Hosted by Cassius Khan
The always engaging and magnanimous musician and host Cassius Khan and a variety of highly accomplished musicians and tea specialists take the audience on a musical journey around the world, bringing you connection to generations past through songs and experiences that have endured for thousands of years.
On November 23, join Cassius and Keerthy Raghavan for an illuminating afternoon of music and refreshments. Global Tea Series performances are by Pay-What-You-Can admission. Audience is encouraged to pay what they are able – there is no minimum or maximum amount – in order to keep the arts accessible for all. Payment will be collected at the door on the afternoon of the performance, and cash, credit and debit are accepted methods of payment.
Canada’s most recognizable Indian Classical musician, the globally renowned Cassius Khan is a performer of combining the Classical styles of Ghazal/Thumri singing and the Tabla, the North Indian pair of drums and presents both, simultaneously. He is the senior disciples of the late Malika e Tarannum Mushtari Begum (Dec 25th 1934-March 14th 2004) and Tabla maestro Ustad Rukhsar Ali, who belongs to the Delhi Gharana of Tabla playing. Combining Indian Classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music. Many noted Indian Classical Music gurus have proclaimed that singing and playing Tabla in unison is a difficult feat to master as Tabla playing requires skill and strength, as well as an absolute concentration on the kaleidoscopic rhythm patterns of the repertoire, and singing requires absolute skill in the execution of notes and vibrations of the voice and excellent breathing control. Khan’s trademark is performing the extremely rare and difficult “Tarannum Ang Gayaki style” in which the lyrics share a different metre from the rhythm but they join at the Sum point in a certain phrase.
Keerthy Raghavan is a percussionist and composer of percussion ensembles hailing from the quaint town of Gorur in India’s southern expanse. Born into a family steeped in the rich heritage of music and literature, his artistic journey was inevitably shaped by this profound cultural heritage. Keerthy Raghavan’s musical quest commenced under the tutelage of Shri Rajakesari, a distinguished All India Radio artist and disciple of the legendary Guru Karaikudi R. Mani. Nestled within the prestigious Shruti Laya Kendra Bangalore Chapter, Raghavan’s foundational training was steeped in the rich tradition of the Mridangam. Renowned for his intricate rhythmic patterns and powerful yet nuanced strokes, Guru Karaikudi Mani’s unique style, known as “Mani Bani,” is a cornerstone of Karnatik percussion. Raghavan was fortunate to receive direct guidance from the maestro himself, mastering the intricacies of this fine art form.
