The 2023 Winter Tour of Shades of Shakti features visiting Indian master musician Sangeet Mishra, with top-shelf New Zealand musicians.
Receiving a standing ovation from a full house at the New Zealand Festival of the Arts in 2020, Shades of Shakti are an energetic acoustic ensemble that bridges the gap between traditional Indian music, classical and jazz. Inspired by Ravi Shankar's East Meets West and John McLaughlin's 1970s Shakti project, Shades of Shakti's performances combine intricate fast dynamic melodies, virtuosic rhythms, and hypnotic sonorities. They are a collaboration that seeks to unite communities, celebrating human diversity through music.
The musicians of the ensemble are:
Sangeet Mishra (India) comes from a long line of sarangi masters from India’s holiest city, Varanasi. Considered a child prodigy, Sangeet has endeavoured to revive ancient musical styles. An innovative musician, Sangeet plays sarangi with an enchanting purity.
Justin Firefly Clarke (NZ) is a respected guitar virtuoso of many stripes. Seven years in Berlin saw Justin gain repute as a lynchpin for fusing different musical languages, winning numerous awards for these collaborations in festivals across Europe.
Basant Madhur (India) is a much-respected artist of classical Indian music. Born into a family of musicians, he is an approved Indian Radio & Television performing artist. He moved to New Zealand in 2002.
Tristan Carter (NZ) is an extremely talented and versatile violinist who has worked with Atlas Ensemble in Amsterdam and traditional musicians in Bangalore, and many jazz and new music ensembles of Aotearoa.
Thomas Friggens (NZ) is a powerful and virtuoso drummer who straddles multiple musical worlds effortlessly and has been an integral member of the premier percussion group, Strike, as well as numerous Wellington ensembles such as Sulco d’Alma and Bazurka.
