K. Sridhar Sarod concert, Cookie Music Group live band

I enjoyed a classical Indian concert of sarod music by K. Sridhar at Duke University. He is living locally for a few months in Chapel Hill, NC, and gave a very nice concert today with touches of fusion in his strings toward the end. He was accompanied on tabla by Anil Datar from the Chicago area and a disciple of Anindo Chatterjee.

From the Duke University Performances website: K. Sridhar, Indian sarod master $20 General Admission, $5 Duke students. The two great music traditions of India, that of the North (Hindustani) and that of the South (Carnatic) share the same basic systems but differ in instruments used, the Ragas played and the concept of musical expression. K. Sridhar is an artist who has been able to master both traditions. One of the finest living exponents of the sarod, an instrument of great complexity, Sridhar was, at age 12, the youngest member of Ravi Shankar’s orchestra. He began touring independently in 1981 and has since traveled the world as a solo artist. Cosponsored by Eight Gates Music. More at www.sridhar.org.

Afterwards, I went out for a late night at Tony's Bourbon Street Oyster Bar in Cary, NC, to see Cookie Music Group managed and fronted by Roy Daye out of Charlotte, NC. I loved their 70s music covers, though I thought that their vocals didn't do justice to Marvin Gaye tunes. Otherwise, they were fun to listen and dance to, and even had horns to play tunes by groups like KC and the Sunshine Band as well as Earth, Wind, and Fire.