In this episode, host Hava Gurevich speaks with pianist and improviser Veena Kulkarni-Rankin.
A classically trained musician who discovered a love for improvisation and collaboration, Veena opens up about her journey, her genre-defying bands Cuento Musique and Aga Delim, and the healing power of music during her recent cancer treatment. Together, they explore the connection between music and visual art, improvisation as expression, and how creativity can
be a form of medicine.
Topics Covered:
Veena’s background in classical piano and improvisation
Description of her bands:
Aga Delim: Jazzy world music with Persian and jazz influences
Cuento Musique: Story-driven salon-style concerts
The magic of collaboration with musicians from diverse traditions
Comparing improvisational music to painting and other art forms
The emotional and spiritual nature of improvisation
How health challenges reframed her approach to performance and teaching
The role of art as healing and its place in public well-being
Defining success as an artist in different life stages
Musical Influences and Elements:
Persian santur played by Babak Solomani
Jazz structure and Indian classical parallels
Collaborative creation from minimal prompts
Visual inspirations like "Bukang Liwayway" (dawn)
Memorable Quotes (Direct from Transcript)
“I’m just a musician who loves creating on the spot.”
“Improvisation feels spiritual and religious... I trust the skill and training I’ve had but
also trust that something beautiful is going to happen.”
“We all have our music that heals us.”
“Allowing people have said that I'm a very expressive performer... That carries
through to my performing now, even if it's not a classical piece.”
“Music isn’t just your chosen artistic expression — it’s your chosen form of
expression altogether.”
“Improvisational music is like painting... you start with a blank canvas, and what’s
there dictates what comes next.”
“This enforced hiatus for cancer treatment will probably change my teaching
methods more than anything"
”
“There’s room for all of us... this is our sound, this is what we’re really into"
