A few photos from the Global Diva concert on Nov. 12, 2011

Sangeet Millennium, an Austin Top Ten World Music Band, proudly presents Global Divas – an exotic concert of world music. The concert will showcase award winning Kiran Ahluwalia and her Ensemble. Sangeet Millennium Ensemble will open the concert with their genre-bending Indo-jazz fusion. The concert will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Bethel Hall, on Saturday, November 12th at 9:30 pm.  Read more about this fascinating, richly creative Global Diva at www.kiranmusic.com and watch a video of one of Kiran Ahluwalia’s latest songs at www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4VqYHXwX5Y.

Sangeet Millennium, a musical initiative founded and directed by sitarist Amie Maciszewski, is known for its collaborations with world class performers of South Asian music. The two “global divas” have never performed together. They met in Canada five years ago, and Maciszewski has been trying to get Ahluwailia to Austin ever since. “I met a lot of obstacles in the process, and I almost gave up, “ recalls Maciszewski. “Kiran contacted me because there was an opportunity in her touring schedule and had long wanted to perform in Austin. This collaboration is particularly exciting because it showcases two women, with differing stories of migration. Both of us are latching on to traditional forms of Hindustani music, making them our own, and in the process, transforming them into a whole new genre.”

Born in India, raised in Canada, and residing today in New York City, Ahluwalia’s diverse background is evident in her entire approach to music making. Ahulwalia, an international touring artist and composer, is most known for her success in bringing traditional and contemporary forms of ghazals (Urdu lyrical poems) to life. Her music is a reflection of an ongoing quest to create timeless music in a modern and global context. This concert is part of an international tour for Ahluwalia’s new CD, Aam Zameen (Common Ground). The album’s influences span four continents and result in a sound that successfully merges contemporary Indian song with Saharan desert blues.

Internationally noted- sitarist and ethnomusicologist, Amie Maciszewski, created Sangeet Millennium in 2006. The three to four person Ensemble composes and performs traditional and original music from the Indian subcontinent, fusing it with jazz.. Maciszewski’s enchanting performances in North America, India, Europe, and Japan over two decades have received critical acclaim. Her performances continue to mesmerize audiences and provide rare insight into the vast complexity and mastery of the art of Hindustani music on sitar. The Ensemble will be performing various selections from their 2010 CD, Sangeet Safar, as well as new selections from their soon to be released album.

Tickets are now only $20 regular, $15 students/seniors/artists/World Music Unleashed ticket holders– available at www.nowplayingaustin.com  (512 474 8497). Ticket price includes beverages (beer, wine, nonalcoholic drinks). 

For more information, please contact sangeetmil@yahoo.com or call 512 965 2368.

Please visit our Global Diva page on Facebook and ‘like’ it!

This concert is supported in part by the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division. Special thanks to Pratham-Austin for their partnership.