History was made last Sunday at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, when celebrated singer-songwriter Norah Jones made a surprise appearance as a special guest during her sister Anoushka Shankar’s headline set. The two daughters of the legendary sitar maestro Ravi Shankar performed Traces Of You - marking the first time they have ever shared a stage.
Traces of You is the title track from Shankar’s 2013 studio album, written by Shankar and featuring Jones on vocals. The song reflects on memory and connection, themes made all the more powerful by seeing the sisters perform it together live.
For Shankar - an 11-time GRAMMY-nominated sitarist, composer and producer - the performance was another landmark in a year of artistic milestones. She recently released Chapter III: We Return To Light, the final instalment of her critically acclaimed trilogy of mini-albums on the LEITER label. Following Chapter I: Forever, For Now and the GRAMMY-nominated Chapter II: How Dark It Is Before Dawn, the new album was released in March and delved into her exploration of roots, identity and a distinctly Indo-futurist sound.
Shankar was Guest Director of the Brighton Festival in March and next month will perform at The Royal Albert Hall as part of this year’s BBC Proms, continuing her remarkable journey as one of the most vital voices in contemporary global music.
