Flamenco guitarist Don Soledad and Indian percussionist Shankh Lahiri present ‘CONEXIÓN’ (Connection) - a musical and educational journey accompanied by flamenco guitar, Indian vocals and percussion. The duo's connection will take you back to the rhythmic origins, beginning in India to Andalucía, southern Spain; the birthplace of the art of flamenco.
Soledad and Lahiri will be presenting some new original music as well as other compositions from their solo albums.
Don Soledad
Inspired by the guitar of flamenco legend, Paco de Lucia, Don Soledad cultivated his sophisticated, soulful sounds in Northern California, beginning with his early guitar studies with the great Spanish flamenco maestros Mariano de Cordobá and Agustin Ríos (the nephew of legendary guitarist Diego del Gastor). His studies continued in Andalucía (in the Southern region of Spain) in the city of Jerez de la Frontera with guitarist Juan Diego Mateos. Soon thereafter, he was performing shows in San Francisco and the Sonoma and Napa Valley wineries.
As a performer and recording artist, Soledad has worked with talents in a variety of genres, including singer Eric Martin (Mr. Big), late jazz guitar legend Larry Coryell and projects with jazz bassist Kai Eckhardt (Garage Mahal). As a composer, Soledad has recorded 2 original albums: "Camino de Seda" (2006) and "Soluna" (2013) and a solo Christmas album entitled "December Lullaby" (2015). Upon his departure from the West Coast, Don has been a mainstay in the Florida and US professional talent pool performing with his band "Don Soledad Group."
Shankh Lahiri
Lahiri is an International touring Tabla artist, composer, singer and CEO of the non-profit organization Shruti Foundation, Shruti School of Music, WAHH! World Fusion Band and "Shankh and Friends Global Project." Multi-talented Shankh Lahiri comes from a family with a long tradition of Indian Classical Music and has fully devoted his life to this music. Son of the sitarist and Guru Shri Ravi Lahiri, Shankh grew up in an environment imbued with the fragrance of Hindustani music. As a child, he received intensive training in both vocal and tabla from his father and went on to graduate in both subjects.
For the last two decades, Shankh has been the devoted senior disciple of world-renowned Tabla maestro, Pandit Nayan Ghosh.
Shankh has shared the stage with such legendary artists as Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Shujaat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Ustad Irshad Khan, Arati Ankalikar, Pandit Nayan Ghosh, Rakesh Chaurasia and many more.
Shankh has gained his reputation as a very creative & innovative concert performer in both Indian Classical & Experimental World Music genres. He has performed at major festivals, such as South by South West, Chicago Jazz Festival, Gasparila Music Festival and many more. Shankh received "Best of the Bay" Award in 2006 for his World Music album "Liberation" & "Brother Ray."