Where East and West Collide

MLMAS's fifth in-person listening session ventures into one of music's most exhilarating territories: the meeting of Eastern and Western musical traditions. Our roughly hour-long program brings together world-renowned virtuosos of guitar, banjo, sitar, violin, oud, bass, tabla, and more in collaborations that range from historically groundbreaking to contemporary — spanning decades of creative dialogue across cultures, continents, and musical traditions.

This is not background music. The program is deliberately high-energy, featuring technically dazzling performances that demand — and reward — close listening. Rather than defining 'East meets West' too narrowly, the program embraces a broader interpretation, letting the music itself pose the questions as much as answer them. What happens when masters from different traditions share the same stage? What gets transformed, and what remains distinctly its own?

As always, I will provide a brief introduction and a listening guide to help facilitate discussion following our uninterrupted listening. This is a free event. No preparation required — only curiosity, an open mind and a willingness to listen intently. Hope to see you there.