AdoraSound
“In the beginning was the word… Nada Brahma, the world is sound.”
We adore that Supreme Being of the form of sound which is the one bliss without a second, and the light of the consciousness in all beings that has manifested itself in the form of the universe.” (Prayer from the Sangita-Ratnakara, 13th century – India)
Traditions around the world and throughout time have revered sound and its’ resonant structures not only as beautiful images but also as clues to the underlying foundations of reality. It is through the adoration of sound that I cultivate an appreciation of these underlying structures and their related insights as they apply to the understanding of the micro and macro-cosmos within and without.
I. BIO:
Andrew McLean, a native of New Orleans, has been playing music in New Orleans and beyond since the age of 11. Starring in musicals (Oliver Twist) and later in creative music groups (ON & Braintree), Andrew’s intuitive musical aesthetic was nurtured early on by jazz guitar great Hank Mackie and later by world music and jazz faculty at both the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology and the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California where he has been receiving training in Indian music from the legendary Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Being the pioneer of Indian music in New Orleans, he has performed in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, recorded in the top studios, and collaborated with several outstanding world-class musicians including Ustad Ali Akbar Khan’s eldest son Aashish Khan, the late New Orleans piano genius Henry Butler and saxophonist Tim Green as well as Jason Marsalis, Michael Ray (Sun Ra, Kool and the Gang, Phish), Howard Scott and Harold Brown (War), Tony Dagradi, James Singleton and Stephen Masakowski (Astral Project), plus local “Mardi Gras Indian” Chief Smiley Ricks and the Indians of the Nation (Dr. John) among others.
His compositions can also be heard in documentary films and shorts including including “Foster Care” for Sesame Street, “Just Breathe” for Wavecrest Films which was featured on a mindfulness episode of Oprah Winfrey’s Super-Soul-Sunday.
LATEST RELEASES:
Andrew operates Adorasound Recording Studio and the Adorasound Publishing label. He has engineered, mixed or produced recordings for Shringar, The Plum Magnetic, Braintree, Neela, Olfactory Hue, the New Lemurians, Shantaya as well as the soundtracks for award winning films: Just Breathe, Peleas de Gallos and the PBS documentary film Time and Tide.
III. LIVE MUSIC
A. Hindustani Music:
North Indian (Hindustani) Classical Music is traditionally performed by either a melodic or rhythmic soloist which can be presented vocally or with instruments. In all cases, musical accompaniment by one instrument is typical – the tuned pair of tabla drums being the most common choice for the soloists.
- SARODE
In the New Orleans area, we have a rare melodic instrument from India which is well represented – the sarode. It is considered a sibling to the more famous sitar, and it’s music is 99% the same.
- TABLA SOLO & JUGALBANDI
When an occasional is suitable, the tabla drums can also be featured as the solo instrument where the elaborate, poetic, drum repertoire is paired with melodic accompaniment. Below is a video of an even more rare tabla duet “Jugalbandi” with traditional melodic accompaniment given this time on the grand acoustic bass.
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INDO-NEW ORLEANS ENSEMBLES
JUGALBANDI JAZZ – An exploration of the intersection of New Orleans and Hindustani music (Innumerable options… here are a few).
I. Melodic feature – past collaborators:
Aashish Khan (sarode), Tim Green (saxophone), Henry Butler (piano), Kidd Jordan (saoxphone), Jason Marsalis (vibraphone), Nayan Ghosh (tabla), Priyo Majumdar (sarode), Mehnaz Hoosein (vocals), Larry Sieberth (piano), Charlie Miller (trumpet, piano, flute), Steven Oda (sarode), Clarence Johnson (saxophone), Dr. Guy Beck (vocals), Dr. Jimbo Walsh (piano), Dave Easley (pedal steel), Gregory Boyd (steel pans), Nicholas Sanzenbach (saxophone, guitar), Brian Seeger (guitar), Matthew Blaize (bass), Benjamin Dominach (guitar).
II. Drum/Percussion feature – past collaborators:
Johnny Vidocovich (drum set), Dan Caro (drum set, “No-handsonic”), Alfred “Uganda” Roberts (pecussion), Gabriel Velasco (percussion), Tom Chute (electronics), Michael Voelker (santoor & tabla), Anthony Cuccia (percussion), Mike Dillon (percussion, tabla).
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III. Shringar is the premier music group to explore the improvisational nature of both New Orleans and Hindustani classical music. Organized by Andrew McLean, featured musicians have been Aashish Khan, Tim Green, Jason Marsalis, Gregory Boyd, Steve Oda, Michael Skinkus, Priyo Majumdar, Dave Easley, Clarence Johnson.
Watch “Thinking of You” montage here: “THINKING OF YOU“
INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC IN SOUTH LOUISIANA
Now that Indian culture has become more established in American life, it is a much more lively and interactive time for the Indian community of South Louisiana. Read More
