Experience an enchanting evening of Indian classical music featuring the soulful bansuri of Rakesh Chaurasia one of India’s leading flautists and nephew of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, accompanied by the dynamic and intricate tabla of Amit Kavthekar, disciple of Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain. Together, they create a mesmerizing dialogue of melody and rhythm, blending tradition with masterful improvisation.

Rakesh Chaurasia

Rakesh Chaurasia is the nephew of flute maestro Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, one of the most legendary figures in Indian classical music who is widely considered the greatest living bansuri (Indian flute) player in India. The most accomplished of disciples of his uncle, he shows all the promise to carry the Chaurasia legacy to new heights. Rakesh is known to many worldwide for his collaborative album with Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Zakir Husain As We Speak that won two Grammy awards.

Just like his legendary uncle, Rakesh possesses the right balance of strength and serenity, very critical factors for an exceptional flautist. His dextrous blowing technique coupled with his training as of ‘Swar’ and ‘Tala’ exudes adeptly in his emotions through the hollow piece of bamboo. Rakesh has already globe trotted many times over, enthralling audiences at classical and semi-classical concerts in Japan, Australia, Europe, South Africa and USA. He is also an accomplished musician having recorded with most of the leading stalwarts of the Indian film industry. He was invited to conclude the twenty-four hour live music broadcast to a worldwide audience on the BBC radio celebrating Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee. Despite his experimental work, Rakesh has never deviated from his main goal of becoming a full-fledged classical musician. He has regularly appeared in prominent festivals like WOMAD festival in Athens, ‘Festivals of India’ in Russia, Japan, USA and Europe. His growing maturity and status has brought him invitations to perform solo at major events within India and abroad such as the Festival of Saint-Denis in Paris, Leicester International Music Festival in England. He has received Indian Music Academy Award from Honourable President Of India Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 2007, Aditya Birla Kalakiran Puraskar in 2008 and Guru Shishya Award in 2011.

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Amit Kavthekar

Young and talented Amit Kavthekar (“GANDA-BANDH SHAGIRD” of Late Ustad Allarakha) has rhythm running in his veins. At the early age of six, he was being groomed in the art of playing tabla by the legendary Ustad Allarakha. He has also been fortunate enough to be taught tabla intricacies by Ustad Zakir Hussain - a maestro in Indian classical music, an international phenomenon in the fields of percussion and global music.

Amit has played with many eminent Indian Classical Musicians such as Ustad Zakir Hussain and Sivamani on Zee TV in India, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan at Google Talks, Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan at Berklee College of Music, Ustad Ashish Khan at Learnquest Festival at Regis College MA, Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta in Baithak, Boston MA, Pt. Kushal Das at MIT, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma in his Documentary directed by Jabbar Patel in India, Pt. Jasraj in his vocal recital in Pune India and many others. Recently, Amit played at the United Nations Day Concert 2018 with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ayaan Ali Bangash and Amaan Ali Bangash as well as with the Refugee Orchestra project. ​

Amit has frequent collaborations with western classical, jazz and fusion musicians - He is a member of the Purnalokha quartet along with David Balakrishnan of the grammy winning Turtle Island Quartet. He has also played with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and is also a founder member of the band Sawaari, which explores music from different parts of the world. ​Recently, Amit started working with renowned Jazz guitarists Al Di Meola and now is an integral part of Al Di Meola acoustic trio Project.

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