Award-winning artist of the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar presents an evening of North Indian classical ragas and original compositions accompanied on tabla by Yousuf Kerai. Musical pieces are framed with fascinating tales from the lore of Hindustani music. Enjoy sipping a cup of homemade chai while immersing yourself in the majesty and mystery of this rich musical tradition, guided by two celebrated musicians.
All ages welcome
Tickets $15/advance (click here for tickets) and $20/door
“The late great George Harrison may have brought this musical spirit into the Western mainstream, but Veena takes Indian guitar right back to its roots, sharing the cathartic charm of North Indian ragas with global ears.” A & R Factory
Since 2007, Joel ‘Veena’ Eisenkramer has been traveling between his native Vermont, USA and India to study and perform Hindustani classical music on the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar. Today he is one of the leading exponent’s of this instrument in the world: he is the only North American performer of the Indian slide guitar to have performed regularly in India; touring across the country to perform in venues big and small.
Joel’s performances have been noted for their welcoming and explanatory quality; pieces are presented with their cultural and historical context so as to open the door for new audiences unfamiliar with Indian classical music. His original compositions, often inspired by the ragas he’s studied, have been praised for their use of classical theory and aesthetic while creating toe-tapping, memorable melodies approachable by all. He has presented lecture-demonstrations at a number of schools and universities around the globe (including the California College of the Arts and Delhi Public School Sonepat).
Yousuf Kerai is a tabla player and mathematics teacher from Karachi, Pakistan and was a disciple of the late Ustad Khursheed Hussain of Karachi. He has performed widely for the last 25 years in both USA and Pakistan. In Pakistan, Yousuf led an ensemble of master musicians by the name of Tarz Group, releasing an album of instrumental music, The Essence of South Asia, with the ensemble in 2015. He later served as Associate Professor of Practice for music and mathematics at Habib University in Karachi, where he was also the Founding Director of the Center for South Asian Music from 2018 to 2024.
