Raag Jog by Attuned - Manish Pingle, Jack Jennings and Gurdain Rayatt. Attuned are a unique trio where musicians celebrate the beauty of Indian Classical music and harness its power to bring people from different cultures and musical backgrounds together. Manish Pingle is one of the world’s leading Mohan Veena (Indian Slide Guitar) players. He is a disciple of Ustad Shahid Parvez, the renowned sitar maestro. Gurdain Rayatt, a disciple of Pandit Shankar Ghosh and is one of the UK’s leading tabla players, having accompanied many of India’s most prestigious artists. Completing the line up is electric guitarist, Jack Jennings. Jack is a student of top UK sitarist Roopa Panesar, and is known for his pioneering approach to the adaptation of Indian classical music for the electric guitar. The Trio takes the audience on a dynamic and exciting journey through the world of Indian Classical music. Whilst the music they play is in keeping with tradition, the innovative inclusion of the electric guitar embraces new timbres and melodic nuances without compromising the original spirit and intensity of the music. This is a rare combination of instruments and musicians from different backgrounds, celebrating the music that brought them together. • About Attuned WEBSITE • https://www.indianguitar.net/attuned-trio.html • About SAA-uk WEBSITE • http://saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk/ TWITTER • https://twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • https://www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk • Venue: Seven Arts Leeds Video: recording Barbara Cardone/editing Jack Jennings

SouthAsianArtsUK

Raag Jog by Attuned / Manish Pingle, Jack Jennings and Gurdain Rayatt

The synergy between Debasmita Bhattacharya and Gurdain Singh Rayatt was impalpable throughout the evening; the way the artists played together was wholeheartedly assured, both playfully and inextricably tight. • Rayatt is visibly touched and immediately in unison with Bhattacharya’s connection to her music throughout the evening, and demonstrates his outstanding talent and skill as both accompaniment and solo musician. When offered to take a solo, there is some modest to-and-fro-ing between the two musicians before Rayatt agrees to offer a brief but remarkable solo, two thirds through the evening. • Venue: Seven Arts Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • http://saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk/ TWITTER • https://twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • https://www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk

Debasmita Bhattacharya / Sarod Indian Lute / Dhun composition in Raga Mishra Pahadi

We are delighted to present Gurdain Rayatt, rising star of Tabla. Initiated by his father Ustad Harikat Singh Rayatt and grandfather Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee, Gurdain became a disciple of late tabla guru Pandit Shankar Ghosh. The tabla solo presented by Gurdain, accompanied by Keertan Rehal on harmonium, combines his repertoire of multiple gharanas from Farukhabad, Punjab and Benares as well as his influences learning from many other tabla maestros from India. This is an ideal opportunity for percussion enthusiasts to experience both the traditional and contemporary flavours of tabla. • South Asian Arts-uk and Leeds College of Music join forces to bring you recitals, talks and world class music on this 2018 Summer Solstice. International artists will share the stage with rising stars, showcasing some of the best Indian classical music. • Venue: Leeds College of Music Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • www.saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk TWITTER • www.twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Summer Solstice Festival 2018 / Gurdain Rayatt / Tabla composition

Our event at the Leeds Summer Series 2018 in Millennium Square, featured Xiaoxiao Hou on the guzheng. Her enchanting performance was part of an afternoon event, showcasing music from across the expanse of Asia. • Croatian Rhapsody is a 2015 album by the Croatian pianist, Maksim Mrvica. The title track, "Croatian Rhapsody", was included in his 2003 album, The Piano Player, and his 2008 album, Greatest Maksim. It is composed by the Croatian musician and songwriter Tonči Huljić and is one of Maksim's greatest hits. • Venue: Millennium Square, Leeds Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • www.saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk TWITTER • www.twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Xiaoxiao Hou / Leeds Summer Series 2018 / Croatian Rhapsody

Our event at the Leeds Summer Series 2018 in Millennium Square, featured Xiaoxiao Hou on the guzheng. Her enchanting performance was part of an afternoon event, showcasing music from across the expanse of Asia. • Zhan Tai Feng (Chinese: 战台风, "The Fight with the Typhoon") is a famous guzheng solo piece, composed in 1965 by Wang Changyuan. • Venue: Millennium Square, Leeds Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • www.saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk TWITTER • www.twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Xiaoxiao Hou / Leeds Summer Series 2018 / Fighting Against Typhoon 戰颱風

Andhera (darkness) aur Roshni (light) will give you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the sound of sarangi, a powerful early instrument played by the charismatic Suhail Khan. Suhail’s melodic voice is perfectly matched by Bhupinder Singh Chaggar’s delicate touch of tabla, and Leeds’ night sky will provide the perfect backdrop for a late evening of incredible music. • South Asian Arts-uk and Leeds College of Music join forces to bring you recitals, talks and world class music on this 2018 Summer Solstice. International artists will share the stage with rising stars, showcasing some of the best Indian classical music. • Venue: Leeds College of Music Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • www.saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk TWITTER • www.twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Summer Solstice Festival 2018 / Suhail Khan / Raag Bhairavi

Devoted to the rich art form of Indian classical vocal music, Shahana Sokhi is a young vocalist of the Gwalior-Agra gharanas. She has been receiving taleem in khayal gayaki from Shri Mukul Kulkarni. Shahana is accompanied by one of UK leading tabla player, Gurdain Singh Rayatt. • Shahana presents a khayal rendition of Raag Gaud Sarang. She begins with a traditional bada khayal set to tilwada, followed by a drut bandish in ada chautaal composed by Pandit Arun Kashalkar. Shahana concludes her rendition with a tarana set to ektaal. • South Asian Arts-uk and Leeds College of Music join forces to bring you recitals, talks and world class music on this 2018 Summer Solstice. International artists will share the stage with rising stars, showcasing some of the best Indian classical music. • Venue: Leeds College of Music Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • www.saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk TWITTER • www.twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Summer Solstice Festival 2018 / Shahana Sokhi / Raag Gaud Sarang

The Inner Vision Orchestra is the UK’s only ensemble of blind and visually impaired musicians. Founded in 2012 by Indian Music Maestro Baluji Shrivastav OBE, its aim is to promote blind and visually impaired artists and to address their absence in the British music scene. Driven by the intensity of an inner vision, they aim to celebrate the power of music to transform lives. • This unique orchestra has been commissioned with an original piece, which will be performed for the first time at the Leeds International Festival. The production has been influenced by a wide range of styles and cultures, including songs from Iran, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Nigeria, soulful melodies from Gospel and Blues traditions, sublime Indian Ragas, and Western classical compositions. • Venue: Stanley and Audrey Burton Theatre, Northern Balle Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • http://saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk/ TWITTER • https://twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • https://www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk

The Inner Vision Orchestra / Leeds International Festival 2018

Gurdain Singh Rayatt / Tabla solo / Teental (16 beats)

SAA-uk and Leeds College of Music join forces to bring you recitals, talks and world class music on this 2018 Summer Solstice. International artists like Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh and Suhail Khan, will share the stage with rising stars Jasdeep Singh Degun and Gurdain Singh Rayatt, showcasing some of the best Indian classical music. • Music Copyright: Dr. Jayanthi Kumaresh "Timeless Tunes", Senthamizhnadenum, Home Records (2016) • Video and images: SAA-uk; featured artists; Group Ginger - Leeds College of Music from Stephenson / Bishop on Vimeo. • WEBSITE • http://saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk TWITTER • https://twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • https://www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Summer Solstice Festival 2018

Soak up the soulful Raag Shahana and bask in the peaceful aura of heart stringing sitar and spellbinding rhythm. • UK’s most eminent female Sitarist Roopa Panesar will leave you thoroughly immersed in the soothing melodies of a mid-summer’s night, encapsulated in rhythm by Shahbaz Hussain on tabla. • Venue: Howard Assembly Room Sound: Alex Greenwood Video: Barbara Cardone/Darren Tiffney • WEBSITE • http://saa-uk.org/ FACEBOOK • https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk/ TWITTER • https://twitter.com/southasianartuk INSTAGRAM • https://www.instagram.com/southasianartsuk/

Incredible Roopa Panesar / Summer Solstice 2017 / Raag Shahana

Union of Distant Sounds was a beautifully and melodiously blend by Tanya Wells and fellow musicians. The evening pushed the boundaries of listening and perceptions, and gave rise to a new appreciation of contemporary expression of age old traditions. Tanya is primarily a singer songwriter who Tanya lived in India for over three years, attending school in the foothills of the Himalayas. She later returned to study Indian classical music and this evening will perform original material that draw upon personal experience through songs that express a range of diverse cultural influences. She was joined by Shahbaz Hussain on Tabla and guitarist Paulo Vinícius. It was performed in May 2016 at Seven Arts Leeds. www.saa-uk.org https://twitter.com/southasianartuk https://www.facebook.com/SouthAsianArtsUk

Incredible Tanya Wells Ghazal - Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo

On 15th August 1947 as the clock struck midnight, the legendary Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan played the first notes of a hopeful and moving raag, as one country, at the stroke of a pen, became two. Inspired by that moment, this multimedia project and performance explored the Partition of India and its impact and legacy 70 years on: the joy of independence from British rule, the displacement of millions in the largest mass migration in human history and the sheer terror of sectarian violence in which as many as one million civilians died. Featuring the Tar Shehnai of Kirpal Singh Panesar with Vijay Venkat on Viola, Elizabeth Hanks on Cello, Alex De Little on Sound and Visual Projections by Steve Manthorp. Musical direction by Jasdeep Singh Degun. Produced by South Asian Arts-uk and Opera North Projects South Asian Arts-uk gratefully acknowledges support from PRS for Music Foundation. www.saa-uk.org twitter @southasianartuk

India's Children: Partition HD

On 15th August 1947 as the clock struck midnight, the legendary Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan played the first notes of a hopeful and moving raag, as one country, at the stroke of a pen, became two. Inspired by that moment, this multimedia project and performance explores the Partition of India and its impact and legacy 70 years on: the joy of independence from British rule, the displacement of millions in the largest mass migration in human history and the sheer terror of sectarian violence in which as many as one million civilians died. Featuring the Tar Shehnai of Kirpal Singh Panesar with Vijay Venkat on Viola, Elizabeth Hanks on Cello, Alex De Little on Sound and Visual Projections by Steve Manthorp. Musical direction by Jasdeep Singh Degun. Produced by South Asian Arts-uk and Opera North Projects South Asian Arts-uk gratefully acknowledges support from PRS for Music Foundation www.saa-uk.org twitter @southasianartuk

India's Children: Partition - Trailer

Alchemy Anew and SAA-uk in association with the Network of Sikh organisations proudly presents Sacred Sounds: Sikh Music Traditions and the First World War. This immersive performance explores some of the many narratives of this period – the timeless and transcendent beauty of the shabads themselves, the composition of which started with Guru Nanak (1469-1539) the first of the Sikh Gurus; the power and pathos of the letters exchanged between the Sikh soldiers and their families in the Punjab; the voices of the women of the Punjab through fragments of ballads and songs; the brusque recruitment songs that the British commissioned as well as new spoken word elements. A cinematic backdrop of images promise to make this a thought provoking and memorable experience. The live cast features: Kirpal Singh Panesar (strings and vocals), Keertan Kaur Rehal (vocals and harmonium), Christella Litras (vocals), Ravneet Sehra (vocals and spoken word), Prabhjot Singh Gill (percussion), Joe Williams (spoken word) and Vijay Venkat (strings). The concert is further brought to life by award-winning writer, artist and film-maker Imtiaz Dharker’s vivid poetry and images, enhanced by Jack Lockhart’s animation. www.saa-uk.org.uk twitter @southasianartuk

Sacred Sounds: Sikh Music Traditions and the First World War Trailer -

SAA-uk is a registered charity that aims to promote engagement with traditional and contemporary South Asian music & dance. We host music & dance concerts and run workshops across Yorkshire. Supported by Arts Council England, Arts@Leeds and Leeds College of Music.

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