The fusion of East and West

Composer and cellist Barry Phillips have been performing folk, new, classical and Indian classical/crossover music for many years. He received a Masters of Music degree in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and is a student of Late Pandit Ravi Shankar. From 1996 to 2011 he assisted Ravi Shankar in composing. In 2013 Barry received a Grammy Award.

Recently Barry was in India for ‘The Golden Symphony Tour’ and will perform with Lakshay and Ayush Mohan the grand disciples of Pandit Ravi Shankar, in jugalbandi on 29 July in Mangalore and on August 3 in Mumbai.

Talking about his collaboration with Lakshay and Ayush Mohan he shares: “We were asked by Sukaya Shankar to perform together and to play Ravi Shankar’s composition “Palas Kafi” at the Grammy Museum a year ago and we wanted to get together again as soon as possible and hence this tour”

Barry says that Ravi Shankar is his inspiration in Indian music. “I was, maybe, fifteen-years-old when I first heard him like many others in the West when he and George Harrison collaborated.”

Speaking about the process to create this musical performance, he informs, “Of course it has been hard work, but at the same time amazingly easy with Lakshay and Aayush to create this "fusion”, a blend of style and also a “conversation” between the East and West.” Barry has visited India 7-8 times for various projects as well as for a holiday. He says that he absolutely loves being here.

By Askari Jaffer