Paul Livingstone
Sitar
International performing artist and activist Paul Livingstone spent a highly formative teenage year initiating his study of music in India, eventually becoming one of the few American disciples of the legendary Pt. Ravi Shankar. He has performed around the US, South Asia, Europe, and Latin America, developing a reputation as a serious proponent of Indian classical raga music. In 2022 Paul completed a 6-month research fellowship researching dhrupad, one of the planet's oldest living music traditions and performed widely around India.
As a composer, Paul brings a grounded knowledge of tradition to his work. He has composed and recorded for film and television, as well as for numerous live theater and dance productions. He has performed on three Grammy-winning records and is featured on diverse world music and jazz crossover records with artists such as the late Juan Gabriel, Alanis Morrisette, Ricky Kej, Ozomatli, Josef Leimberg, Build an Ark, Tyler Childers and Chrissie Hynde.
Paul leads the Arohi Ensemble and performs regularly as a classical sitarist and world/jazz crossover upright bassist. He is on the music faculty at Glendale Community College as a teacher of Indian and world music ensembles. He is also the founder of the Soul Force Project, an ongoing performance vehicle combining live music and with a message of nonviolent change-making.