Aashish Khan

Eminent Indian classical musician, known for his virtuosity on the Sarode, Aashish Khan was nominated for a Grammy Awardin 2006 in the “Best World Music” category for his album Golden Strings of the Sarode. He is also a recipient of the Government of India’s highest honour in performing arts, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Besides being a high-profile performer, composer, and conductor, he is also an adjunct professor of Indian classical music at the California Institute of the Arts and the University of California at Santa Cruz in the U.S.

Because George Harrison wanted to learn from the greatest music Guru at the time, the Beatles went to Aashish’s home in India in the 1960s. Said Guru was Aashish’s Grandfather: Allaudin Khan (also the Guru of Ravi Shankar, Aashish’s Uncle, and Ali Akbar Khan, Aashish’s father.) Aashish plays the Sarode with a beauty that is beyond this world. He has also collaborated with such diverse western musicians as John Barham, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Charles Lloyd, John Handy, Alice Coltrane, Emil Richards, Dallas Smith, Don Pope, Jorge Strunz, Ardeshir Farah, the Philadelphia String Quartet and Desert Wind.

Alan Scott Bachman

World renowned keyboardist, composer and recording engineer Alan Scott Bachman has produced numerous CD projects, including “Inner Voyage”, the first ever Aashish Khan CD in 1991. This year marks his digital re-mix, re-master and re-release of this extraordiary CD which paves the way for a new recording with Aashish Khan, George Grant and other artists in 2010.

Alan served as this year’s Chair of the Salt Lake Interfaith Musical Tribute which witnessed over 3,000 people of various faiths coming together in harmony. Celebrating the common thread, his live musical perfomances have included events throughout this country featuring such important peace workers as Deepok Chopra, Joan Borysenko, Gary Zukov, Jean Houston, Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Toll and others. Currently over 130 of his works are registered with BMI, sold through multiple National and International distributors and can be digitally downloaded at Amazon.com, CdBaby.com, iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, MediaNet and throughout cyberspace.

A true visionary, musical leader and founder of Desert Wind Music, Alan Scott Bachman’s passionate work continues to open universal doors through music.

George Grant

Eclectic percussionist-vocalist George Grant has earned a reputation as an adventurous musician and intrepid teacher. His alternative drum sets include tabla, zarb, kanjira, ghatam, frame drums, cymbals — and his unique vocal effects and harmonic overtone singing. He has performed with many American jazz and classical masters, modern dance companies, and with virtuosos from the entire “Silk Route,” including North India, South India, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Kurdistan, and Turkey.

As an Artist In Residence since 1991, George has taught his unique Drum Talk method to many of thousands of students in public schools and universities. Maureen Hearns, a Music Therapy professor at Utah State University, and George have written an exhaustive curriculum in Drum Talk, which is taught regularly at Utah State University.

Ricardo Romero

Trap drummer and percussionist of all styles and genres, Ricardo has performed at many festivals, clubs and concerts for the past thirty years. He has traveled throughout the United States as a student, teacher, and clinician working with such artists as Lex De Azavado, Raul Rico (Santana), Idris Philips, Vinx’s, Rubberneck, Mambo Jumbo, Zion Tribe and Tommy Thomson. Known as the preeminent Latin percussionist in Utah, he adds the perfect touch of Latin spice to the Inner Voyage World Consort.

Andalin Bachman

“Flutist extraordinare”, Andalin joins her husband Alan in the calling of their music. Classically trained and strong in improv, this winner of the “Selmer Award for Excellence in Jazz Performance”, the Intermountain Collegiate “Best Jazz Soloist” Award and several music scholarships, has traveled throughout the country for events as wide-ranging as the International Academy Awards of Middle Eastern Dance in Los Angeles to a “Celebration of Life” Concert in Boston. For this concert she will join Aashish Khan in both lead lines with classical Indian melodic modes on her silver / gold flute, and underlying support with the deep sounds of her alto and bass flutes. Always evolving and moving with the music, Andalin’s recorded flute music is now heard throughout the world in the multiple genres of Desert Wind. Learn more at Flute Fest page.