10th Annual Birthday Tribute to Maestro Ali Akbar Khan

Featuring Alam Khan, sarode; Swapan Chaudhuri, tabla; Shrinivas Joshi and Viraj Joshi vocal

For this historic anniversary, Old First Concerts was selected with a special nostalgia. Ali Akbar Khan—the late honoree and founder of the Ali Akbar College of Music—played in this location frequently in the 1970s and ’80s, as did many of his students. We celebrate this nod to the past, as well as the new memories it will create.

The 10th Annual Tribute will be split into two ticketed halves:

2 – 5 pm – The Afternoon Session

The Works (of Maestro Ali Akbar Khan) is an undertaking of the AACM which brings together musicians of all styles, backgrounds, and experience levels. The group is comprised of both Classical Indian and Western musicians, all joining together to showcase the compositions of Ali Akbar Khan. Featuring AACM students and faculty members, The Works represents the past, present, and future of the AACM, and will be a very fitting start to the Tribute.

The AACM Tabla Ensemble will perform a composition created by AACM’s Director of Percussion, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, in honor of this 10 year celebration. Performing in the classical North Indian tabla tradition, the ensemble will be joined by two very special guest artists, Vidwan T.H. Subash Chandran, ghatam and vocal percussion, and Ganesh Kumar, kanjira, two of South India’s most esteemed percussionists.

Trio featuring Ali Akbar Khan’s youngest son, Manik Khan, sarode; Arjun Verma, sitar, and Raginder Singh Momi, violin. They will be accompanied by Swapan’s son, Nilan Chaudhuri, tabla and South Indian percussionist Rohan Krishnamurthy, mridangam.

7 – 10:30 pm – The Evening Session

Vocal performance by Shrinivas and Viraj Joshi, son and grandson, respectively, of the great vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi—a contemporary and dear friend of Maestro Ali Akbar Khan.

Duo – Alam Khan, sarode, with the AACM’s Director of Percussion, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, tabla.
Son of Ali Akbar Khan, Alam spent his formative years learning the sarode at his father’s feet, touring internationally with him from the tender age of 13. Swapan accompanied the Maestro for over 30 years, with an unmatched rapport and genuine friendship; his musical relationship with Alam has helped to embolden Alam’s artistic sensibilities, as well as create an exceptional empathy and compatibility on stage. Together they commemorate the occasion with a joy and devotion that will undoubtedly be remarkable.

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