Join Baluji Shrivastav OBE on sitar, and virtuoso flamenco guitarist Ignacio Monteverde for an evening of musical fusion and incredible musicianship. Accompanied by Yousuf Ali Khan on tablas and Linda Shanson on vocals, Lauderdale House in London presents Interactions: Indian Music and Flamenco on the 17th December.
For some context, Rajasthan gypsies brought Indian music to Spain and evolved and developed the musical style, intertwining it with traditional Spanish Flamenco. This fusion sees two rich and historical cultures join together, with two traditions meeting in the middle. Performed by two great masters, expect the scintillating rhythms of India and a touch of Jazz.
Baluji Shrivastav OBE is one of the best Indian/British musicians of our time, playing an array of traditional instruments including the sitar, tabla, dilruba, pakhavaj, and surbahar. He has performed and taught all over the world, most notably playing with Annie Lennox, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder, Massive Attack, Coldplay and many more.
Baluji also founded the Baluji Music Foundation in 2008, a blind-led, inclusive arts organisation encouraging participation in music by people from different cultural perspectives. As part of the foundation, he launched the Inner Vision Orchestra in 2012, its purpose to address the barriers blind musicians face in the UK and find them more work. Not only is it a campaigning tool to raise awareness, but it also trains musicians to record; go on stage; go on tour, and encourages venues and promoters to hire blind musicians.
The foundation is the only organisation in the UK trying to find work for blind musicians (only 10pc blind people of working age are working and it isn’t getting better despite technology advancements). The foundations want to raise their profile, spotlight blind talent, break down the barriers blind musicians face, promote positive attitudes towards blind people, and give a voice to blind people.
The Interactions: Indian Music and Flamenco concert is an intimate performance with Baluji and Ignacio, along with other special guests. If you’d like to support the Baluji Music Foundation, along with the work of the Inner Vision Orchestra, this is the perfect setting to enjoy the incredible talents of each performer.
You can find tickets here.
Check out Baluji down below!