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.

New York based fiddler, composer and improviser, Cleek Schrey is deeply versed in both Irish fiddle traditions having studied Irish fiddling with the legendary Brendan Mulvihill. He also plays the Hardanger d’amore fiddle and has been described by The Irish Times as “a musician utterly at one with his instrument and music.”

Cleek has performed and recorded with leading artists in traditional music, including Martin Hayes, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and Iarla Ó Lionáird. His international performance credits include the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Masters of Tradition in Bantry, the Beckett in London festival, and Queen Elizabeth Hall. His work frequently explores archival sources, including 18th- and 19th-century Irish music collections. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition from Princeton University.

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.