Sacred Groves is a collaboration between Joel Veena, Indian slide guitarist, and Kees van Boxtel, bansuri. They met in Auroville, India in 2016 after Kees followed his ears to find Joel practicing on the rooftop of International House. They quickly formed a friendship and played a series of concerts together. They share a common guru: sarod maestro of Howrah, Pt. Alok Lahiri.

This album includes two recordings from Kees' Bless U Studio in Netherlands and one live recording from their recent tour in India.

Regarding Track 2:

"It was our tremendous privilege to perform at Sur Sangam Academy of Music’s 24th annual concert at Bani Niketan Hall in Howrah, West Bengal, India. We for our Guruji Pt. Alok Lahiri, Guruma, guru brothers and sisters including Abhisek Lahiri.

This is a historic hall where the legends of Hindustani classical music have performed on the same stage. Hanging from the balcony opposite the stage I could see their portraits: the likes of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Ustad Zakir Hussain have performed here!

We are pleased to present our recording of Raga Yaman, an evening Raga, compositions in Jhaptaal (10 beats) and Teental (16 beats). Myself on Indian slide guitar, Kees van Boxtel, Bansuri and Arpan Bhattacharjee, tabla." - Joel 'Veena' Eisenkramer credits released April 7, 2019

Joel Veena - Indian slide guitar Kees van Boxtel - Bansuri

Tracks 1 and 3 were recorded at Bless U Studio by Kees van Boxtel in Haarlem, Netherlands Track 2 was recorded live at Bani Niketan Hall by Kees van Boxtel in Howrah, India Mixed by Kees van Boxtel & Joel Veena at Bless U Studio, Haarlem, Netherlands

Artwork design by Sumeru Salla, Design & Story.