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Indian Music With A Twist Coming To The Alamo City

Rick Frires
Heather and Benjy Wertheimer

There’s a musical group performing in San Antonio soon but I found out it’s anything but your run-of-the-mill music. From the first few notes you can hear the difference (see video below).

“This group, Shantala, is from Portland, Oregon, but they are an internationally-known group that’s traveled all over the world.”

Rick Henderson has brought them here, and will play his Indian instrument, the Sarod alongside them.

“Benjy Wertheimer is a multi-instrumentalist. Drums, guitars, vocals, Esraj, all kinds of things.”

Wife Heather is also multi-talented.

“His wife is a lovely singer and guitarist and composer in her own right.”

Also appearing, musician Sean Frenette.

“Sean is a singer and a bass player and also plays a unique instrument that’s a three-stringed guitar.”

And while what they’re doing is definitely music, it’s not just music. It’s Kirtan—a call-and-response meditation.

“This is quintessentially a devotional spiritual practice but it’s a secular one.”

The concert happens at the Quaker Meeting House on Vandiver Road.  

"Wednesday, February 25th at 7:30 PM. It’s really an opportunity for the community to come together  in a positive experience, create peace, share love, have a little sweetness in their life.”

How to get tickets for the San Antonio performance of Shantala here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YI0BUQ4Cww

Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org and on Twitter at @JackMorganii