Om Shalom Trio: a Convergence of Indian and Jewish Music on a New Silk Road
In the latest episode of the Right Brain Music Podcast, we meet Om Shalom Trio, a dynamic group of musicians that meld Indian, Jewish and classical music traditions so smoothly, you’ll forget they were ever separated. This episode is our first joint production with The World Fusion Show, a popular community access TV program.
Meet Om Shalom
We tend to think of different cultures in fixed, absolute terms. But cultures aren’t like that. They constantly shift and change, with influences from within and without. Nowhere is this more true than in music, which constantly evolves. Om Shalom is a great example of how evolution can happen right before our very ears, through a combination of diverse backgrounds, thoughtful collaboration, a spirit of open-mindedness and superb musicianship.
The Trio consists of Ranendra Das on tabla, Jessie Reagen Mann on cello and Abhik Mukherjee on sitar. All are accomplished masters of their instruments, with long resumes. They are classically trained, but rather than stay in one lane as such training often dictates, they choose an open road of exploration. As you’ll hear in the podcast, their down-to-earth personalities speak to an ease of collaborating and experimenting. In the interview they cover a wide range of topics—how they’re influenced by their own experiences, and how they work together to craft new ideas, draw on centuries of musical development and incorporate improvisation in their composition and performance.
Most importantly, you’ll hear generous helpings of their original music, from their recent CD and in spontaneous jams on the World Fusion Show with host Derrik Jordan. Derrik, you may recall, is an accomplished violinist/multi-instrumentalist and was featured guest in episode 19 of this podcast. We’re pleased to welcome Derrik back as co-host of this interview.
Listen to the podcast here. If you like this program, please subscribe (through any iOS or Android podcast app) so you don’t miss an episode!
Here are some additional links for your own exploration of the Trio and The World Fusion Show: