Desi Today Magazine
By Surbhi Gogia
Born in cultures far away from Indian soil, many foreign-origin artists have tuned their hearts and attached their musical practice to the depth of Indian classical music. Many musicians are inspired by the complexities of Indian classical music traditions, be it for deeper education, enhanced creative interpretation in their own works or, a personal spiritual connection. One among them, is Josh Feinberg, the international Sitar virtuoso, who has been winning the hearts of Indian classical music connoisseurs and music listeners alike for the past two decades.
Josh has lived the process of inquiry into the classical arts of India, to discover true love with Sitar, transcending boundaries to master difficult Ragas,(musical constructs), and bringing perspectives from his training in Jazz and western classical music to Indian musical instruments.
Josh was born in America into a Jewish Family. Though music runs in his family and culture as both his parents were musicians and as he describes musical education is highly prioritized in Jewish culture, his was a “love marriage” with music. It did not come to him as an obligation but something that he was born to do. At an age when most of us are busy figuring outspoken languages, Josh was already learning the language of music at 4. He began training with western classical and jazz on piano and bass in New York City. He was hailed as a prodigy performing in orchestras, jazz venues, and concert halls.
He came into formal education of music and it was while pursuing a bachelor’s degree from New England Conservatory that he got introduced to Indian classical music. “The music of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee made a very strong impression on me and the music of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahab touched me in a profound way,” he says.
From there he shifted his focus to Sitar and Hindustani music. While describing his shift to Indian Classical music he said, when he started learning he thought Indian classical music is “one of the world’s greatest art forms.” He adds, “It is the sum total of everything music can be. It is beautiful, complex, emotional, intellectual, and virtuosic. Everything that I was looking for in music I found here. What I found in Sitar and Indian classic, I thought that I was coming home.”
Josh is a student of the Maihar Gharana (school of playing style) learned with music maestros like Ustad Ali Akbar Khan as well as Ust. Aashish Khan, Sri Alam Khan, Pt. Tejendra Majumdar, Dr. Peter Row, Dr. George Ruckert, Sri James Pomerantz, Sri Warren Senders and Smt. Vijaya Sundaram. He was trained both in US and India, learned tabla, and attended workshops with Pt. Anindo Chatterjee.
He self describes himself as a “musical immigrant” who with his knowledge of Western and Indian music can create something unique for his audience. Asked if he ever felt like an immigrant would feel in a foreign land, Josh said the answer is complicated. “On one hand I identify myself as a guest in classical Indian musical scene but on the other hand I am a recognized and respected performer.” While he says Hindustani music might be nationalist pride but he feels his presence as an American Jewish Sitar player shows that music transcends geography and cultures.
Hailed as one of the most original and dynamic sitar maestros of his generation, Josh’s music is a unifying force that brings people together from different cultures and walks of life.
Josh recorded his debut album, Homage, featuring tabla maestro Swapan Chaudhuri in 2013 and released his second album, One Evening in Spring, in November 2014 featuring tabla maestro Anindo Chatterjee. His album with Pt. Anindo Chatterjee, A Fallen Blossom in the Thorns, was released in early 2017 to great acclaim.
In 2019 Josh had three international tours, ‘Madhura’ including 25 concerts in 28 days for his India tour at some of the leading venues in the country. After performing in various countries, and mesmerizing international audiences around the world with his ability to infuse musical forms, Josh is all set to take Vancouverites on a musical journey this summer at Surrey Arts Centre.
The listeners will have a chance to immerse themselves into the sounds of sitar infused with Jazz and Western classical music. Josh will be accompanied by Vivek Pandya, a young tabla prodigy of enormous promise and talent. The audience will hear traditional North-East Indian Ragas imbued with other musical styles.
While there are many who have deep knowledge and understanding of Indian classical music and musical styles, during concerts most of the audience does not come from a formal musical background. Does Josh have some music for such listeners too? His answer is, “Just as you do not need to be a genius chef to enjoy a wonderful meal, you do not need to be a connoisseur to enjoy classical music.”
Josh says that the past two years during the pandemic have given him the time for exploring and re-examining a lot of things about his life and art. “And during the concert, I will allow various knowledge of music that I have, to intermingle and create something hopefully new and enjoyable for my audience.”
About ‘Josh Feinberg in Concert’ Sitar by Candlelight with Vivek Pandya on Tabla.
A Traditional India Series program
Equally unique will be the ambiance of the concert. The audience will be able to experience the Main Stage ‘in a whole new light quite literally since the concert will be bathed in the flickering candlelight. And the person who has driven this production forward, that you will remember for a long time to come, creator of the HOC awarded project, Traditional India Series, Nina Buddhdev.
Nina is the project consultant to Surrey Civic Theatres, for Josh’s concert on May 13th, 2022. She will be interviewing Josh and Vivek along with our home artists at ‘Meet the Artists’ Reception on May 12th.
About Nina Buddhdev
Nina brings with her, decades of prolific experience. An established sector specialist for Indian heritage arts development, Nina’s centered approach in Canada, has carved out new pathways & has opened obstinate doors for artists to flourish in their respective practices with trajectory of qualified opportunity. Nina’s experience, insights and advocacy has propelled valuable knowledge exchange for the growing diversity in Canada’s creative and cultural economy. She has inspired artists, cultural groups, and media streams with her meritorious initiatives in BC, that have given outcomes to new opportunities for artists and cultural groups with key profiling, representation, performance opportunity, and access to project funding. Nina is a graduate in 3DDesign, from De Montford University & Fine Arts from the Royal College of Arts, London. She is also a parent mentor for the Gifted education programs in BC.
Nina says, “I have known Josh Feinberg for over fourteen years, I have seen his music touch the hearts of fellow musicians, masters, and audiences. During the planning and curation of Josh’s 2019 tours, ’Madhura’, I learned so much more about him than meets the eye. I love his comradery, his emotive connection to the pure nectar of bhava, the way he illustrates elevated thoughts through each movement and allows them to pulsate like butterflies with the essence of his art… speaking to our soul, beyond the perceptions of artistic measure or cultural positioning.
For Tabla accompaniment, we are thrilled to have Vivek Pandya in town with Josh. Vivek is so excited to meet our Tabla students & Teachers. On May 13th, for the first time in the lower mainland, traditional Indian classical music will be presented candlelight for a creative, enchanting journey that will incite wonder into your evening for an experience to cherish.
We are so fortunate, that Surrey Civic Theatres are bringing world masters of their craft to our doorstep, Josh and Vivek are too, excited to meet our knowledge keepers, communities, and our audiences. Join us as we welcome Josh and Vivek as ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, to our vibrant land, community, and city. At the reception you will meet our visiting artists & celebrate the success of our lower mainland movers and shakers; the traditional artists who live, practice, teach and perform right here, on the lower mainland.
Audiences can expect to soak up the traditional warm air of Indian music presented by our international Sitarist, Josh Feinberg & Tabla accompanist, the enigmatic, Vivek Pandya. Set among the flickering candles illuminating the performers, Josh Feinberg and Vivek Pandya will take audiences on an all-encompassing experience and one that you ought not to miss. As Josh has so wisely said, “Everything we are, as humans, is in this music’ as a continuum, I, feel, to arrive at our innate knowing, one must take a deliberate step into the sacred waters of ancestral tradition, knowing, that we already know!
A special thank you Nanak Foods for the delicious hospitality and Zee TV Canada for extending the media outreach.I so look forward to meeting everyone as we celebrate the influence and impact our traditional arts creative sector makes for us to feel our sense of home, here in Canada. I am in awe of young people practicing a classical arts discipline and I am even more in awe of their teachers & parents who make the talim (education) a priority in their children’s lives and an integral part of the home environment.
