Enjoy Indian folk, classical, Bollywood and pop music, blended with Jazz in South Auckland this weekend

This month, we are presenting a Auckland’s famous Indian-Jazz fusion band with talented singers Amrita Bhende DeSouza, Daljeet Kaur, and Kishori Telang . The band comprises of Ben Fernandez on keys, Nigel Gavin on guitar, Dean Rodrigues on bass, Ron Samsom on drums and Manjit Singh on tabla and percussion. Please come and enjoy the music in intimate settings at Baithak NZ, Naad Community Center in Papatoetoe on June 20, at 6pm.

- From Baithak NZ

With Baithak, we want to showcase the musical diversity of South Auckland: Manjit Singh, Naad Charitable Trust

“We started this concept last year, and for the first year, we focused mainly on Hindustani classical music. Now, as we are in the second year of Baithak, we are looking more at showcasing the diversity of music living in South Auckland right now. Our first event was on May 30, World Music Trio, where I collaborated with Swedish and Kiwi musicians on guitar and saxophone. Now, this Indian-Jazz fusion is happening. Later in the year, we will bring Greek, Persian and Indian music together,” noted Manjit Singh from Naad Charitable Trust, who also runs the Rhythm School of Indian Music in Papatoetoe, Auckland, since 2013. In all, over this time, he has imparted his musical knowledge to over 500 students, including Indians, Fiji-Indians, few Pakeha, and even one Uzbeki and one Chinese, he says.

-Gaurav Sharma