Tirtha
A stellar trio of
innovative South Asian virtuosos from the subcontinent and the
diaspora, performing on traditional and contemporary instruments, and
drawing from a range of traditions to create lush and expressive soundscapes.
Pianist
Vijay Iyer (Downbeat magazine"s #1 Rising Star Artist of the year and #1 Rising Star Composer for 2006 and 2007) introduces his newest project, Tirtha (pronounced "TEER-tha"), an exciting and dynamic trio collaboration with two internationally renowned young Indian musicians living in the US. Pioneering guitarist
Prasanna is a celebrated virtuoso of South Indian classical music as well as an accomplished composer in Western traditions. The prodigiously gifted tabla player
Nitin Mitta has emerged rapidly as one of North America"s most in-demand Indian percussionists. Performing original compositions by Iyer and Prasanna, the trio generates an astonishingly full ensemble sound, achieving a natural and organic synthesis of traditions. The result is a 21st-century global chamber music that is eminently listenable and vibrantly alive. Iyer says of this new project, "You can"t call it fusion because we"re not self-conscious about the ingredients. We"re just drawing from who we are as citizens of the world."