BELLOWS FALLS — In a rare local appearance, Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer, presents a Stone Church Arts concert of traditional North Indian evening ragas played on the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar on Saturday, May 11, at 7:30 p.m. Eisenkramer will be accompanied on tabla by Rajesh Pai. The concert takes place in the beautiful and historic Immanuel Episcopal Church, the stone church on the hill, 20 Church St., Bellows Falls.
For the past 11 years, Eisenkramer has studied and performed Hindustani classical music, traveling back and forth between his native southern Vermont and India to learn in the traditional Guru-Shishya (student-disciple) oral tradition. After 10 years of study with master Indian slide guitarist Ranjan Kumar of Delhi, he is now receiving advanced training from sarod maestro Pt Alok Lahiri of Kolkata in the Maihar gharana style of instrumental music.
According to a news release, “Joel's performances have been noted for their beauty and accuracy in representing classical Indian music while his engaging explanations and demonstrations of the instrument and music allow everyone in the audience a window inside understanding and appreciating North Indian classical music.”
Eisenkramer's performances have included the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India (the world's largest spiritual festival), the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Delhi, and the National Gallery of Modern Art Bangalore, and the Willim Twee Concert Hall in the Netherlands. His concerts in the U.S. have included lecture demonstrations at the California Institute for Integral Studies and California College of the Arts.
Eisenkramer's music has been featured on Radio New Zealand, BBC Introducing, and NPR.
Tickets in advance are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors, and $35 for premium, reserved seats. On the day of the show, prices increase by $5 to $25 general admission, $20 for seniors. Information and advance tickets are available in person at Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls and Misty Valley Books in Chester, by phone at 802-460-0110, and online at stonechurcharts.org.