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Neel Murgai

Neel Murgai Ensemble

Neel Murgai: sitar, vocals, daf Mat Maneri: viola Sameer Gupta: tabla Greg Heffernan: cello

“Music is a reflection of the times. This is our stimulus of vibrations into the global dialogue, a cross-cultural mélange only possible at this time: the Ancient Future Traditional.”

NME announces the release of their debut CD, Audionomic Stimulus Package!

Sitarist, overtone singer, frame drummer and composer Neel Murgai creates music that defies categorization. His unique global sound is rooted in his sitar studies with Pundit Krishna Bhatt, combined with modern and avant-guarde western music and other sounds from around the world. The Neel Murgai Ensemble is the realization of Neel’s many years of experimentation in Indian classical music, free improvisation, modern compositional techniques, mathematical rhythmic structures and droning overtone minimalism. This group of stellar musicians, features downtown improv wizard, Mat Maneri on viola, along with Sameer Gupta (Marc Cary’s Focus Trio) on tabla and Greg Heffernan (Paradox Trio) on cello. Together they create an Indo-chamber jazz with Indian melody and rhythm, orchestral textures and ecstatic flights of improvisational fancy.

Neel Murgai is a multi-instrumental performer, composer and teacher from New York City. His life long journey into the depth and beauty of sitar and Indian classical music began with Ravindra Goswami in Banaras, 14 years ago. For the past 8 years Neel has studied with his guru and mentor, Pundit Krishna Bhatt. His interest in music began at a young age with trombone and guitar. While obtaining a degree in Civil Engineering, Neel worked as a radio DJ, hosting an international music program. This fostered in him an abiding interest in music from around the world. He went on to live in India, immersing himself in the music and culture of his parent’s homeland. Upon returning to the U.S. Neel began a career in music. In addition to sitar, he has since learned to play daf (Persian frame drum) with Soheil Zolfonun and kanjira with V. Nagarajan in Chennai. He has studied overtone singing with the Buriyat performance group Uragsha and Harmonic Choir member, Timothy Hill. Neel has also learned Western composition with Edgar Grana. He is currently working on his Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts at Goddard College.

While dedicated to Indian classical music, Neel is also interested in creating an original music that is rooted in his many influences and studies. The Neel Murgai Ensemble is a product of many years of thought about the ideal instrumentation to advance his compositions. They have released a debut CD “Audionomic Stimulus Package”. Recently the NME have performed at The Stone and opened up for Pundit Krishna Bhatt accompanied by the great tabla maestro, Pundit Anindo Chatterjee in New York City.

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Hu Vibrational: Timeless

Read "Timeless" reviewed by Geno Thackara


An Adam Rudolph recording is less a collection of musical pieces than of sound paintings. The elements he works with are musical ones--any instrument known to mankind might be used, and often even used to play notes--but traditions of form and melody tend to be tossed out the window from the start. The tones are treated as daubs of paint on a palette, splashed here and there whenever they will add something to whichever imaginary landscape he is evoking at ...

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Neel Murgai Ensemble CD Release

Neel Murgai Ensemble CD Release

Source: All About Jazz

The Neel Murgai Ensemble announces the release of their Debut recording, “Audionomic Stimulus Package".

“Music is a reflection of the times. This is our stimulus of vibrations into the global dialogue, a cross-cultural mlange only possible at this time: the Ancient Future Traditional.”

Sitarist, overtone singer, frame drummer and composer Neel Murgai creates music that defies categorization. His unique global sound is rooted in his sitar studies with Pundit Krishna Bhatt, combined with modern and avant-guarde western music and other ...

"...Murgai joins a growing tribe of Asians who are slowly but steadily adding desi vibes to the music lexicon. It is their sounds that give us a glimpse of what a global village carnival might sound like." - India Today

"In a way the star of the record is Neel Murgai." - Rambles, a cultural arts magazine. writing in review of the Haunted House album, Up in Flames.

Primary Instrument

Sitar

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Timeless

Meta Records
2023

buy

Audionomic Stimulus...

Self Produced
2009

buy

Serpentine

From: Timeless
By Neel Murgai

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