Aug 13 2024 to Aug 13 2024 7 p.m.

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Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Violinists Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy present their debut album, Nakshatra. This lush and spiritual collaboration bridges traditions and defies genres, blending South Indian classical music, Western chamber music, and jazz improvisation. The album’s title, a Sanskrit word for constellations and interconnectedness, encapsulates its expansive sound, created by two violins in sublime harmony. Nakshatra is a cinematic work that conveys a sense of two souls conversing across centuries. Rooted in diverse musical traditions, Trina and Arun reimagine the potential of string chamber music with a unique sound described by The New Yorker as “free-flowing and globe-spanning,” and by The Guardian as resonating “with the power of an ancient drone, revivified by a fearless, contemporary spirit.” This album, five years in the making, is a testament to the duo’s fluency in improvisation, offering a deeply intimate yet grand musical experience. Join us for an evening that promises to be both introspective and expansive, celebrating the intricate interplay of two violinists. 

Performers

Trina Basu Violinist, Composer & Teacher

Trina Basu (she/her) is a New York City-based violinist, improviser, composer, and teacher. Born in Miami to Canadian and Indian parents, her music blends Western classical, American folk, and Indian classical raga with jazz and improvisation. Described as “a dynamic sonic blend of uncommon mesmeric beauty” (All About Jazz) and “free-flowing, globe-spanning” (The New Yorker), Basu believes in music as a healing force. She co-leads the duo Nakshatra with Carnatic violinist Arun Ramamurthy and the ensemble Karavika with cellist Amali Premawardhana. Basu has performed at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Newport Jazz Festival with artists like Mos Def, Urban Bush Women, and the Broadway musical Hadestown. Her albums include Sunrise (2012), Of Earth and Sky (2016), and Nakshatra (2023). As an educator, Basu has taught in NYC public schools and her private studio, Brooklyn Violin House. She has worked as a music therapist at Mount Sinai Children’s Hospital and other facilities. Currently, she teaches at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility with Musicambia. Basu is a graduate of Florida State University in Music Therapy and trained at the School For Strings in Manhattan. She has received various fellowships and residencies and co-founded Brooklyn Raga Massive. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

Arun Ramamurthy Violinist, Composer & Educator

Arun Ramamurthy (he/him) is a Brooklyn-based violinist, composer, and educator. Rooted in South Indian classical raga music, he performs internationally in traditional Carnatic and Hindustani settings and leads innovative projects like the Arun Ramamurthy Trio and a duo with Trina Basu. Arun studied under the celebrated violinist brothers, Sri Mysore Nagaraj & Dr. Mysore Manjunath, and Western classical violinist Jim Mate. Arun has shared the stage with luminaries like Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Sudha Ragunathan, Reggie Workman, Kenny Werner, and Amir ElSaffar. He has performed in various genres, including jazz, Arabic Maqam, and American folk, at prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center. As a composer, Arun has created works for his Trio, theatrical productions, Indian classical dance, and Brooklyn Raga Massive. He was recently commissioned by Chamber Music America and New Music USA for new compositions. A co-founder of Brooklyn Raga Massive, Arun produced the innovative series Carnatic Sundays at Cornelia Street Cafe and has curated and performed in numerous concerts. As an educator, he teaches Carnatic music privately and conducts workshops at institutions like Oberlin Conservatory, NYU, Yale, and Sarah Lawrence University.