How Utsav Lal forged a connection between dhrupad and the piano
Pianist Utsav Lal is continuing his 'Ragas to Reels' project, which blends Indian classical dhrupad music with Western piano and Irish folk influences. The ensemble is embarking on a multi-city tour across India, featuring a rotating cast of international musicians.
Why it matters
The project represents a unique cross-cultural musical fusion that challenges traditional boundaries between Eastern and Western classical music forms.
Dhrupad and piano. It may sound like an unlikely combination, but Utsav Lal has forged a strong connection between the two. He never viewed the piano merely as a Western instrument, but as a medium through which to explore the melodic and improvisatory possibilities of dhrupad. In the process, he earned the moniker ‘raga pianist’. His musical world extends far beyond Indian classical traditions, drawing inspiration from jazz pioneers Thelonious Monk and Cecil Taylor, Ethiopian pianist Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and the avant-garde band, The Necks.
One of Utsav’s pet projects is the Indo-Irish collaboration — Utsav Lal’s Ragas to Reels — which returns to India for a four-city tour. He will be joined by the fiddle player Winifred Horan, flautist-saxophonist Sam Comerford and tabla artiste Zuheb Ahmed Khan across six shows.
Utsav Lal first presented ‘Ragas to Reels’ in 2008 with flautist-saxophonist Sam Comerford. | Photo Credit: Courtesy: samcomerford.com
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