Niladri Kumaar - The Space Between the Notes

Niladri Kumaar brings The Space Between the Notes to the Zellerbach Theatre on Sunday, November 1, at 7 PM. It's the Philadelphia premiere of a program built around a documentary film of his last performance with tabla icon Zakir Hussain, and it's part of the Arts of India Festival.

Kumaar is a sitar maestro known as a maverick musician and an acclaimed ambassador for Indian music, and he worked closely with Hussain for years. Hussain called him "one of the masters of today" in India. The Space Between the Notes is billed as a musical journey that weaves centuries-old tradition with creative innovation, with the documentary film of that final performance serving as the center of the evening. It's a tribute to Hussain and the bond the two shared.

On stage, Kumaar is joined by an ensemble of Indian and American musicians: Agnelo Fernandes on keys, Sambit Chatterjee on drums, and Satyajit Talwalkar on tabla. The concert is co-presented by Penn Live Arts and Sruti, The India Music & Dance Society of Philadelphia, with support from the William Penn Foundation.

Tickets run from $36 to $84, and there's a pre-performance conversation at 6 PM if you want to get some context before the music starts. The Zellerbach Theatre is part of the Annenberg Center at 3680 Walnut Street.