Standing Rock Cultural Arts' "Around the World" Music SeriespresentsA program of North Indian classical musicfeaturing Samuel Salsbury, sarangiwith Josh Sherman, tabla8:00 p.m., Saturday, June 23, 2018 (final concert of the 2017-2018 season)North Water Street Gallery 300 N. Water Street, Suite HKent, Ohio$10 suggested donation (or pay what you can)preceded by 7:30 p.m. meet-and-greet featuring light food and drinks The final concert of our third season will be a special program of Indian classical music performed by Samuel Salsbury on the sarangi, a rarely heard bowed string instrument of North India, with tabla accompaniment provided by Josh Sherman. The evening will include exquisite selections from the Hindustani tradition of North India, to which Salsbury has devoted intensive study since 2014. Using an instrument that is 125 years old, he will present a full classical raga and two bhajans (devotional songs). Following the performance (which will be presented in one set, without intermission), Salsbury will share stories and photographs from his many extended stays in India, and authentic Indian food from Namaste Cuisine will be served. About the artists: Samuel Salsbury, an Akron native who is also a fine and versatile violinist, improviser, and recording artist, is one of the few non-Indians to play the sarangi, a bowed instrument with 39 strings, whose rich and resonant tone is known for penetrating deep into the hearts of listeners. For the past five years, he has spent between three and four months of each year in the holy city of Varanasi, taking daily lessons with his guru, Pt. Santosh Mishra, an 8th-generation sarangi master. While there earlier this year, he presented three solo concerts; this will be his first in Northeast Ohio since his return home. As a violinist, Salsbury brings soulful depth to a wide assortment of musical styles and situations. Probably best known for his kirtan performances, he has played with many of the world’s leading kirtan artists in the creation of sacred chants rooted in Hinduism and yoga practice. Although he received classical training at the Cleveland Institute of Music, his eclectic musical background has also included performances in the genres of rock, blues, jazz, avant-garde, and Cajun/zydeco. His spiritual journey dates back to early childhood and has taken him to such countries as Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Japan and, most recently, India. In 2018 he released a CD of original music with Kent musician Mike Hovancsek, entitled The Market of Kashi. Josh Sherman is a Northeast Ohio-based hand percussionist specializing in tabla and East Indian rhythms. He has studied tabla privately for over 13 years with a number of renowned tabla teachers, some of whom he has also had the honor of performing with on multiple occasions. His longest period of study has been with Jim Feist, a disciple of Pt. Yogesh Samsi, one of the foremost exponents of the Punjab gharana of tabla playing. Sherman currently performs as a soloist as well as with several groups (including instrumental world fusion ensemble Global Connections, kirtan ensemble Enchanted Hearts, and the hyper-rhythmic Rudraksh Rhythm Ensemble), and has performed in cross-cultural settings with musicians and dancers of many different styles from around the world. Performance venues of note include Severance Hall, House of Blues, Cain Park, Ingenuity Fest, Tri-C Jazz Fest, Parade the Circle, Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Starwood Festival. He has also conducted workshops for all ages on Indian rhythm theory and other drumming-related topics for the Starwood Festival, Ingenuity Fest, and many Passport Project programs. Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/925056504340452/ Samuel Salsbury Music Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/samuelsalsburymusic/ Josh Sherman website: http://www.joshshermantabla.com/ * * * * * The North Water Street Gallery is conveniently located just a block north of the intersection of Main and Water Streets in Kent, Ohio, with free street parking on both sides of the street. Seating is limited, so arrive early for the best seats. ---------------- Established in 2015, the "Around the World" Music Series is a concert series presenting outstanding musicians from diverse cultures in an intimate setting. Concerts are held approximately every other month in the new theater space of the North Water Street Gallery in downtown Kent, Ohio. The series is an initiative of Standing Rock Cultural Arts, and is curated by ethnomusicologist David Badagnani. The series is made possible by the support of Drs. Terry E. and Sara Stone Miller and the Ohio Arts Council. Standing Rock Cultural Arts Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/SRCAKent Standing Rock Cultural Arts official site: http://www.standingrock.net/AroundWorldConcertSeries.html http://www.standingrock.net/