Om Gam Ensemble live on the Africa/India Series – Podcast 135

    The OM Gam ensemble turned it out at Studio 487 last night!  Another packed house and inspiring music. The was the third concert in out Africa/India series, co-presented by NYC Radio Live, Brooklyn Raga Massive and Afro-Roots Tuesdays. Om Gam ensemble takes it’s name from the mantra for the Hindu deity Ganesh – “Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha.” Ganesh is often referred to as the “remover of obstacles” and in reference to this, Om Gam ensemble seeks to remove musical obstacles, specifically by bringing together musicians from Indian Classical and Traditional African musical backgrounds, while also drawing upon the more modern influence of Jazz music. This group features Kane Mathis (kora), Arun Ramamurthy (violin), Pawan Benjamin (saxophone), Shiva Goshal (tabla), and is led by Michael Gam (bass & composition).       Michael Gam is a sought after upright and electric bassist/composer living in New York. As a versatile musician skilled in many styles of music, Michael has performed with cutting edge jazz musicians like Ambrose Akinmusire and Tigran Hamasyan, top classical virtuoso Hillary Hahn, and Indian classical stalwarts Subash Chandran and Ganesh Kumar. Michael has also been studying Indian classical music since 2010, and is a budding sarod performer of the Maihar gharana.