By Mabel Pais

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the legendary Ustad Vilayat Khan, an evening of musical remembrance and cultural celebration takes place paying homage to the enduring legacy of Ustad Vilayat Khan.

Sunny Thakkar of Sneh Arts is proud to curate a special memorial concert at (Zankel Hall) Carnegie Hall (carnegiehall.org – located at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York City) on March 2nd, 2024. This significant event promises an evening of emotional resonance and musical excellence.

PROGRAM

WHEN:   March 2nd, 2024, 7 PM

WHERE:  Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall, New York City

The opening tribute will immerse the audience in a combination of music, audio-visuals, and poetic narration, skillfully performed by the Mausiqui Ensemble. Featuring Hidayat Khan, Jay Gandhi, Abhik Mukherjee, Ehren Hanson, and Enayet Hossain, the ensemble will pay homage to the maestro in a soulful manner. The poetic narration by Sunayana Kachroo will add a literary touch, enriching the emotional tapestry of the tribute.

The program will reach its pinnacle with a spellbinding sitar recital by the internationally acclaimed Nishat Khan, accompanied by the rhythmic tabla beats of Nitin Mitta.

This musical collaboration promises to be a poignant and fitting conclusion to an evening dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Ustad Vilayat Khan.

This unique program is  collaboration of Sneh Arts and the Ustad Vilayat Khan Foundation, a testament to their shared commitment to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Indian classical music. Together, they ensure a comprehensive and authentic tribute to the maestro, emphasizing his enduring impact on the world of music.

TICKETS

Purchase tickets at Carnegie Hall’s box office or at the website:

carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2024/03/02/Ustad-Vilayat-Khan-20th-Anniversary-Memorial-Concert-0700PM

Ustad Vilayat Khan

Learn more at vilayatkhan.com

Carnegie Hall

Carnegie Hall’s mission is to present extraordinary music and musicians on the three stages of this legendary hall, to bring the transformative power of music to the widest possible audience, to provide visionary education programs, and to foster the future of music through the cultivation of new works, artists, and audiences. Carnegie Hall first opened its doors in 1891. Additionally, Carnegie Hall also supports educational activities throughout the city and beyond through its Weill Music Institute.

Sneh Arts NY

Founded by Sunny Thakkar, The Sneh Arts platform presents South Asian culture including music, dance, film and theater on a global stage.

Follow Sneh Arts @ facebook.com/SnehArtsNY

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FLAMENCO LIVING LEGEND  PERFORMS IN NYC

By Mabel Pais

Living legend, José Fernández Torres – aka TOMATITO – one of Spain’s great modern masters of the flamenco guitar opens the Flamenco Festival in New York City on March 1, 2024. 

The World Music Institute (WMI) welcomes back Tomatito to New York City with his first show at The Town Hall since 2018. This Festival is part of the ORIGINS series featuring artists who delve into the folklore and roots of their respective culture’s music to tell the story of their origins, preserving and affirming cultural identities and legacies.

Listen to his music – youtu.be/7r0MgQ0pZeA

José Fernández Torres (Tomatito)

For those who know about flamenco guitar or gipsy guitar, the nickname “Tomatito” has a lot of resonance. It belongs to José Fernández Torres. With an artistic career that covers five decades, Tomatito has achieved a high level of recognition and appreciation from the public. This is not only well deserved, but also justifies his influence on the musical genre of flamenco guitar.

As a solo artist, Tomatito has released a dozen albums since his 1987 debut – winning multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY awards.

‘The New York Times’ hails Tomatito as “the most eminent guitarist in flamenco.”

A brilliant innovator and improviser, Tomatito first made his name as a teenage prodigy in 1973, famously discovered by Paco de Lucía and invited to accompany legendary singer Camarón de la Isla at the age of 15. The precocious Roma teen from Almería would go on to have one of the most storied careers in flamenco music, recording four groundbreaking albums in the 1980s alongside de Lucía and El Camarón, and accompanying such flamenco luminaries as Enrique Morente, José Mercé, and Carmen Linares.

Being the son of another famous flamenco guitarist, El Tomate – and having Miguel Tomate as his grandfather – young José Fernández was exposed to the beauty, metric scope, harmony and melody that comprise flamenco music throughout his childhood and infancy.

In a way, you could say that being a flamenco guitarist runs through your veins – it’s in your genes. His uncle, Miguel Vega de la Cruz, better known to the public as El Niño Miguel, provided the young José with an example of the levels of success that could be achieved within flamenco music.

Today, this talent can also be seen in Tomatito’s son,  José del Tomate, who most recently accompanied his father on his international tours.

Learn more about Tomatito at tomatito.org.

PROGRAM

WHEN:   Friday, March 1, 2024 at 8 PM, Doors open at 7 PM

WHERE:  The Town Hall,  123 W 43d St (Manhattan)

TICKETS

Tickets are available on a tiered pricing; membership benefits apply. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com/event/03005ED75AD80BD0

World Music Institute (WMI) 

Founded in 1985, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed

to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world with the goal of inspiring wonder for the world’s rich cultural

traditions, promoting awareness and appreciation and encouraging cross-cultural dialog and exchange.

For all queries, contact World Music Institute at

info@worldmusicinstitute.org / (212) 545-7536 

FOLLOW WORLD MUSIC INSTITUTE ONLINE!

Facebook:   @worldmusicinstituteNYC

Twitter:     @WMInyc

Instagram: @worldmusicinstitute

Youtube:     bit.ly/WorldMusicInstitute-YouTube or

youtube.com/c/worldmusicinstitute

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