Jonathan Mayer on sitar with Mitel Purohit on tabla re-set raga Gujari Todi challenging stereotypes and common held views of Indian classical music.

The performance – the first in the zerOclassikal performance series saw a groundbreaking interpretation of Gujari Todi, which is traditionally described as a morning raag, with Jonathan Mayer turning its structure around by performing it backwards starting with the jal and ending with the alaap.

Jonathan discusses his approach and reasons for his interpretation in a podcast (see below).

Son of the late Indian composer and Indo-Jazz Fusions founder John Mayer, Jonathan studied sitar from Clem Alford, Pandit Subroto Roy Chowdhury, both of Senia Gharana, and Ustad Wajahat Khan of Imdadkhani Gharana. He also studied composition from his father and later with Andrew Downes at the Birmingham Conservatoire where he gained a B.Mus (Hons).

Available soon –
Download of this groundbreaking performance.
Podcast Jonathan Mayer’s approach to his performance.