Visveshwar Nagarajan, flute
Kedar Naphade, harmonium
Sriram Raman, mridangam
Vivek Pandya, tabla
Kedar Naphade (b. 1972) received preliminary training in Hindustani classical music from his grandfather, Shri Dadasaheb Naphade, and from Shri Arvind Gajendragadkar. Since age nine, he has been a disciple of Late Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, arguably the greatest harmonium player of our times. Naphade has also had the privilege of training from the late Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, a veteran singer of the Atrauli-Jaipur gharana. She played a pivotal role in his musical development and sowed in him the seeds that developed into a passionate love for the vocal art form. As such, like his guru Pt. Tulsidas Borkar, Naphade’s music derives inspiration from the character of the traditional Hindustani vocal art form, as well as the dexterous harmonium wizardry of Pt. Borkar and his guru P. Madhukar — a genius and pioneer in harmonium performance technique. In addition to classical music, Naphade also plays the semi-classical forms of Marathi Natyasangeet (stage music), Bhajans, Thumri, Dhun, and others. Naphade has performed harmonium solo and has accompanied vocalists at numerous concerts in India, Europe, and in the U.S., including at the Alladiya Khan Smruti Samaroha, the Dadar Matunga Cultural Center in Mumbai, Lincoln Center, and the Smithsonian Institute. He has also been featured on NPR. He has shared the stage with luminaries such as his guru Smt. Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Smt. Prabha Atre, Smt. Laxmi Shankar, Pt. Phiroz Dastur, Smt. Ashwini Bhide, Smt. Arati Ankalikar, Smt. Kaushiki Chakraborty, and many others.
Renowned for his exceptional talent on the flute, Visveshwar Nagarajan is an A-grade artist from All India Radio, a prestigious recognition he earned at the young age of 21, making him one of the youngest flutists to achieve this honor. Nagarajan’s musical influence extends globally, having begun his journey in 2006 at just nine years old. Over seventeen years, he has performed over 1,200 concerts, showcasing his versatility across traditional Indian Carnatic music, Bollywood tunes for weddings, and even supporting various Indian dance forms like bharatanatyam, kuchipudi, Odissi, and Kathak. His talent also shines in Indian jazz fusion, at international festivals with his band. Awarded the prestigious “Best Instrumentalist Prize” by the Madras Music Academy at age fourteen, Nagarajan plays in a style marked by a brisk pace and intricate mathematical precision, and yet he maintains the inherent beauty of the music. His deep understanding of song lyrics and the emotions they convey is evident in his performances. Nagarajan’s versatility is unmatched, adept in Carnatic rigor, jazz spontaneity, and the emotive melodies of Bollywood. His continuous learning and integration of advanced flute playing techniques from various musical traditions have made him a globally recognized musician. His performances, regardless of genre, are a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation, captivating audiences with diverse musical tastes.
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