Laudholm Live: Bach, Ragas & Jazz

Doors open at 6:30pm, show begins at 7pm.

Jan Müller-Szeraws, cello
Amit Kavthekar, tabla

The Bach, Ragas & Jazz Project, 2025 consists of unique combinations of works that transcend cultural boundaries and juxtapose J.S. Bach's Suites for solo cello with the mystical Raga-inspired compositions of Shirish Korde, and reimagined Jazz masterpieces by legendary performers such as Billie Holiday and Eric Dolphy. These unique immersion programs transcend cultural and stylistic boundaries, drawing on Global cultures old and new, East and West, improvised and composed.

About the Musicians

The central questions of how music moves and connects us - it's mysterious magnetism and power to affect us on so many levels - has led cellist Jan Müller-Szeraws’ musical journey from his native Chile over Europe to the United States, exploring them in their many forms as a performer and teacher. He is acclaimed for compelling interpretations of masterworks of the traditional cello repertoire as well as championing the music of numerous contemporary composers.

Tabla virtuoso Amit Kavthekar has rhythm running through his veins and is regarded as one of the leading you artists of Indian Classical music and tabla. He has played with many eminent Indian Classical Musicians and has frequent collaborations with western classical, jazz and fusion musicians.

Shirish Korde is celebrated for “integrating and synthesizing music of diverse cultures into breathtaking works of complex expressive layers.” – Musical America. His music is influenced by diverse world music traditions ranging from the throat singers of Tuva and the ancient Vedic chants of India, to the shimmering colors of the Balinese Gong Kebyar Gamelan orchestra. His distinctive music is performed throughout the United States and Europe.

The cycle of J.S. Bach’s Suites for Violoncello solo is the cornerstone of the solo cello repertoire and contains some of the best-known pieces in all of classical literature. Bach is probably the most universally admired composer of the Western tradition. In his preface to Albert Schweitzer's Bach biography, the great French organist Charles Marie Widor calls Bach ..."the most universal of artists who expresses in his works the most pure religious sentiment, which is one and the same for all human beings no matter their differences of nationality or religion"... Written in turbulent times at the beginning of the 20th century, Widor eloquently ends his preface by stating "what we admire together, revere together and understand together, unites us."

Program

Tabla solo improvisation

J.S. Bach: Suite no. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 for Violoncello solo
Prèlude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Menuet I, II Gigue
--
S. Korde: "God Bless The Child” after Billie Holiday and Eric Dolphy

J.S. Bach: Suite no. 3, in C Major, BWV 1009 for Violoncello solo
Prèlude
Allemande
Courante
Sarabande
Bourrèe I, II
Gigue
--
S. Korde: “Lalit” for Cello and Tabla
Alap
1st Gat
2nd Gat