DiverseArts Culture Works and Bemba Entertainment announce the third installment of Bemba Beat featuring the sounds of India...

Bemba Beat: India

What: DiverseArts Culture Works and Bemba Entertainment present Bemba Beat: India
Where: Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, 1106 East 11th Street, Austin, TX 78702
When: Saturday, July 25, 2009; Doors open at 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $5 at the door
Contact: Harold McMillan (512) 477.9438
              Brandon Badillo (512) 577.4460

DiverseArts and Bemba Entertainment bring the music and culture of India straight into the heart of East Austin.  Bemba Beat, a summer-long concert series, benefits DiverseArts Culture Works while providing international and world music and culture to the East Austin community.  Every 2nd and 4th Saturday this summer, DiverseArts and Bemba Entertainment will showcase music styles from around the world at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard in the heart of East Austin’s Cultural Heritage District.

This installment of Bemba Beat will feature performances by Oliver Rajamani at 9:00 p.m. and Shankar Bhattacharyya at 10:00 p.m. Food, beverages, and beer will be available for sale to guests.

Oliver Rajamani is a critically acclaimed world music artist originally from TamilNadu, India. His music is a revitalized relic of the ancient Tamil gypsy culture with remnants of the nomadic and devotional music styles of India. Drawing upon ancient Eastern traditions, Rajamani's music spiritually enlightens and deeply moves listeners. More...

Shankar Bhattacharrya plays Indian classical music on the Sarode, a North Indian instrument with twenty-five strings. For over thirty years, he studied with the late, legendary Sarode maestro, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Bhattacharyya has played solo concerts in India, the United States, Europe, and Latin America for the last fifteen years. His music pays homage to the traditions of the Seni Maihar Gharana and the 15th century North Indian musician, Tansen. Bhattacharyya is currently a faculty advisor to the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music at Texas A&M University where he is also Professor of Electrical Engineering.

Shankar Bhattacharrya playing the Sarode