SANGAM
Sangam is the chamber music duo of sitarist Paul Livingstone and cellist Peter Jacobson. Sangam performs innovative compositions and improvisations straddling the worlds of Indian classical music and European polyphony which arc between deep musical meditations to dynamic poly-rhythmic counterpoint. Their unique sound is imbibed with the free spirit of a jazz improvisation and incorporates touches of Latin, folk and popular music styles.
Sangam means 'a confluence of rivers', it is a meeting place of disparate streams flowing into one. Paul & Pete have been recording and touring together for over 18 years performing with Arohi Ensemble, Build an Ark and Quartetto Fantastico among many other projects born of the globalized Los Angeles creative music community. Paul & Pete have been featured on four Grammy Award-winning records artists such as with Ozomatli, Juan Gabriel, Quetzal & Ricky Kej and have played in a plethora of traditions, genres and styles from South Asian and Western Classical, to African, Latin, Pop, Hiphop & Country.
Our 2nd duo record 'Taos Mountain Meditations' is available from Yarlung Records a full album of spontaneous improvisations made at the inspiring Imhof Studio in Taos to be release later this spring. The first album ‘Sangam’ is a record of innovations around classical ragas and available on all platforms here. See below for highlights & interviews from the recording sessions in Taos, New Mexico.
UPDATE Spring 2024:
Its been a joy to collaborate with Qawwali tabla virtuosa Aminah Chishti who has joined Sangam for a number of concerts. We've just released a Interplay' a new video based on Raga Gawati and watch us live with a Bageshree composition, ‘Speaking to Trees’. Both videos are below.
Aminah Chishti joined Pete and I on tabla for several concerts rockin her infectious tabla grooves with Sangam,
enjoy this video of a new Bageshree composition, ‘Speaking to Trees’ in rupak taka 7 beats.
When we went out to record in Toas we (Pete and Paul) collaborated with Diné friends in a peaceful natural setting near the Pinedale community of the Navajo Nation. We were joined by Shawna Begay, who composed the healing prayer in the Navajo language featured below. The prayer is followed by an interview and music by Watson 'Watts" Billie Jr, founder of 'Rockin Life' a suicide prevention organization on the Navajo Rez.