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Vikash and Prabhash Maharaj

Pandit Vikash Maharaj is a master of the sarod, an 18-stringed, fretless instrument prevalent in North Indian Classical music. Compared to the sitar, which is more widely known in the west, it has a deeper, more resonant sound. It's a gorgeous instrument and in Pt. Maharaj's hands, the music created is beautiful and emotionally rich. He is accompanied on tabla by his oldest son Prabhash Maharaj, whose award-winning artistry combines lightning speed and precision with finely nuanced subtlety.

The Maharaj family hails from Varanasi, a city placed on the banks of the Ganges river in Northern India. Originally known as Benaras, the city has been the fountainhead of music and dance in India for thousands of years, and has been called "the oldest city on earth." The Maharaj family's involvement in the Benaras gharana, or musical tradition, can be traced back at least 15 generations.

While steeped in tradition, they are also creative collaborators who promote the richness of classical Indian music as still-vibrant and living art form. Pt. Maharaj has toured extensively throughout the world for more than 30 years, composing music, performing and recording with an impressive array of jazz, symphonic, popular and avant-garde musicians including Herbie Hancock, John Handy, Paul Horn, Tom Bailey. As a duo as well as individually, they are highly sought as performers and teachers in India and beyond.

The energy between the Maharajes when performing together is stunning. As father and son perform both traditional raags and new compositions, they cover territory that ranges from meditative to complexÂ from passionate to playful.