East Meets West brings Indian classical music into conversation with jazz and contemporary Western sounds.

Featuring tabla maestro and composer Samir Chatterjee, guitarist Xander Naylor, and saxophonist Birsa Chatterjee, the performance brings together tabla, guitar, saxophone and piano in an afternoon built around improvisation, rhythm and the meeting of musical traditions.

Proceeds will support Khelshala and our work creating opportunities for underserved children in India through sports, education and personal development.

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Support

Can’t join us on October 18? You can still support Khelshala with a direct donation. A few examples of what your support can help make possible:

$500 | Cover Meals for a Month

Supports one month of nutritious meals for 40 Khelshala children, served three times per week.

$1,500 | Support a Child for a Year

Provides comprehensive program support for one child for an entire year, including sports coaching and equipment, participation in up to four tournaments, academics, meals, yoga and wellbeing programming.

$5,000 | Unlock Potential

Helps us create opportunities above and beyond Khelshala’s core programming. Funds scholarships and access to opportunities including elite coaching, college support, vocational training and career development, and more.

Every Gift Matters. Donations of any amount are deeply appreciated. You can donate through the link below or directly during checkout.

Donate to Khelshala

Khelshala Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Performers

Samir Chatterjee | Tabla

Samir Chatterjee is an internationally acclaimed tabla player, composer and educator, and Founder-Director of Chhandayan Center for Indian Music. He has performed around the world alongside artists including Ravi Shankar, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Amjad Ali Khan, Branford Marsalis, Ravi Coltrane and Joshua Bell, and appeared at the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. Based in the New York area, Samir has spent decades bringing Indian classical music into conversation with jazz, classical and other musical traditions.

Xander Naylor | Guitar

Xander Naylor is a New York-based guitarist and composer whose music draws from jazz, rock, blues and Indian classical music. He has studied Hindustani music with Samir Chatterjee since 2008, adapting its sounds and techniques to the guitar while developing his own contemporary approach. His performances have taken him to the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, NH7 Weekender, Central Park SummerStage and Lincoln Center.

Birsa Chatterjee | Saxophone

Birsa Chatterjee is a New York-based saxophonist and composer whose musical foundation spans both Indian classical music and jazz. He began studying tabla with Samir Chatterjee at age four before turning to saxophone and jazz, later studying at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and The Juilliard School. He has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, The Blue Note and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has worked with artists and mentors including Wynton Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Gary Bartz, Terence Blanchard and Christian McBride. His own work brings together elements of Indian classical music, jazz, Indian folk traditions and the music of Rabindranath Tagore.

Schedule

Khelshala Inc.

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