In his covers and compositions, Tucker, a 24-year-old clarinetist who grew up in Massachusetts, sets up a unique jugalbandi between jazz and Hindustani classical music, playing the clarinet like a bansuri, or slipping in the sounds of the kanjira, the small drum used in Carnatic music, into an ensemble of guitar and piano - all instruments that he plays. His five-month-old YouTube music channel The Shrutibox has already garnered more than two million hits. It is one among many videos and compositions that is making him an internet sensation. American musician Shankar Tucker's cover version of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's O re piya has simplicity and surprise. The pitch is high, the tempo is faster, the clarinet takes over and the fusion is complete. But by the time you hum the opening line, the tune seems to have changed its mind, from Raga Pilu to the bluesy tones of British singer Adele's Rolling in the deep.
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The notes of the clarinet are surprisingly like the bansuri, though a pitch lower, as they segue into the warm tones of Rohan Kymal's voice. I intend to go back and look all his compositions up,” he said.An American clarinetist's experiments with Hindustani classical music is going viral. But the way he combines the various musical styles – he is a genius.
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I am a 'fan' of his stuff.” Manan, who was visiting his friend in Boston from Los Angeles, on the other hand had not heard of Tucker till then. Ashvin, who had come up from Cranston R.I, said, “I have been following him all along on YouTube. Recognizing the need for talented musicians to train with accomplished maestros, IndianRaga has partnered with India's prestigious ITC Sangeet Research Academy, a foremost academy for the most talented Indian classical artists, to offer residential courses to Indians and non-Indians who wish to reach their highest musical potential.įor the audience, the experience ranged from a dream come true for some in being able to be present at the concert to discovering a whole new world. IndianRaga is an MIT-based initiative and winner of the prestigious IDEAS Global Challenge, 2012. ICJB helps the survivors of the gas disaster by supporting legal recourse, awareness campaigns and environmental initiatives.Īssociation for India’s Development, MIT and Boston chapter is a non-profit working on sustainable, equitable and just development in areas such as agriculture, anti-corruption, education, health, energy, livelihood, natural resources, women’s empowerment and social justice with grassroots groups in India. Students for Bhopal in MIT is a human rights group committed to bringing justice to the victims of the Bhopal gas disaster of 1984. Gam, the bassist, said he was particularly impressed by the account of the Sambhavana clinic that serves the survivors of the Bhopal disaster with indigenous and innovative methods. We should all support them in their endeavors.” He also praised the organizers - “I am really impressed by the commitment of the volunteers of AID, ICJB and IndianRaga who are pursuing very praiseworthy causes. “And Kresge is a beautiful venue to perform at,” he added in praise of the venue. “It is certainly a new experience for me,” said Tucker about performing in front of such a large crowd at MIT. There was also the original composition Kinara by Ravada. The show included highly popular tracks like Nee Nenaidal and Munbe Va by the Iyer sisters, Khalbali and O Re Piya by Kymal and Aaj Jaane Ki Zid Na Karo by Ravada. In Boston, Tucker was accompanied by a wide range of musicians and vocalists - Michael Gam on bass, Matt Consul on viola, Akshaya Tucker on cello, Rhiannon Barendt on violin, Marty Wirt on drums and Akshay Nalavadi on tabla formed the musical accompanists, while Rohan Kymal, Rohini Ravada and Vidya and Vandana Iyer make up the vocal lineup. His musical compositions have seen singers from the Hindustani and Carnatic traditions. Tucker typically works with a wide range of artists and musicians. The channel achieved immense popularity in a short while and has recorded several million hits. In 2011 he launched a YouTube music channel, called The ShrutiBox, which presented compositions that blended Indian classical and popular music with western genres like jazz. Tucker, a graduate in clarinet from the New England Conservatory in Boston, went on to train under the wellknown Indian flautist, Hari Prasad Chaurasia. All proceeds from the event would go to support the fight for justice in Bhopal and sustainable developmental projects in India.
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The program was organized by Association for India's Development (AID), the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB) and IndianRaga. Clarinetist Shankar Tucker, whose highly popular YouTube channel The ShrutiBox showcases Indian-themed music, performed to a wildly cheering audience at the Kresge Auditorium at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Sunday, Nov 4.