Utsav Lal’s Ragas to Reels

Indian pianist/composer Utsav Lal, often known as the “Raga Pianist,” is recognized as the rarest of pianists for his innovative handling of Indian classical music on a Western instrument. Across a two-decade career, he has performed solo at venues including Carnegie Hall, Southbank Centre, Kennedy Center, and Steinway Hall. His music, acclaimed for sincerity, depth, and intensity, is deeply influenced by Dhrupad and draws on sources including The Necks, Thelonious Monk, and Cecil Taylor.

He has taken the stage at festivals including Novara Jazz and Masters of Tradition, and is endorsed as a Young Steinway Artist and Yamaha Jazz Scholar. He is recognized for extensive collaborative work with Irish, Scottish, jazz, and experimental artists including Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Winifred Horan, Talvin Singh, and Rajna Swaminathan. He has released seven solo records, including the historic first album on the microtonal “Fluid Piano” (2016). He holds a Master’s in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory and a Bachelor’s in Jazz from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and is a disciple of Dhrupad vocalist Ustad F. Wasifuddin Dagar.

Winifred Horan is a legendary Irish-American fiddler, composer, champion dancer, recording artist, and instructor.  Born and raised in New York City to Irish parents, she studied piano, taught by her father, a carpenter and musician, and Irish fiddle from a young age. As a teenager, she won a full scholarship from General Mills to attend the Mannes College of Music Preparatory School, and graduated from the New England Conservatory in Boston, studying classical violin with Masuko Ushioda.

She has played with multiple orchestras, including the Boston Pops Orchestra, before joining Cherish the Ladies in 1990. After extensive classical training, she co-founding the award-winning group Solas, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2025. She toured with The Sharon Shannon Band, and is a nine-time champion National Irish step dancer and All-Ireland fiddle champion. She has released three award-winning solo records. In 2022, she co-founded the band Reverie Road, which has toured extensively and received “Debut Album of the Year” from Ireland Tonight (2024). She is also an in-demand fiddle instructor, leading students to qualify for the All-Ireland fleadh.

Sam Comerford is a musician and composer from Dublin, living in Brussels. He leads the trio Thunderblender, whose acclaimed debut album Stillorgan (WERF Records, 2020) was described by RTÉ Lyric FM as “the estrangement of the familiar.” Upcoming projects include a solo saxophone album on Irish fiddler Tommie Potts, a second Thunderblender album, and the soundtrack for Hexham Heads. He tours and records with numerous projects blending jazz, improvised, and Irish music, including Neil Ó Loclainn’s Cuar, Hendrik Lasure & Warm Bad, and Utsav Lal & Ragas to Reels.

He holds a Master’s in Jazz saxophone from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and a BA from Newpark Music Centre, Dublin. He has won the Toots Thielemans Award and “Best Soloist” at the Concours Tremplin d’Avignon, and has been supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Music Network, and the Vlaamse Overheid. He has played at Jazz Middelheim, Handelsbeurs, De Bijloke, Flagey, Theatre National Bruxelles, KVSJazz Middelheim, 12 Points Festival, Southbank Centre, and Café OTO, among others.