ShowCase Studio Presents In Conversation With Utsav Lal

Creative Indian pianist/ composer and Young Steinway Artist, UTSAV LAL is a musician extraordinaire who has set a precedent in the world of music. Choosing to perform on an instrument that has traditionally been considered unsuitable for Indian Classical music, 28-year-old Lal has gained huge international success and recognition with his performances of ragas on piano at the world’s leading venues that include Carnegie Hall-New York, Southbank Centre-London, National Concert Hall-Dublin, Asia Society-Hong Kong, Arts Centre-Melbourne, Steinway Hall NYC and John F Kennedy Center-Washington DC.

Treading the line between an ancient tradition and the innate desire for innovation with utmost respect, Lal’s music has a powerful intensity that sweeps the audience into a transcendental journey. Taking solo stage at leading international Jazz, Silent Film and World Music festivals, his work which is deeply rooted in North Indian Classical music reflects strong influences from his training in Jazz, Western Classical, Irish music and Contemporary Improvisation. Described by Novara Jazz Festival Director, Corrado Beldi as having “illuminating grace” and reviewed by The Irish Times as "a fleet fingered performer whose best moments can be both highly evocative and dazzling”, Utsav Lal’s soulful renditions in traditional Alap Jod Jhalla have won him fans all over the world.

Utsav Lal's debut Times Music album Piano Moods of Indian Ragas (2008) was followed by five subsequent albums which include The Fluid Piano album, released by Fluid Piano Tuning Label, UK (2016), a historic recording on the world’s first adaptive tuning acoustic musical piano. A disciple of Ustad F.Wasifuddin Dagar and violinist Sharat Srivastavaa, Lal holds a Bachelor of Music (Honors) degree in Jazz from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow , Master of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory of Music, Boston and features on several international collaborations with prominent names like Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Winifred Horan, Jarlath Henderson, CIRCA (Australia), Talvin Singh, Miles Okazaki ,Rajna Swaminathan and others.

Narendra Kusnur has been a journalist for 35 years, specializing in covering of music. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Mid-Day, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Music Plus and Seniors Today.

Kusnur has also had a two year stint with EMI Music India, handling the Indian music and Warner Music repertoire. At Reliance Retail, he headed training for their lifestyle products division, including books and music.    

He writes on all forms of Indian and international music, besides appearing in conferences and webinars. Recently, he presented a series on the basics of jazz for NCPA Mumbai.