The Santoor and Bhajan Sopori - instrument and player are an indivisible force in upholding the Sufiana tradition of Kashmiri music and poetics. Recently, awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Government of India, Pandit Bhajan Lal has been a pioneer in bringing to national and international attention the music of the Santoor and placing it at par with the popular Sitar. Born in a family of great Kashmiri musicians and mystics, Bhajan draws upon this lineage in playing and composing beautiful soulful music that speaks from the heart and transforms time and space for the listener. Creating exciting rhythmic variations and syncopations in his duos with the drummer and Tumba (pot) player, Bhajan has composed over 4000 songs in Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic and other India languages. Abhay Rustam Sopori, Bhajan's talented son and disciple is the 4th generation musician in this musical family. He will perform with his father for this concert. Joining the music duo will be the renowned drummer Samir Chatterjee, a wizard on the tablas who has accompanied India's greatest musicians. This multi-talented percussionist has founded Chhandayan, a school of music in New York and plays with western musicians with equal ease and facility. www.santoor.org Presented in collaberation with the Five College World Music Program and the Department of Music at Smith College.