Sunday, September 25th, 4:30 and 5:30 pm (two sets)

Prasant Radhakrishnan
Jazz/Carnatic Saxophone

which way west?
Sunday concert series

Each week, the Bird & Beckett Cultural Legacy Project presents two sets of music on the stage at Bird & Becektt by Bay Area-based performers working in a variety of traditions, be it bluegrass, sufi Qawwali, jazz, western classical, North African music of the Imazighen…

Today, we’re pleased to present one of the preeminent young musicians on the world music stage.  Prasant Radhakrishnan is a versatile saxophonist, identified with both the South Indian Classical (Carnatic) and jazz disciplines, who produces a unique vocal texture on saxophone, reflecting his continued study of tradition, constant innovation, and vast concert experience.

The foremost disciple of Carnatic saxophone pioneer, “Padmashri” Dr. Kadri Gopalnath, Prasant began developing his music over the course of nearly a decade of intensive musical training under his guru, much of which took place in the traditional gurukulam format of complete immersion. Since his ascent to the concert stage in 1998, he has accompanied his guru in hundreds of concerts, and has established himself as a unique and formidable voice in Carnatic music.

Prasant’s musical trajectory reveals his deep musical curiosity and constant evolution within the Carnatic tradition. At age 17, Prasant released his first album, Swara Sudha (2000), featuring some of the most respected names in Carnatic music. After an intense period of study, practice and performance in India under the aegis of the prestigious AIIS Senior Performing Arts Fellowship, Prasant released his second critically acclaimed album, Duality (2004), which displayed the subtle technical innovations he had begun developing for his instrument on the Carnatic platform. Prasant has since released three albums. East Facing (2007), continuing his effort of vocalizing the instrument. VidyA (2008) is the debut album of his critically acclaimed Carnatic-Jazz trio, and Kiravani: A Live Experience (2009) is a 2-CD live recording featuring an extensive main piece in the raga Kiravani.