Nederlands Blazers Ensemble

Rasa & Raga

The Nederlands Blazers Ensemble delves into Indian music and collaborates with sarangi guru Ustad Sabir Khan. In this tradition, attentive listening and the courage to follow the moment are central. You notice how the music develops on the spot and gradually draws you in.

Sabir Khan comes from the centuries-old Sikar Gharana in Rajasthan, a family of court musicians in which music has been passed down from generation to generation. His father, the renowned Sultan Khan, worked with artists such as George Harrison and Madonna and brought the sound of the sarangi to a worldwide audience.

Trombonist and composer Arjan Linker came to know this music closely as a student of Sabir Khan. In this concert, he demonstrates how this tradition continues in his own playing and compositions. Together with the NBE, a musical dialogue emerges in which there is room for innovation.

You hear how the sound of the sarangi intertwines with the wind instruments and how the tabla sets the whole in motion. The music can become still and then unexpectedly change direction again. The influence of Bollywood also appears, giving the programme a playful character.