007 and has also been named the top clarinetist in both the readers and critics polls in DownBeat for multiple years running. Learn more at anatcohen.com.

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EXPLORE JAPANESE CULTURE WITH FOLK & ANIME SONGS FOR PEACE

By Mabel Pais

Experience a live performance of sanshin with folk and anime singing by RINO AISE at the beautiful and private Globus Washitsu, an authentic Japanese space in Manhattan on May 2, 2024. 

PROGRAM

WHAT:  Sixth Annual Japanese Salon

WHEN:  Thur, May 2, 2024

WHERE: Globus Washitsu @ 889 Broadway between 19/20th Streets, Manhattan

6:30 pm – Door open. Arrive on time so as not to disturb the performance.

7:00 pm – Live performance followed by a Q&A session

8:00 pm – Reception with sushi, sake, and refreshments

A live performance of sanshin with folk and anime singing by RINO AISE.

Sushi, sake, and refreshments will also be served in the beautiful and private Globus Washitsu, an authentic Japanese space in Manhattan.

PLEASE NOTE:

Please bring white socks as visitors are not permitted to wear shoes inside the Globus Washitsu.

TICKETS

For tickets, visit ci.ovationtix.com/35721/production/1197150.

Member benefits apply. Space is limited.

RINO AISE

Rino Aise, a native of Japan, is a performer of drama and music. Rino initially studied Minyo (folk songs) with Ryushu Kubota, the highest teacher of the Hokkaido Folk Song Federation. Then she started playing sanshin, a traditional Okinawan instrument, to pursue her music career singing folk, anime, and original songs throughout the U.S. and Japan.

Band: Rino Aise Band R. A. B

Duo: PinkLagoon

Learn more at rinoaise.com

The Globus Washitsu

The Globus Washitsu is an authentic Japanese space in central Manhattan, comprised of traditional shoji screens, tatami mats, and fusuma. It is an ideal setting for listening to Japanese music. Created by the Globus family with the assistance of Japanese carpenters, it has a full tea house where traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and lessons are conducted. The Globus Family sponsors many facets of Japanese culture including music, art, film, kimono, craft, dance, etc. They also offer residence for visiting artists in their Ryokan (Japanese style living space). They collaborate with other cultural institutions, such as the World Music Institute to broaden the dialogue between people from Japan and the USA. For more information, visit nycwashitsu.com.

(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Education, Social Issues, Cuisine, Spirituality, Health & Wellness, and Business)