Shakti Spirit
Personnel
Sandy Evans: Saxophones, composer
Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat Voice, composer
Jess Green Guitar
Lakshmi Narendra Veena
Pirashanna Thevarajah Mridangam and other percussion
Prahlad Iyer Ghatam and other percussion
Shakti Spirit is a new Indian Jazz collaboration celebrating female creativity through the shared joy of improvised music-making. This collaboration transcends music, offering a celebratory experience of cultural exchange.
The project features poetry by 2 revered female Indian mystic saints: Andal and Venibai set to compositions by Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat and Sandy Evans.
Encompassing deep emotional expression, virtuosic Indian singing, stunning percussion playing and unique dialogue between electric guitar and veena, this concert is one not to be missed. The concert will be held on Diwali and will be a special way to celebrate this auspicious occasion.
Nadhamuni Gayatri Bharat has received advanced training from India’s greatest musical stalwarts. Sandy Evans is an eminent Australian saxophonist, and award-winning improvisor and composer with a PhD focused on Carnatic Jazz Intercultural music. Audiences will be familiar with her major collaborative work ‘Bridge of Dreams’ which played to a sold out audience at City Recital Hall in 2019.
Along with Gayatri’s mystical voice and Evans’ powerful tone, is an ensemble of extraordinary talent.
Joining them is the world class guitarist Jess Green, and Lakshmi Narendra, Pirashanna Thevarajah, and Prahlad Iyer, who will perform on a range of traditional Indian instruments.
Jess Green is an accomplished guitarist, vocalist and improvisor, who has composed commissioned works for Australian Women In Music Awards, Canberra International Music Festival, and the Australian Art Orchestra.
Lakshmi Narendra hails from a renowned family of musicians, holds a diploma in Carnatic music both in vocal & in Veena, and was a disciple of the great Sri V.S.Anantha Rao.
Praised as a “percussion wizard”, Pirashanna Thevarajah is recognized by the world music and Indian classical community for his great command over his instruments of choice, as well as the art of Indian spoken rhythm, Konnakol.
Prahlad Iyer is a versatile artist, learning Mridangam at the tender age of 5 in Kuwait. He’s since evolved into a master of the instrument, studying under the legendary maestro, Mridangam Vidhwan ‘Padma Shri’ Dr. T.K. Murthy.