HANS UTTER

Hans Utter is a dedicated musician, producer, composer, and writer. He began his musical journey at age five, exploring genres from Western classical to Hindustani and Central Asian modal music. An accomplished guitarist, sitarist, and oud player, his travels span the US, Europe, India, and Central Asia. As a member of several organizations, he promotes world music and community development. His research on integrated mind/body music pedagogy and the Silk Road's music and culture is shared globally through concerts, lectures, and workshops. His sessions on music and healing, nada yoga, and Sufi music highlight his commitment to the transformative power of music.

Hans blends diverse musical styles, including jazz, rock, electronic, and orchestral composition, with two decades of Hindustani classical music study. Starting at sixteen, he excelled as a guitarist in various genres. Since 1993, he studied in India with masters like Ustad Shujaat Khan and earned a sitar diploma from Benares Hindustani University, becoming fluent in Hindi and Urdu. As Ustad Shujaat Khan's disciple, he committed to Indian classical music, performing across India. His collaborations, including Turkana and Latif Bolait, introduced Arabic, Persian, and Central Asian influences. As a composer, he has contributed to Melodic Intersect’s Global Vision album and created raga-based orchestral pieces.

He regularly performs in the U.S., India, and Europe, and has received sixteen national and international awards, including the Louis Armstrong Outstanding Musician award. Recently, he was appointed as an Ohio Arts Council Artist in Residence. As a bandleader, he has led projects such as Mood Swing, MLQ, and Utter Space. Recent releases include Pure Land (2012) with Chakra and Morning and Evening Mediations (2013) featuring Steve Gorn. His work has been highlighted on NPR, ABC, the Discovery Channel, and various Indian TV networks. He has performed for the United Nations and at festivals like the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Columbus Arts Festival. Notable collaborations include artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Jim Hall, and Public Enemy. He lectures globally and is writing a biography of Ustad Vilayat Khan. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from Ohio State University and has taught at several institutions. His publications include Trance, Ritual and Rhythm: The Cult of Mahasu Deota (2010) and other scholarly works. He is currently involved in multiple music projects, including Melodic Intersect and a sitar concerto with Kalyan Pathak.

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