BOMBAY TO BABYLON: Music along the Silk Road

A trio of international musicians (Vishnu R on Navtar, Moshe Elmakias on piano and Nitin Mitta on tabla) perform a specially selected program of original compositions by Vishnu and Moshe as well as new arrangements of traditional Jewish and Hindu music, including a composition from the historic Jewish community in India.

NOTA BENES:

Doors Open at 7:00. Concert begins at 7:30.

All seating except FRONT ROW is unassigned.

Tickets cannot be refunded but can be transferred to a different attendee.

We recommend buying tickets online whenever possible. Tickets will be available at the door with payment in cash or check only, for $35.

CONGREGATION KEHILLATH ISRAEL is a traditional inclusive synagogue that actively embraces individuals, its community, and the world. An innovative and prominent voice in North American Jewish life since 1917, it is one of Brookline's oldest synagogues.

VISHNU R is an award-winning virtuoso Indian Classical & Jazz Fusion performer, composer, inventor and patent-holder of NAVTAR®, a unique 9-string instrument that highlights micro-nuances of Carnatic melody & Western harmony by combining distinct Fretless, Fretted & 12-string Harp elements. His deeply original sound encompassing Indian Classical, Western Classical and Jazz music have gained him international acclaim, with over 600+ performances and workshops across India, Europe and USA.

Vishnu is a Fellow of the US Govt. Bureau of Education and Cultural affairs 'OneBeat' program, Mentor of the British Council's India-UK Exchange program and is the recipient of prestigious awards such as 'WINNER' of the Beyond Music International Project, Grade 8 distinction from the Trinity College of London & Vishnu has collaborated with 5-time Grammy-winning artists Michael League & Bill Laurance of Snarky Puppy.

MOSHE ELMAKIAS is an Israeli pianist and composer. With a virtuosic personal style, he is one the most exciting pianists among the new generation of Israeli jazz musicians. While touring professionally around the world, Elmakias completed his bachelor’s degree at the Jerusalem Academy (2017) and his master’s degree at the New England Conservatory (2021). Elmakias has worked with some of the top musicians in the jazz and world music scenes, including Larry Klein, Manu Katche, Billy Hart, Dayna Stephens, and Mor Karbasi. With more than 20 albums on his discography, Elmakias lives, plays, and teaches in NYC, while performing worldwide. In 2020 he recorded and released an album together with the Israeli-based Nigun Quartet.

NITIN MITTA is one of the most accomplished and distinctive tabla players in the world, with a reputation for technical virtuosity, spontaneity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuances.

Apart from being a dynamic soloist, he is a highly sought after accompanist who has performed with some of India’s most celebrated Hindustani classical musicians, including Pandit Jasraj, Dr. Prabha Atre, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and Ustad Shahid Parvez, to name a few

Nitin has also made a mark as a versatile collaborator in other genres. He recently joined forces with 2010 Grammy Nominee Pianist Vijay Iyer and electric guitarist Prasanna to produce a studio album titled 'Tirtha' that blends elements of contemporary jazz with the North and South Indian traditional ragas.

Host or Publisher Congregation Kehillath Israel