Roger's Bio

Beginning in 1988, my study of Hindustani classical music and sitar began with Franc Menusan, a disciple of Vasant Rai. In recent years, I have studied with Pandit Krishna Mohan Bhatt, disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar. My shehnai Guruji is Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, grand-nephew of Bismillah Khan.

Additional music training: The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art; Berkelee College of Music. I also play the following:

Surbahar: This is the Bass Sitar. Created about 150 years ago, it bridged the gap between the ancient Rudra Veena (a lower octave, contemplative instrument) and the Sitar. Traditionally, the artist would start with the Surbahar for the slow, unmetered introduction. After playing the 3 sections of the introduction (Alap, Jor and Jhalla) he would then put the Surbahar down and then play the Sitar for the remainder of the Raga with the Tabla palyer.

Today, the Surbahar is rarely played, and with the innovation by Pandit Ravi Shankar of adding two bass strings to the Sitar, the Surbahar has nearly vanished from the concert stage.

Guitar: Most recently, I played lead guitar in the Off-Broadway show Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Jane Street Theatre. I was a substitute and played for their 1998 New Year's Eve double show and for the new lead, Michael Cerveris' Equity rehearsal. It was a wonderful experience and I'd love to play the show again if other companies produce it.

Bass: I played with an "originals" trio for a few years that mixed rock, Latin and jazz. I performed in the New York premiere of Lennon, a life, as Paul McCartney.

Drums: I still play rock and jazz. My influences were Gene Krupa and Chuck Ruff, both masters of their idiom.