AROHA-MUSIC FOR THE SOUL

21st of Mar 2012 to 24th of Mar 2012

Event information:

Christchurch:

March 21st 7.30pm
Hornby School, 180 Waterloo Rd,
Hornby

Wellington:

March 23rd 7.30pm
Little Theatre
2 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt

Auckland:

March 24th, 7.30pm
Clouston Hall, St Cuthberts College,
122 Market Rd, Epsom

 

Biography: Vikram |  Gavin

The performer:

Vikram Hazra is known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience. He is a writer, philosopher, media producer, and social activist. As Program Director for the International Art of Living Foundation, he travels across the world, conducting workshops on personal excellence for corporates, and initiating community development and service projects that provide basic amenities like safe drinking water, health care and education to underprivileged communities.
He has also accompanied HH Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on delegations to countries as diverse as Pakistan and Mongolia, and has been a delegate at various international fora including the United Nations Millenium World Peace Summit. From the simplest of Indian folk bhajans to the compositions of Adi Shankaracharya, from Buddhists chants to African and African-American spirituals, from the philosophy of poet-saints like Kabeer, Meera, Raidas and Jaydev to contemporary blues and jazz, Vikram's concerts seamlessly meld diverse styles into an organic whole.

The sound of silence:

Vikram Hazra doesn't just play music, he opens up a doorway for his audiences to touch their own soul. His concerts evoke strong reactions from diverse audiences across the globe -- some cry, some dance in ecstasy, some sing out loud with eyes closed, while some experience deep states of meditative bliss. A wave of positive energy floods the performance space and uplifts all those present.
Years of spiritual sadhana, along with uncompromising attention to tonal crafting and sound design, as well as the gift of an impeccable musical ear, have helped create Vikram's unique sound. "Our style of spiritual music involves sculpting sound in such a way that the listener hears the silence contained within," he says.
He states emphatically that it is only the blessing and compassionate guidance of his Guru, HH Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, that has made him what he is today.

Concerts:

Vikram's concerts have drawn crowds of over 25,000 people in some parts of India. He has performed in over 30 countries, at prestigious venues ranging from London's Bloomsbury Theatre to Johannesburg's Linder Auditorium and Mumbai's Shanmukhananda Hall and NCPA Tata Theatre, as well as at colleges like Amherst Massachusetts, University of Warwick, IIT Kanpur, NMIMS Mumbai, and IIM Ahmedabad.

Audio CDs:

Megh Dhanush
Krishna
Shankara
Parameshwari
Light from Within
Russians Rock with Vikram
Vikram Live in Hong Kong
Amrit

The Band

Vikram Hazra: Vocals, flute, electric guitar, nylon-string guitar and guitar synthesizer
Shivraj (Mizo) Doss: Electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, arrangements Ajay Kadam: Tablas, electronic percussion

On the web:

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/12/31/stories/2005123102030100.htm http://shobhaade.blogspot.com/2009/01/bhajan-aur-bhojan.html
http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/01/23/stories/2006012300430100.htm
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/filmi-parties/bollywood/Hrithik-and-family-join-AIDS-campaign/articleshow/4555940.cms
http://www.vikramhazra.com/

 

GAVIN LIBOTTE GUITARIST/COMPOSER

Gavin was born in Kent, England and moved to Perth Australia in 1981. He studied classical guitar with Perth virtuoso Stephan Bulmer and Colin Reeves.
He then went on to complete a certificate and associate degree in jazz and contemporary music at the Perth Conservatorium of Music.

He then formed the guitar band Urban Gypsies with Glenn Rogers. They released the widely acclaimed debut CD Gypsy Fever.

In 2003 Gavin Libotte moved to Sydney to continue with the widely respected jazz / Latin guitar duo Urban Gypsies with Simon Phillips. Together they recorded the album Sauvage, an instrumental guitar world music album, released through MGM and promoted through SBS, local media, the ABC and receiving a 3/4 star review in The Sydney Morning Herald.

Gavin then collaborated with Gordon Tan and recorded a third CD Beautiful Catastrophe also promoted on ABC Radio. Gavin Has worked with many other acclaimed musicians. He is currently working with Dieter Kleemann who has played guitar in the Sydney scene for over 30 years. Gavin is currently performing and teaching in and around Sydney.