sangati center in the press
sfweekly coverage
[CLASSICAL INDIAN MUSIC]"Radio Rahaim"
7.1.2009
by Hiya Swanhuyser
from the sf weekly:
"At the 'Hindustani Vocal Concert with Matthew Rahaim', this complicated character is accompanied by local jazz and fusion favorite Sameer Gupta on tabla [...] The [concert] starts at 4 p.m. at the Sangati Center."
"Mission Indian That's Not Pakwan For Once"
All Shook Down -
Art, Music, Culture
8.10.2007
by Andrea Pflaumer
from the sf weekly:
"Sangati recalls something of the art houses of the 1950's and 60's that nurtured the likes of jazz icons John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk, and incubated the careers of folk artists like Dylan. Those were raw and often messier times, with music that drew from the deepest creative wells. Ganeshan's mission is no less committed and to that end he requires two things of his performers: 1) that they be serious about taking their music to that 'well' and 2) that they perform without amplification [...]
If you go for one of the traditional all-night classical Indian music marathons, Sangati's events coordinator, Sitar Mody provides some killer chai."
All Shook Down -Art, Music, Culture
8.10.2007
by Andrea Pflaumer
from the sf weekly:
"Sangati recalls something of the art houses of the 1950's and 60's that nurtured the likes of jazz icons John Coltrane and Thelonius Monk, and incubated the careers of folk artists like Dylan. Those were raw and often messier times, with music that drew from the deepest creative wells. Ganeshan's mission is no less committed and to that end he requires two things of his performers: 1) that they be serious about taking their music to that 'well' and 2) that they perform without amplification [...]
If you go for one of the traditional all-night classical Indian music marathons, Sangati's events coordinator, Sitar Mody provides some killer chai."
interviews with vocalist and founder gautam tejas ganeshan
Radio Tania 11.13.2008with Tania Ketenjian
"Sight Unseen" on KALX 90.7FM (Berkeley) and Resonance 104.4FM (London)
from radiotania.org:
"The Sangati Center in San Francisco brings together world reknowned [sic] Indian classical musicians in a small space on a tree lined street that can easily be missed. Like many treasures in this city, it has to be excavated and because of that, it feels like a discovery every time one goes to see a concert there. Founded in 2006 by Gautam Tejas Ganeshan, the Center plays host to musicians from all over the world who find themselves in this calming, red and yellow walled room, sitting before an audience, doing what they love most, music. Ganeshan himself is a performer and while he studied philosophy and was tempted to become an ethnomusicologist, he decided to fly west, as many do, and follow his dreams to be a performer. Finding that there weren't places he liked to perform, he decided he would create the ideal space and found this one on a corner in the Mission. Sangati means to coming together in Sanscrit. Last week, after Barack Obama won the election, the streets in San Francisco were filled with music and dancing, people coming together to celebrate. Music is a form of celebration, it both engenders and reflects joy and emotion. And while the Sangati Center may not align itself with a historical event such as that one, in small but potent ways, it may offer some of the same feelings that were experienced on November 4th. First, a song played at the Center earlier this month by Anantha R. Krishnan. The instrument he is playing is called Mridangam."
Cross Currents 9.11.2008
with Sandip Roy
"Artery" on KALW 91.7FM (SF)
from crosscurrentsradio.org:
"KALW's Sandip Roy has the story of the Sangati Center for South Asian music, run by a second-generation Indian-American, out of a Mission District storefront in San Francisco."
with Sandip Roy
"Artery" on KALW 91.7FM (SF)
from crosscurrentsradio.org:
"KALW's Sandip Roy has the story of the Sangati Center for South Asian music, run by a second-generation Indian-American, out of a Mission District storefront in San Francisco."
sf chronicle coverage
DATEBOOK 2.26.2008"Sax Player Melds Jazz,
Indian Classical Music"
by Andrew Tolve
[front page]
[article page 1]
[article page 2]
from the sf chronicle:
"The 25-year-old is seated on a rug in the one-room Sangati Center in the Mission District of San Francisco. Several dozen spectators, all of whom have removed their shoes at the door, wait for Radhakrishnan to begin. Finally, he drops his head, closes his eyes, and leans his left shoulder in to coax the first noise from the sax. It is, when it emerges, not a jazzy or bluesy sound, but a soft, distinctly carnatic murmur that ascends briefly, then tumbles down deep like a drone."
Readers Pick 2007 Favorites1.20.2008
by Mark DeWitt
from the sf chronicle:
"The reopening of the Sangati Center, a small venue for Indian classical and not-so-classical music, in the Mission (April). Founder Gautam Tejas Ganeshan performed violin in a lineup dubbed "Tribandhi" (three soloists, not exactly traditional), along with a sitarist and vocalist, not to mention tabla wonder Sameer Gupta. Their performance was not a polished masterpiece for the ages, but the skills of these musicians, their evident mutual affection and respect for each other and for Indian raga music, with the auspicious mood of the center's reopening (a move from the East Bay), made for a wonderful afternoon."
"World Vibe"
96hours Feature
8.30.2007by Lisa Hix
from the sf chronicle:
"Indian prodigy Shakir Khan, the eldest son and disciple of sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez, gave his first performance at age 11. Throughout his musical career, Khan gained the respect of renowned Indian classical musicians such as Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Ustad Zakir Hassain with his talents when it comes to sense of sur (note development) and laya (rhythm). Anyone who brings three new people to the center admitted free."
de young museum
"Asian American Art Now" Publication, 2008:
missionlocal.org
"Traditional Indian Music in a Nontraditional Way"10.1.2008
by Madeleine Bair
from missionlocal.org:
"Comprising the front room in a corner building on 22nd and Shotwell Streets, the Sangati Center projects an aesthetic at once refined and unpretentious. Persian rugs cover the floor, where musicians and guests sit on cushions. Gold and wine colored walls host art exhibits - currently, black and white photographs from India - and houseplants, candles, and a wooden bench round out the organic feel [...]
"You want to listen to Indian music in a chamber setting? This is the only game in town," said Aahlad Yeturu, a regular, who sat so close to Hedge at the Friday night show that he could see the singer's uvula waver."
asian art museum blog
"Sitar concert tonight"
5.21.2009
by Deborah Clearwaters
Director of Education and Public Programs, AAM
from asianart.org:
"Tonight I have the honor of introducing our visiting musical guest from India - sitar artist Smita Nagdev and her tabla accompanyist Debopriyo 'Bubai' Sarkar who lives in the Bay Area. The concert starts at 7pm and is free with admission ($5 after 5pm). Please come early and visit the South Asian galleries on the 3rd floor. Whenever I show people that gallery, they always say 'Wow, I didn't know the Asian Art Museum had such wonderful Indian art!' "
examiner.com
"Sangati Center showcases classical acoustic Indian music in San Francisco's Mission"
9.19.2009
by Emily Wilson
from examiner.com:
"There won't be a lot in the way of special effects at Sangati Center concerts. But anyone wanting to hear a South Indian stringed instrument, the veena, or the tabla, a North Indian percussion instrument, or a concert with an All India Radio vocalist, can do that in the next few weeks. All are welcome, including Britney Spears fans."
sfjazz festival
SFJAZZ Festival Bulletin
7.17.2008
(see bottom)
"An opportunity to hear Sangati Center founder and director Gautam Tejas Ganeshan's thoughtful, ecstatic vocal style in a chamber concert of voice + mridangam + tanpura drone lutes, joined by one of the Miles From India tour's energetic young Indian classical drumming talents, Anantha R. Krishnan. New music from an old tradition, in an intimate, acoustic listening room in San Francisco's Indian classical music art house."
SFJAZZ Festival Bulletin
11.14.2007
(see bottom)
"Ragas in Indian music paint the mind, and Marwa's palette is that of dusk, the transition between day and night. The artist's interpretation in brushstroke calligraphy and other media of this raga's movement, texture, and domain will be on display at the Sangati Center during the last two months of 2007.
On Friday November 16th enjoy a comprehensive experience of Marwa involving space and sound as violinist and Sangati Center director Gautam Tejas Ganeshan delivers a classical performance, accompanied on tabla by Bay Area rising star Javad Butah."
7.17.2008
(see bottom)
"An opportunity to hear Sangati Center founder and director Gautam Tejas Ganeshan's thoughtful, ecstatic vocal style in a chamber concert of voice + mridangam + tanpura drone lutes, joined by one of the Miles From India tour's energetic young Indian classical drumming talents, Anantha R. Krishnan. New music from an old tradition, in an intimate, acoustic listening room in San Francisco's Indian classical music art house."
SFJAZZ Festival Bulletin11.14.2007
(see bottom)
"Ragas in Indian music paint the mind, and Marwa's palette is that of dusk, the transition between day and night. The artist's interpretation in brushstroke calligraphy and other media of this raga's movement, texture, and domain will be on display at the Sangati Center during the last two months of 2007.
On Friday November 16th enjoy a comprehensive experience of Marwa involving space and sound as violinist and Sangati Center director Gautam Tejas Ganeshan delivers a classical performance, accompanied on tabla by Bay Area rising star Javad Butah."
public access television
Chai with Manjula -
A Show About Giving
Interview with Gautam and
Sitar and Tabla Performance
(30 minutes total)
from chaiwithmanjula.com:
"Josh Feinberg on Sitar, and Javad Butah on Tabla. Both are highly accomplished artists."
A Show About Giving
Interview with Gautam and
Sitar and Tabla Performance
(30 minutes total)
from chaiwithmanjula.com:
"Josh Feinberg on Sitar, and Javad Butah on Tabla. Both are highly accomplished artists."
sf international arts festival
"Smita Nagdev with New Directions in Indian Classical Music"
5.24.2009
from sfiaf.org:
"New Directions explores the ecstatic edge of contemporary Indian classical music. With an all-acoustic, chamber-music focus, rooted in the Sangati Center's intimate aesthetic (SF's Indian classical music art-house), the group performs new music from within an old tradition. Vocalist Gautam Tejas Ganeshan frees carnatic vocal virtuosity to access its angular outer reaches, and mridangist Anantha R. Krishnan contributes an unflinching, intelligent intensity on the mridangam, South India's barrel-drum with a sophisticated technique and powerful repertoire."
5.24.2009
from sfiaf.org:
"New Directions explores the ecstatic edge of contemporary Indian classical music. With an all-acoustic, chamber-music focus, rooted in the Sangati Center's intimate aesthetic (SF's Indian classical music art-house), the group performs new music from within an old tradition. Vocalist Gautam Tejas Ganeshan frees carnatic vocal virtuosity to access its angular outer reaches, and mridangist Anantha R. Krishnan contributes an unflinching, intelligent intensity on the mridangam, South India's barrel-drum with a sophisticated technique and powerful repertoire."
live radio concert archive
KPFA Music of the World 3.27.2008
Dhrupad Vocalist Arijit Mahalanabis
with Nirmal Rout on Mardal (Odissi Drum)
"Guest host Joanna Manqueros features a live performance by classical Indian vocalist Arijit Mahalanabis, with Nirmal Rout on Pakhawaj. Also, Gautam Tejas, Director of the Sangati Center."
KPFA APEX Express 8.18.2007
Interview and Violin Performance
with Gautam Tejas Ganeshan
"And finally we are joined by Gautam Tejas Ganeshan, founder of San Francisco's Sangati Center, and an accomplished Carnatic violinist. Pratap Chatterjee hosts."
indiacurrents magazine
"Karnatik Revival"
5.5.2008
by Kalpana Mohan
"Karnatik music is an endemic art, mostly patronized by a South Indian audience, both in the Bay Area and around the world. 'A more diverse audience is getting exposure to Karnatik music through San Francisco's Sangati Center, which targets an audience that appreciates music as an art, says Jerry Barr, a tabla professional who is a regular patron of SIFA performances. Barr believes Hindustani music gets mainstream attention because famous artists like Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain branched out into the realms of world music and jazz."
"The World's Greatest Sitar Player?"
10.13.2006
by Teed Rockwell
"This October, Parvez will be appearing at the Sangati Center in Oakland, and will definitely make up for the lost time since his last Bay Area appearance. On Friday, Oct. 20, there will be an evening concert, and the next Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21, will feature both another concert and a listening session, in which Parvez will discuss some of his favorite recordings."
"Intimate, Improvised, Unamplified"
8.11.2006
by Teed Rockwell
"With its unique ambiance the Sangati Center has already earned a reputation amongst internationally known artists, having hosted such great musicians as Anindo Chatterjee and Vijay Ghate on tabla and Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri. The center will also be hosting a residency for the great sitar virtuoso Shahid Parvez."
5.5.2008
by Kalpana Mohan
"Karnatik music is an endemic art, mostly patronized by a South Indian audience, both in the Bay Area and around the world. 'A more diverse audience is getting exposure to Karnatik music through San Francisco's Sangati Center, which targets an audience that appreciates music as an art, says Jerry Barr, a tabla professional who is a regular patron of SIFA performances. Barr believes Hindustani music gets mainstream attention because famous artists like Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussain branched out into the realms of world music and jazz."
"The World's Greatest Sitar Player?"
10.13.2006
by Teed Rockwell
"This October, Parvez will be appearing at the Sangati Center in Oakland, and will definitely make up for the lost time since his last Bay Area appearance. On Friday, Oct. 20, there will be an evening concert, and the next Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21, will feature both another concert and a listening session, in which Parvez will discuss some of his favorite recordings."
"Intimate, Improvised, Unamplified"
8.11.2006
by Teed Rockwell
"With its unique ambiance the Sangati Center has already earned a reputation amongst internationally known artists, having hosted such great musicians as Anindo Chatterjee and Vijay Ghate on tabla and Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri. The center will also be hosting a residency for the great sitar virtuoso Shahid Parvez."
blogs
whatimseeing.com"Bharata Natyam"
"Last fall we went to see Plug2's friend perform a dance/drama piece at the Sangati Center in Oakland. Bharata Natyam is the oldest of South Indian classical dance."
When the world had become steeped in greed and desire, in jealousy and anger, in pleasure and pain, the Supreme One (Brahma) was asked by the people to create an entertainment which could be seen and heard by all, for the scriptures were not enjoyed by the masses, being too learned and ambiguous.
"Random Thoughts in an Entropic World"
Prasant's Kutcheri @ Sangati Center, SF
11.18.2007
"The crowd of about 20 was very diverse, which means, the firangs did outshoot the desis at the concert [...] It was especially nice to see a lot of localites showing interest to this art form, at a time when fellow desis have a tough time appreciating this art form [...]
The concert started on time, which is kind of surprising by Indian standards, and something I do always appreciate, and went on for about 2.5 hrs."
"Sangati Center Celebrates Classical Indian Music"11.2.2008
by S. Neil Vineberg
"These days I've been invoking deeper learning and sensibility in the area of classical Indian music. So it's no surprise that a friend suggested the Sangati Center and today's concert [...]
I was overjoyed listening to such skillful players and just so excited to find so many people in San Francisco embracing high music like this."
podcasts
"Karna Rasayana"
2.7.2008
Kavya Vachana: Ramaprasad K. V.
Vyakhana: Ganesh Sharma Tyagali
"This is a Kavya Vachana - Vyakhyana program with a twist. The program showcased the character of Karna in the kannada version of Mahabharata written by Kumara Vyasa.
The poetic interpretation is in English. This is a recording of a program held at Sangati Center, San Francisco."
2.7.2008
Kavya Vachana: Ramaprasad K. V.
Vyakhana: Ganesh Sharma Tyagali
"This is a Kavya Vachana - Vyakhyana program with a twist. The program showcased the character of Karna in the kannada version of Mahabharata written by Kumara Vyasa.
The poetic interpretation is in English. This is a recording of a program held at Sangati Center, San Francisco."