KATHMANDU: Jazzmandu is the biggest jazz festival in the Himalayas. Elevating this fest to another level with a tint of eastern classical music is the Nepali eastern classical musicians. This year is no exception and bringing you eastern classical beats and melodies is Rabin Lal Shrestha Duo among others. Rabin Lal Shrestha Duo is the awesome father-son twosome — Rabin Lal Shrestha and Bijay Lal Shrestha. In Surya Nepal Jazzmandu 2015, the duo is all set to perform Raag Bageshree at Jazz Bazaar. With Rabin on tabla and Bijay on sitar, it will be a “pure classical music” experience of tabla and sitar. Senior Shrestha is a renowned tabla player of Nepali eastern classical music. He is also a performer, recording artiste and educator. Meanwhile, Bijay is a musical protégé, who is walking in his father’s footsteps. He started learning the tabla at the age of four while completing his Master’s degree at the age of 18. He is now pursuing a Master’s degree in sitar in Lalit Kala Campus. “This is the first time that we — father and son — are performing together in this festival. The audience of eastern classical music have seen us together but it would be new and different to the jazz crowd,” shares Rabin Lal about the father-son duet performance adding, “It will be the first Jazzmandu gig for Bijay and this is a good opportunity for him.” Rabin Lal has been associated with Jazzmandu since its inception. He is one of the key players at Jazzmandu’s Jazz at Patan. And he will do the same this year as well at the Surya Nepal Jazzmandu 2015 that will take place from November 4 to 10. The Himalayan Times is the official print media partner of the festival. For detailed information on artistes and gig schedules, log on to www.jazzmandu.org.