Press Release

Harmony in music strives to focus on distinct styles of music around the globe. Carnatic music – a classical music systems from India of South Asia will be collaborated, experimented with Jazz music of United States of America. This concert will bring the best of both worlds.

Seema Kasthuri has been a practitioner of Carnatic music for decades under the tutelage of some experienced teachers under the Gurukula system (Gurukula meaning Teacher's house). The nuances of the music system are best learned by ear and from the vast experiences of the teacher and then by singing at numerous concerts. Seema will be presenting her own compositions, such as “Asatoma
Sadgamaya,” “My mother,” and “Breaking Boundaries.”

Carnatic music system provides 72 distinct scales of melody called "Melakartha," which forms  the baseline for the concerts. A huge scope for improvisations explores the melodic and rhythmic expressions. The 72 major scales give way to millions of sub-pentatonic, Penta-hex sub-scales that further dive into a new space or zone of their own. This music explores massive rhythmic patterns based on popular rhythm patterns of 8, 16, 7, 5, and 6 beats per cycle in its simplest form.

Todd Mosby is an Indian Jazz guitarist and a recipient of ZMR awards who records and tours nationally. Todd will be exploring Jazz with North Indian Hindustani music, which he studied for over a decade under legendary Imrath Khan.

Todd and Seema are coming together the third time to showcase what traditional music can offer when challenged with a jazz twist. The creative team of musicians include rhythm expert Prasanna Kasthuri, a well-known Dancer and Musician, Steve Davis, extremely talented Drummer who has performed with David Liebman, Bill Evans etc. and popular St. Louis based Jazz Bassist Ben Coen.

Audiences can expect to see some rare tunes with major and minor scale ragas. Artists will sway into their world of imagination while improvising traditional Indian Ragas (scales) such as Kalyani (Lydian Mode), Shankarabharana (Ionian mode), Kharaharapriya (Dorian mode). Music will flow between pentatonic scales with Revathi, and a twisted scale such as Kadana Kuthoohala.  A rhythmic cross elaboration of drums, mrudangam (Indian drums), and hand-held drums will give the thrill of beats. Also, expect to hear many vocalizations and calculated Swara patterns(notes).

The concert will have Beetle’s fun, Nora Jones’s smooth songs, Road to Tipperary – a piece inspired by the homesickness experienced by Irish expatriates, who came to work in England during 2nd World War but with a funnier twist by the Indian hillbilly. Also, some Bollywood catchy tunes for the audience to sway and move.

The concert is presented on April 6th, 2024 – at 6:30 PM at the GRANDEL THEATRE.  Tickets are at Metrotix. More details of the show are available on https://www.sooryaperformingarts.org.