As part of the Barzakh Majlis series, Umer Piracha and Roshni Samlal deliver a deeply resonant performance that weaves together sacred sound traditions with transcultural improvisation.

Umer Piracha brings his signature Sufi vocal style layered with the earthy tones of West African-inspired pentatonic guitar, creating an emotive and meditative melodic foundation. Accompanying him is master percussionist Roshni Samlal on Hindustani tabla, whose rhythmic textures ground the performance in centuries-old classical tradition while inviting contemporary interpretation.

Set within the ambient and reflective space of Sound Mind Center (DUMBO), this duet was a highlight of the evening—offering a sonic journey that explored presence, longing, and spiritual resonance.

Presented by Beyond Barzakh, the performance stood as a powerful expression of cultural dialogue and devotional artistry.

Umer Piracha joins pianist and composer Charu Suri at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall for The Art of Raga Jazz & American Songbook—a genre-blending concert exploring the fusion of Indian classical ragas, jazz, and American standards.

Featuring Sufi vocal improvisations by Umer Piracha, the performance weaves meditative textures with contemporary compositions, inviting listeners into a deeply resonant musical space. The lineup includes Max ZT (hammered dulcimer), Joe Lastie (drums), and vocalists Ri Wolf, Cassandra Kubinski, and Danielle Erin Rhodes, creating a rich tapestry of global sound.

This collaborative performance bridges cultural traditions and celebrates the transcendent possibilities of live, improvisational music.

As part of The Seekers Society series at The Battery San Francisco, Umer Piracha presents an intimate evening of contemporary Sufi music. Best known as the voice of Falsa, Umer draws from the 700-year devotional lineage of Qawwali, reinterpreting sacred South Asian musical traditions through a modern lens.

This performance invites guests into a meditative space of sound and spirit, blending ancient poetry, vocal improvisation, and immersive sonic textures. Rooted in spiritual practice and emotional depth, Umer’s music explores the transformative power of sacred sound in a contemporary world.

Presented by: The Seekers Society
Location: The Battery, San Francisco
Date: Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM

In this performance, Charu Suri goes on a sonic journey that bridges sounds of both East and West.
Joining her onstage will be drummer Joe Lastie from Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Sufi singer Umer Piracha, veena player Radhika Baskar, guitarist Noshir Mody, and Israeli pianist Kobi Arad. In July 2022, Suri won two Intercontinental Music Awards for her work: "Best of Asian Jazz" and "Best of North America" jazz.

Join Umer Piracha as he performs alongside pianist and composer Charu Suri and her ensemble at the Indie Collaborative All-Faiths Holiday Concert. This festive event celebrates the rich tapestry of global musical traditions, featuring a diverse lineup of award-winning artists. Experience an evening where Sufi vocals intertwine with jazz, gospel, and world music, embodying the spirit of unity and cultural harmony.

Umer Piracha performs Sufi vocals as part of Raga Jazz and the Art of the Songbook at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, in collaboration with award-winning pianist and composer Charu Suri. This boundary-crossing concert explores the convergence of Indian ragas, American jazz, and the Great American Songbook.

Umer’s contribution brings a meditative, devotional energy to the program, blending classical Sufi vocal traditions with contemporary improvisation. The ensemble features top-tier jazz and world musicians, creating a genre-defying experience rooted in cultural fusion and spiritual resonance.

Presented by Charu Suri.

Umer Piracha presents Resonance of Grace at the 2025 Program for the Evolution of Spirituality Conference hosted by Harvard Divinity School, under the theme Spirituality and the Arts. This 20-minute performance explores the devotional and transformative nature of Sufi music as a sacred art form, rooted in the Chishtiya Sufi lineage and shaped by centuries of oral tradition.

Blending live Sufi vocals, tanpura drone, and harmonium, the performance immerses participants in a sonic landscape of divine longing, cosmology, and transcendence. Drawing from his early training in Quranic recitation and mentorship in a 700-year Qawwali lineage, Piracha frames the musical selections with reflections on the historical, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of sacred sound.

Rooted in both practice and scholarship, Resonance of Grace invites a shared experience of spiritual presence—bridging inner and outer worlds, and fostering dialogue across artistic, academic, and devotional communities.

Presented by: Harvard Divinity School
Event Series: Program for the Evolution of Spirituality: Spirituality and the Arts
Date: April 26: 1300-1400: Cader Room (Harvard Divinity School)
Format: In-person:
Location: Cambridge, MA

Photo by Ashley Borders-Zigman © 2025 CSWR/HDS, Harvard University

Carson Marshall and Umer Piracha (March 12)

Violinist and meditation guide Carson Marshall and Sufi vocalist Umer Piracha present a meditative sound experience blending classical violin improvisations with the rich vocal traditions of Sufi Qawwali. This collaboration explores deep listening, presence, and resonance through sustained melodic phrasing, the meditative drone of the tanpura, and immersive vocal textures.

Registration is required.
Please register to attend Resonance of Grace.
Resonance of Grace is an immersive sound bath experience led by Sufi vocalist and sound artist Umer Piracha. Drawing from the rich devotional traditions of fourteenth-century Sufi music, Umer's live vocals, accompanied by a tanpura drone and harmonium, guide participants on a meditative journey of spiritual connection and communal healing. This performance embodies the sacredness of sound as a bridge between art and spirituality while honoring the resilience and universality of Sufi traditions. Rooted in Harvard Divinity School’s commitment to fostering experiential and creative approaches to spirituality, this event celebrates transcendence through sacred music.    

  
Photo by Ashley Borders-Zigman

© 2025 Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University

Immerse yourself in a unique, full-body experience: a Sound Bath within the sacred ambiance of Grace Cathedral. This event features Fractals of Sound, a collective of top Bay Area musicians—Egemen Sanli, Phoenix Song, and Sam Jackson—who, together with special guest Umer Piracha, Sufi vocalist of Falsa, create a soundscape deeply rooted in world music. The cathedral's natural acoustics, with a reverberation delay of 7-12 seconds, enhance the immersive experience, making it a virtual fifth musician.​

Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat and/or blanket for comfort, allowing for a deeply meditative sonic journey amidst immersive sound and light filtered through stunning stained glass, in an atmosphere unlike any other in San Francisco.

Experience an evening of transcendent Sufi music as Falsa takes the stage at Symphony Space as part of the Revelry series. Led by vocalist Umer Piracha, Falsa blends 14th-century Sufi musical traditions with contemporary improvisations, creating a meditative and immersive soundscape. This performance invites audiences into a journey of deep listening and spiritual resonance, showcasing the ensemble's unique ability to bridge ancient mysticism with modern musical expression.​

Event Details:

Date & Time: April 17, 2025, at 7:30 PM​

Location: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, New York, NY 10025​

Ticket Prices: $20 - $30​ Symphony Space

Featuring contemporary arrangements of 14th Century Sufi music, Falsa transcends genre-specificity and cultural preconceptions in collaboration with a diverse array of improvisational musicians. 

Featured artists
Umer Piracha- Vocals; Roshni Samlal- Tabla; Siddharth Ashokkumar - Carnatic Violin; Tom Deis - Bass VI and Harmonium; Greg Foran- drums

Join us at Barzakh Café on March 30th for a night of transcendent Sufi music and communal joy, as we celebrate Eid with Falsa, an ensemble that bridges ancient mysticism with modern improvisation. Rooted in the 14th-century tradition of Sufi poetry and Qawwali, Falsa creates an immersive musical experience—where longing meets reunion, where devotion meets surrender.

Barzakh Café, a cultural sanctuary for artistic expression, is the perfect space to gather in reflection, rhythm, and reverence. Let the sounds of soaring vocals, hypnotic tabla, rich violin, and percussive heartbeats carry you into the spirit of Eid—one of renewal, connection, and shared humanity.

Space is intimate, and this event will fill quickly—secure your spot for an unforgettable night of music, mysticism, and celebration.

📍 Barzakh Café, Brooklyn
📅 Sunday, March 30th
🎟 Limited seating available

Includes a DJ set after.