Sruti Presents

  Shankar & Gingger (Vocals & Double Violins)

with Swapan Choudhury (Tabla)

 

 

 

A World Music Concert 

includes music inspired by
their compositions and performance
in the Oscar-nominated music from
Mel Gibson’s “Passion of Christ”
 

For More Information
www.shankarandgingger.com

 

Saturday, March 12, 2005  -  7:00 PM

Zellerbach Theater
Annenberg Center, Univ. of Pennsylvania
3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA.

For Directions Click Here

Printable Flyer (PDF, 360KB)

 

Tickets:

 Orch. Pit: $100, Front: $50, Middle: $30

Rear&Balcony: $20
(Students&Senior Citizens:$15)

 

To buy: Call Box Office: 215-898-3900 or
Call Ponnal 610-647-7235 or Usha 215-699-2827
Email: sruti@sruti.org or
Online: www.pennpresents.org

 

Parking suggestions

      Parking garage at 38th and Walnut Streets
Outdoor lot at 34th and Chestnut Streets
Parking garage at South Street & Convention Avenue
Parking garages at 40th & Walnut Streets
Valet parking available at The Inn at Penn at 3600 Sansom Street

 

About the Arists

Shankar, widely known as a living legend in the world of music, has entranced audiences and critics alike all over the world. Shankar is an acclaimed vocalist, violinist, composer and producer who has sold over ten million albums. He is truly a pioneer in the field of music. A child prodigy, born into a renowned family of musicians, he studied vocal from the age of two, violin from the age of five, and played his first concert at the age of seven. Shankar is a virtuoso vocalist / violinist whose vocal range covers five octaves. His 1980 release, Who's To Know, and Phil Collins' solo debut, Face Value, introduced the unique sound of Shankar's own invention, the 10 string stereophonic Double Violin, to listeners around the world. Shankar along with violin virtuoso Gingger are the only musicians that have mastered and currently play the Double Violin. The Double Violin, designed by Shankar and built by Ken Parker, covers the entire range of the orchestra's double bass, cello, viola and violin, and is the only one in the world. Grammy-nominated Shankar has released numerous solo albums and videos in various idioms of music, from Carnatic music to Pop / Rock to World Music. Gingger, an extraordinary gifted virtuoso violinist, singer and songwriter, has been touring all over the world for the past eight years as a member of the duo Shankar & Gingger, and as a solo and guest performer in many shows, winning over fans and critics alike. Born in Los Angeles, Gingger spent her beginnings studying within one of India's most acclaimed musical families. Her initial training began with her mother, an accomplished singer, who toured the world and won many awards as a classical star. She began teaching Gingger from the time she was a baby. Between the coaching from her mother and grandfather (violin), and her extensive training in classical Indian violin, opera, western classical music, piano, pop and world music,

Gingger has developed a musical style all her own, yet one that encompasses all of these genres and creative experiences. Shankar & Gingger have always been involved in different idioms of music, from Carnatic to Pop/Rock to World Music. They have recorded and appeared on six albums in these different genres of music. Their pop album One In A Million features guest artists Phil Collins, David Paich (Toto), Steve Vai, Steve Porcaro (Toto), Mike Porcaro (Toto), and Tony Levin, among others. Touring internationally as Shankar & Gingger over the past eight years, they have garnered both critical acclaim and a growing fan base, performing at world events such as The Concert for Global Harmony and Nelson Mandella's 80th Birthday celebrations. In 2004, Shankar & Gingger composed, produced and performed vocals and double violins on Mel Gibson's The Passion Of The Christ, along with composers Jack Lenz and John Debney. Their voices and violins can be heard throughout the movie providing the haunting melodies and sounds that are unmistakably theirs. They also composed chants which they performed with Mel.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, the brilliant master of North India’s drum, the tabla, credits his family for the encouragement and early training that have earned him a place among the greatest classical musicians of India.  He bases his style on the intensive training he received from his Guru, Pandit Santosh Krishna Biswas of Calcutta, the eminent exponent of the Lucknow Gharana. He holds a master's degree in music and has been conferred honors for his distinguished contributions in the field tabla including the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy award from the government of India.

As a soloist and accompanist Swapan has traveled throughout Europe, North and South America, and Asia accompanying maestros such as Pandit Ravi Shankar , Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, the late Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Amir Khan, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Dr. Balamurali Krishna, and other eminent artists. In addition, he has produced numerous recordings, including his own tabla solo and video tapes, and has appeared extensively on television and radio. Pandit Chaudhuri is Director of Percussion at the College in San Rafael, California  where students from all over the world receive intensive training in tabla. He is also a member of the teaching staff at the California Institute of the Arts , Valencia, California.

This concert is made possible by a grant from the Philadelphia Music Project, an Artistic Initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts, administered by Settlement Music School.