As we get ready to unveil the preliminary 37th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival lineup tomorrow :eek, we thought we’d share one more new name…
This new trio in many many ways, embodies the spirit of virtuosity and collaboration and inspiration that is Telluride Bluegrass.
"I’ve always flashed on the idea that the seven notes are the same in India, China, Korea, Indonesia, Japan, anywhere. So I’ve always wondered if there is one place where we have all come from.
This piece, to me, points to that beginning; that origin as being brothers who had our ancestral connection somewhere way back in the same spot. We all went away to our different destinies, then suddenly we run into each other. We start talking and find that there are certain similarities that we have. Those connections start appearing and magnifying.
To me this piece represents that kind of origin and reappearance and rediscovery of our roots." - Zakir Hussain
Several years ago banjo player Bela Fleck and bassist Edgar Meyer made a list of musicians they would love to collaborate with for a new symphonic piece. They listed musicians they were very excited to meet and create music with; musicians that would inspire and challenge them.
At the top of that list was this remarkable musician: the Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain.
To state an indisputable fact: these are 3 of the greatest musicians in the world. On any instrument. In any genre. We can safely use the term “genius” for these musicians without hyperbole.
To state another fact: this trio collaboration will be one of the most provocative, challenging, and thoroughly engrossing sets of music shared with Festivarian Nation this June.
Take a few minutes to watch this performance from Carnegie Hall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYlT_2qv3yg
Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wk6a1tNZ1Yg
And here’s a longer interview with the trio from NPR’s Weekend Edition: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113441094
For on this 2010 Solstice weekend, as American musics (bluegrass, jazz) mingle with the structures and ideas of Western and Indian classical musics, rhythm becomes melody, brotherhood becomes music, and any remaining musical boundaries join the snowmelt in the San Miguel River.
We’ll be back tomorrow with the preliminary 2010 Telluride Bluegrass Festival lineup. Don’t forget, tickets go on sale at 9am MST - 800-624-2422 or http://shop.bluegrass.com. Take care of your festivarian family with a friendly reminder.