Joel Veena

Immerse yourself in the tranquility and majesty of north Indian ragas played on the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar.

Since 2007, Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer has been traveling between his native Vermont, USA and India to study and perform Hindustani classical music on the 20-stringed Indian slide guitar. Today he is one of the leading exponent's of this instrument in the world: he is the only North American performer of the Indian slide guitar to have performed regularly in India; touring across the country to perform in venues big and small, including the 2019 Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in Delhi, Pt Kashinath Bodas Music Festival in Phoenix, AZ and the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in Bengaluru. In 2023, the government of India publicly acknowledged Joel for his efforts in the publication 'Bharatasya Sangeet Vishwanubandh Yatra,' writing "[Joel's] unwavering dedication and enthusiasm have paved the way for a deeper appreciation of this art form. [His] commitment to preserving and promoting Indian classical music inspires us all."

Deeply steeped in the oral tradition of the music, Joel began his study of the instrument with Mohan veena player Dr. Ranjan Kumar of Delhi and has also received training from sarod maestros Pt. Alok Lahiri and Pt. Anirban Dasgupta. His music has been featured on Radio Zealand, Shemaroo Entertainment and MyGov India with 2,000+ monthly listeners on streaming platforms and 10 albums released to date. His concert tours have taken him all over India, Europe and the United States and in 2023 was awarded the Meenakshi Hariharasubramani Award for Excellence in Music by the TaalMagic Trust of Bengaluru, India.

Joel's performances have been noted for their welcoming and explanatory quality; pieces are presented with their cultural and historical context so as to open the door for new audiences unfamiliar with Indian classical music. His original compositions, often inspired by the ragas he's studied, have been praised for their use of classical theory and aesthetic while creating toe-tapping, memorable melodies approachable by all. He has presented lecture-demonstrations at a number of schools and universities around the globe.