::: UTSAV LAL :::

“….......well before contemporary music and radical improvisation, well before jazz was born and developed across Gottschalk and Jarrett, well before our sounds were written or conceived to be emotional, there was a territory of creativity that lead music into outer mental spaces. It was a magic valley where music was like a water flow: the ragas were played with mood and color, with that same illuminating grace that we can hear through the hands of Utsav Lal. "

Corrado Beldi

Festival Artistic Director, Novara Jazz

The Musical Sojourn:

Born on 18 August 1992, Lal gave his debut solo piano concert in New Delhi, India at the age of nine with a unique repertoire of Indian Music compositions. Based in Dublin, Ireland and oft referred to as a child prodigy, the 18 yr old musician's training has encompassed three diverse genres of Western Classical, Indian Classical and Jazz.

With early piano training , Utsav completed all grade exams as a classical pianist by the age of 14 and obtained the ATCL Piano Diploma with distinction from Trinity Guildhall, London at 17 years of age. His jazz exposure began at the age of 13 and strengthened after his selection during a World Audition Tour for a full scholarship to complete the Five Week Performance program in Jazz at Berklee College of Music, Boston. Currently, Utsav continues both his Classical & Jazz piano training at one of UK's largest music conservatoire -Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, Glasgow and is pursuing a music degree at the Academy as a recipient of the prestigious ABRSM ( Associated Board of Royal School of Music, London) International scholarship.

With a performing career spanning over a decade, Utsav Lal was officially recognised as a "Young Steinway Artist" in Feb 2010 and named on the worldwide artist roster of leading piano makers, Steinway & Sons. Featured in the Limca Book of Records at 14 yrs of age, he was the youngest award winner of Ireland’s Metro Éireann Media & Multicultural MAMA Awards 2008 for championing Multiculturalism and has several laurels and awards to his credit.

Utsav’s strong Indian roots drew him to the power of Indian classical ragas. His training in Hindustani classical vocal from the age of 7 laid the foundation for his raga understanding. Utsav's exposure to Indian film compositions and their strong raga influence paved the way for him to be amongst the first Indian musician to experiment with Indian Classical Music on Piano. Today, his exploration in this field has been lauded by both Indian classical maestros & Western classical purists.Utsav's creative expression of Ragas in the soulful sound of the piano has been critically acclaimed by worldwide audiences and has earned him the unique title of the Raga Pianist.

At the age of 16, India’s leading record label Times Music released Utsav’s debut Indian Classical Ragas Piano Album titled "Piano Moods of Indian Ragas" (Sept 2008).Thereafter, two other albums recorded live at Utsav’s concerts titled “Ragas dance off Piano keys” and “ Ragas al Pianoforte” are available on a worldwide distribution through major online music sites.

Spellbinding original compositions based on Indian Classical Ragas have endeared Utsav to music lovers across geographical and genre divides. Utsav has performed over 100 piano concerts at prestigious venues and music festival worldwide. In 2008, Utsav was

India

’s cultural ambassador & presented ragas on piano concert for the Asia on the Edge festival in

Singapore

(Dec 2008) and at The Venue, Leeds,

for the “Into the Light World Music “concert series (Dec 2008). He performed under the “Music for Mind & Soul” concert series at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester in Apr 2009. In July-Aug 2009, the young pianist embarked on a nationwide piano concert & workshop tour in

India

. Alongside the Tour, Utsav also conducted a series of workshops that year both in

India

and upon return in

Ireland

titled “Breaking Boundaries” which focused on improvisation and his unique approach to his musical pursuits in diverse genres. After the hugely successful India Tour, the pianist finished the year with concerts in The National Concert Hall-Dublin, (Sept 2009), The Irish Academy of World Music & Dance(Oct 2009),Queen Elizabeth hall, London (Nov 2009) and at Konset Huset, Gothenburg, Sweden (Nov 2009).

Over the last nine years, Utsav has performed amongst others at The One World Music Evening, World Refugee Day, Festival of World Cultures '07 & '08 in Ireland , Asia Pacific week '07 in Berlin ,The National Concert Hall in Dublin, The Taj Festival in Manchester, Music Amongst Mosaic Concert series in Cork , RTE- Irish National television, India Habitat Centre at New Delhi, Bahaar Utsav by Surdhwani in Wolverhampton , Symphony Hall-Birmingham, The Tagore Centre-Berlin and at The Nehru Centre-London.

In the recent years, he has toured India extensively performing at the major cities in India including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Gurgaon, Jullundhar, Ludhiana.In Europe, in 2010, Utsav has taken the sound of ragas on the piano to the jazz forums at Novara Jazz Festival in Italy and at the Lockerbie Jazz Festival in Scotland.

In Mar 2011, Lal performed at the prestigious venue of The John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts, Washington DC to a packed audience under the aegis of the Maximum India Festival.

Music Albums/ Live Video Excerpts:

To buy Utsav Lal's music online, click on the Album name below:

Piano Moods of Indian Ragas

Ragas dance off Piano keys

Ragas al Pianoforte

To view Video clips, subscribe to the RAGAPIANIST You Tube channel.Click on the links below for live excerpts:

Novara Jazz Festival, May 2010 - Raga Yaman (Alaap)

India Tour, Jan 2011-Raga Desh (Gat in Teental with Tabla )

Lockerbie Jazz Festival,Oct 2010- Raga Vrindavani Sarang

Reviews & Collaborations:

Accredited with fabulous reviews , Lal has been featured by leading print & online publications including The Times of India, The Irish Times, Hindustan Times, The Telegraph, The Strait Times, Washington Post, The Hindu, The Kolkata Age, The Asian Age, Gurgaon Explorer, Mid Day, Navbharat Times, Rashtriya Sahara, several magazines like India Today, The Teenager, RAVE, Career Choices and internet sites including raga to rock, Ionarts, Musical Escapades etc. Lal has been extensively covered by radio & television channels like NDTV 24/7, Zee News, Channel 7, Sahara Samay, DD Metro, DD News, India TV, Total T.V, RTE, BBC-UK, Radio Netherlands, Radio Mirchi and others.

Utsav’s creative expressions of the emotions & moods of Indian Classical Ragas have left spellbound audiences .as he has presented Ragas in an original & unique style .

The young artist has been involved in some fascinating musical projects including working with The Fluid Piano invented by UK based composer Geoff Smith and performing collaborative concerts with the Indian classical violinist-Imraan Khan, Sitar player-Mita Nag and working in a duo with reputed tabla player-Anuradha pal as well as experimenting in a trio with percussion instruments Tabla and Mridangam. In Sept 2008, Lal performed an interesting collaborative piece at The National Concert Hall, Dublin with Japanese Shakuhachi player- Philip Horan . In Oct 2010, Utsav Lal performed as as a part of the newly formed Commonwealth Jazz explosion band under the leadership of Scottish saxophonist Laura McDonald.In Jan 2011, Lal toured India with an Indo-Irish musical project titled “Ragas to Reels ” with Irish Flautist, Sam Comerford .

Covered extensively by Indian press and media, the young Pianist is a delight to watch, as he loses himself to his music, fingers follow the pace of the mind, with no scores in front of him, weaves magic with his fingers, slowly unfolding notes of the Raga, following it up with a rhythm accompaniment to present complex permutations & combinations of Raga notes & creates a mesmerizing musical experience.

Charities & Causes supported:

Utsav Lal has supported various charities & events with his concerts like the National Association for Blind, Spastics Society, Make-A-Wish Foundation , World Mercy Fund, Bridge Foundation Kolkata, Telethon People in Need, Rotary Club at Chennai, World Refugee Day, World Harmony Run-Ireland Chapter, Doras Luimni etc. Utsav has been associated with Daniel Pearl Music Foundation and has supported the Daniel Pearl World Music days in 2008 & 2009 with his concert dedications.

Teachers & Mentors:

Currently pursuing a jazz degree at Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, Glasgow as a recipient of the prestigious ABRSM ( Associated Board of Royal School of Music) International scholarship and training under Head of Jazz at the college- leading Jazz saxophonist Tommy Smith, and jazz pianist Paul Harrison. Utsav has undergone a major part of his classical piano training under Padhraic O'Cunnieagain, reputed Irish Concert Pianist at DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama, Dublin and began his early jazz training Argentinian Pianist Germann Lema.

Groomed as a professional pianist, under the aegis of noted Indian pianist, John Raphael (western classical pianist) Utsav underwent his early training on playing by ear, with the reputed Indian pianist Brian Silas. Utsav also owes his training and understanding of the nuances, depth and meaning of the phenomenal compositions of Indian Film music and recreating Indian melodies on the piano, to Jaideep Lakhtakia, a highly experienced musician who is a virtual encyclopedia on Indian film songs. Utsav's first steps into Indian classical Music were guided by Vinod Shakiya .

Currently, Utsav is a disciple of the great Dhrupad exponent, Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar and is being mentored for Instrumental Classical training by noted Violinist Sharat Chandra Srivastava.

Utsav holds all his teachers in great respect & credits them with being the inspiring and driving force behind his music passion.

Quotes:

…The only way to describe Utsav Lal’s music is “Transplendid”……Robbie Cavolina, Hollywood Film Director

…Utsav breathes life into ebony & ivory with a melody that transports the listener into a different world……...…Hindustan Times.

......Lal is a fleet fingered performer whose best moments can be both highly evocative and dazzling.......The Irish Times

……People were blown away by Utsav.Oozing with talent, it’s a joy to behold him caressing a piano like the way he does…..Jackie Leahy, One World Music evening.

…… complete music to the ears..….The Asian Age.

..his fingers move across the keyboard as effortlessly as a ballet dancer would traipse across the stage….Mail Today.

…..When Utsav Lal touches the keys of the piano, he not only creates wonderful music, but touches many hearts…..The Times of India

…absolutely mesmerizing..Raga to Rock.

Its really amazing how god shows us mortals that only he is the giver of talent and Utsav's talent is proof of this..….Talat Aziz,Ghazal singer.

This boy is magic. I've heard lots of people in lots of places, but this boy is simply brilliant. I admire him, I adore him and I'm very fond of him.....Randhir Kapoor,veteran Indian film actor.

..celebrating the musical legacy of India & Ireland,exploring the haunting sound of Indian ragas and the pounding energy of Irish reels, the young musicians Utsav lal & Sam Comerford presented an unforgettable evening that transcended cultural & language barriers and transported a rapturous audience beyong geographical reality....The Statesman.

.....his compositions had a magnetic lure that transcended the audience into a fantasy world ......Deccan Herald.

...In this crazy,very fast world of mindless routine and the pursuit of material,Utsav Lal brings us back to what is most important.He connects us in a musical yoga to God and to one another.....Washington Post reader review.