Friday, November 20, 2026
Église Saint-Enfant-Jésus du Mile-End
5039 Saint-Dominique Street, Montreal
(across from Parc Lahaie – St-Laurent Blvd., between St-Joseph and Laurier)

Public Transit: Buses 55, 80, 51 – Laurier Metro Station

Parking: ClickPark – behind the church complex at 5043 de Bullion Street (one-way northbound from St-Joseph) 

Tickets: lepointdevente.com [ https://lepointdevente.com/billets/9y9261120001 ]

A legendary figure in Indian music and a pioneer in bridging East and West, L. Shankar ranks among the most remarkable violinists, vocalists and composers of his generation. Rooted in the Carnatic classical tradition of South India, he has pursued an extraordinary career spanning more than five decades, bringing Indian music into a strikingly free-flowing dialogue with jazz, rock and world music.

A virtuoso from childhood, Shankar rose to international prominence in the 1970s, notably alongside John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain and Vikku Vinayakram in Shakti, a groundbreaking ensemble that redefined the boundaries between jazz and Indian music. Cash Box magazine described Shankar and McLaughlin as “the pillars of Shakti, one of the decade’s most innovative musical groups.”

At the heart of his distinctive sound is his spectacular 10-string stereophonic double violin, whose exceptional range allows him to create an almost orchestral palette of colours and textures. His virtuosity deeply impressed Frank Zappa, who declared: “I think Shankar’s probably the best violinist in the world; he’s really incredible.”¹ Over the course of his career, Shankar has collaborated with a constellation of major artists, including Zakir Hussain, Bruce Springsteen, Jan Garbarek, Trilok Gurtu, Frank Zappa, Sting, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Talking Heads and Peter Gabriel. His distinctive voice and double violin have played a particularly significant role in Gabriel’s musical world, from So and Passion—the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ—to Secret World Live.

In Montreal, Shankar returns to the essence of his art: Carnatic classical music, driven by raga, improvisation and fascinating rhythmic dialogues. He will be joined by masters of Indian percussion Selvaganesh Vinayakram, on kanjira and mridangam; Amit Kavthekar, on tabla; and Swaminathan Selvaganesh Vinayakram, on kanjira and ghatam.

A rare opportunity to experience “one of the most audacious architects of world music,” as Asia News describes him.

¹ Frank Zappa, interviewed by Michael Branton, BAM Magazine, October 1979.