A pinch and a punch. Where has the year gone? August already. The weather is warming up during the days, giving almost a false sense of spring. Night time it's still bitterly cold, heater on full bore. probably not doing much to improve the environment with all those carbon emissions but...
On the show tomorrow night, musical contributions from the following. I am also hoping to have an advance copy of the collaboration between sarod master Adrian McNeill and tabla master Aneesh Pradhan, who will be performing 4 August 07 at the very small and intimate Dickson Street Space in newtown. A Must See Event. Please do come along. It's an early morning performance starting at 1130 and going for approximately two hours. This will truly be a wonderful musical collaboration and moment.
Kiran Ahluwalia-(www.calabashmusic.com)
The ghazal, Kiran's specialty, is a song form that comes from the Indian subcontinent. It exists somewhere between the classical and popular tradition. Ghazals begin life as poems and with the addition of music, become songs. They have an unbroken 700 year tradition and that tradition is alive and well in the South Asian literary diaspora across North America. These new original poems written in Urdu and Punjabi by a variety of Indian poets, combined with Kiran's music, make an original contribution to the ghazal tradition, perhaps the first recorded ghazals to be entirely created in North America.
Kiran Ahluwalia is a performer of vocal music. More precisely she is a performer of two distinct styles of vocal music from the Indian subcontinent, now India and Pakistan. Kiran sings ghazals and Punjabi folk songs. The word ghazal is an Arabic word that means "to talk to women". Given that men have traditionally spoken to women a great deal about love; the name attached itself to a form of poetic sung verse that originated in Persia about 1000 years ago and reached India around 400 years later.
Smadj-CD Take It and Drive
Smadj is the moniker adopted by musician and composer Jean-Pierre Smadja.
Smadj was born in Tunisia, but raised in Paris from an early age. His work is the product of a musical upbringing that has embraced influences from all over the world.
Smadj took up the guitar as a teenager, and he soon began to develop his own style of playing. By his early twenties he was featuring regularly at jazz clubs in and around the city, whilst gaining a reputation as a sound engineer through the mobile studio he had set up.
As the sound of electronic music spread throughout Paris during the early 90's Smadj began to feel constrained by his chosen genre. His first reaction was to start to fuse jazz with the North African sound of his birthplace. The name he gave to the project was Tatoom, which combined a number of musicians. Their world-groove sound caught the attention of label Moby Dick, which released Tatoom presents Tatoom in 1996. The group split up shortly, due to the departure of the singer.
During the mid-nineties Smadj had also collaborated as a session guitarist with a number of high-profile musicians, such as Tony Allen (Fela's drummer). At the same time Smadj met Sofi Hellborg, a Swedish saxophonist, who had experience of playing with African artists such as the Afro-Jazz musician Manu Dibango. Together they began to improvise live over DJ sets, fusing jazz and breakbeats. Smadj started to sample and program beats himself, as an accompaniment for his guitar, and the pair released their first EP, Bon Voyage, in 1997 with label Freerange UK.
One of the many people who Smadj had been impressing with his music was Robert Trunz, owner of MELT2000. In 1998 Robert signed him to do a full album, Equilibriste. The title means 'tight-rope walker', which is a reference to the boundary he treads on the album between nu-beats and jazz. He spent much of '99 gigging around France and England to promote it.
As Smadj's musical horizons broadened he had also been developing his mastery of a new instrument, the oud - an Arabic incarnation of the Lute comprising six pairs of strings. His second album for MELT2000, New Deal, was the first work to feature him on the instrument, and it marked a departure into more experimental and diverse territory. The album represented the sound many African, Arabic and Indian cultures, set against the environmental noise of Paris and New York.
Soon after the release of New Deal, Smadj was introduced to Mehdi Haddab, the famous oud player. Smadj found in Mehdi a tutor and partner. The two began jamming together, soon performing in front of close friends. It was not long, though, before Smadj was drawn by his fascination with technology towards combining the sound of the oud with his beloved Apple Mac. The idea of processing the oud with effects more closely associated with dance music was truly unique and the high level of musicianship shared by the two artists was bound to yield similarly original results. Soon the pair formed DuOud. The act was quickly picked up by Label Bleu, responsible for releasing their album Wild Serenade to critical acclaim. DuOud have toured the world, performing at prestigious locations such as London's ICA. In 2003 they were nominated for Best Newcomer at the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music.
Smadj's latest work, Take It And Drive is a collection of new music, featuring a number of artists with whom he has recently collaborated. Amongst those featured on the album are vocalist Rokia Traore, Mercury Award winner Talvin Singh and Mehdi Haddab himself.
Pat Metheny - Offramp
This 1982 recording by the Pat Metheny Group represented a crossroads for the guitarist, a creative expansion from his original concept in terms of acoustic and electric instrumentation, folksy roots material and modern jazz influences, American and third world sources. Having thus marked out the territory for a decade's worth of experimentation and growth, the Metheny Group cemented its standing on the cutting edge of contemporary jazz with Offramp. Lyle Mays' harmonica-like synth theme, Metheny's soaring, vocalized synth-guitar lead, some rich orchestral touches, and an easygoing blend of backbeat and chord changes made "Are You Going with Me?" one of Metheny's most enduring arrangements. Still, for every gentle, alluring set piece, such as the tangolike "Au Lait" or the rural vistas of "James," there was a visceral, emotive free-for-all like the title track, where Metheny unleashed wild, wailing synth guitar elisions over a loose, abstract pulse--anticipating the energy of the guitarist's collaboration with free jazz guru Ornette Coleman some four years hence on Song X.
Mariza-Transparente
Mariza began singing Fado as a child, before she could read. Her father sketched out little cartoon stories to help her remember the lyrics. At the age of five, she would join in the spontaneous singing in her parentsâ?? restaurant in Mouraria, one of Lisbon's most traditional neighborhoods.
Mariza was born in Mozambique, but her family moved to Portugal when she was a baby, giving her plenty of time to get immersed directly in the Fado Housesâ where singing is part of everyday life.
Mariza walks the fine line necessary to both genuinely carry the tradition and bring it freshness for today. Her performance style captures the raw emotion that characterizes the genre, but with her own personal twist.
Egberto Gismonti
The Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Egberto Gismonti drew his inspiration for this music from time he spent with the Xingu Indians in the Amazon, and it's intended to invoke both their spirit and the experience of the jungle. Gismonti assembled some remarkable musicians for this 1977 recording--guitarist Ralph Towner, percussionists Nana Vasconcelos and Collin Walcott, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek--but he uses them sparingly. The opening "Palacio de Pinturas" is a gorgeous duet between Gismonti's 8-string and Towner's 12-string guitars, a music so tonally rich that it suggests multiple geographic sources. "Raga," with Walcott on tabla, is more specific, with Gismonti's rapid-fire runs suggesting a sitar, but his use of percussive harmonics is a new element. The long final track is a remarkably varied suite. It begins with a light trio that has Garbarek's only appearance--a keening, soprano-saxophone solo--and includes "Sapain" for an ensemble of blown bottles with voices and wooden flute. Gismonti's fascination with shifting instrumental colors creates consistently interesting music, combining traditions and sources into a novel musical
Jan Garbarek (born March 4, 1947) is a Norwegian tenor and soprano saxophonist active in the jazz, classical, and world music genres. His daughter Anja Garbarek is also a musician.
Garbarek's sound is one of the hallmarks of the ECM record label, which has released virtually all of his recordings. His style incorporates a sharp-edged tone, long, keening, sustained notes strongly reminiscent of Islamic prayer calls, and generous use of silence. He began his recording career in the late 1960s, notably featuring on recordings by the American jazz composer George Russell (such as Othello Ballet Suite and Electronic Sonata for Souls Loved by Nature). If he had initially appeared as a devotee of Albert Ayler and Peter Brötzmann, by 1973 he had turned his back on the harsh dissonances of avant-garde jazz, retaining only his tone from his previous approach.
As a composer, Garbarek tends to draw heavily from Scandinavian folk melodies, a legacy of his Ayler influence. He is also a pioneer of ambient jazz composition, most notably on his 1976 album Dis. This textural approach, which rejects traditional notions of thematic improvisation (best exemplified by Sonny Rollins) in favor of a style described by critics Richard Cook and Brian Morton as "sculptural in its impact," has been critically divisive. Garbarek's more meandering recordings are often labeled as New Age music, a style generally scorned by more orthodox jazz musicians and listeners, or spiritual ancestors thereof.
After recording a string of unheralded avant-garde albums, Garbarek rose to international prominence in the mid-1970s playing post-bop jazz, both as a leader and as a member of Keith Jarrett's successful "European Quartet." He achieved considerable commercial success in Europe with Dis, a meditative collaboration with guitarist Ralph Towner that featured the distinctive sound of a wind harp on several tracks. (Selections from Dis have been used as incidental music in several feature films and documentaries.) In the 1980s, Garbarek's music began to incorporate synthesizers and elements of world music. In 1993, during the Gregorian chant craze, his album Officium, a collaboration with early music vocal performers the Hilliard Ensemble, became one of ECM's biggest-selling albums of all time, reaching the pop charts in several European countries. (Its sequel, Mnemosyne, followed in 1999.) In 2005, his album In Praise of Dreams was nominated for a Grammy.
In addition to the selections from Dis, Garbarek has also composed music for several other European films, including French and Norwegian films. Also his song 'Rites' was used in the American film The Insider.
[edit]
Pepe Habichuela-A Mandeli
The first solo work by the brilliant guitarist in which he is accompanied by Carles Benavent on bass, and Rubem Dantas and Antonio Carmona on percussion. He was the first flamenco artist to be accompanied by Benavent and Dantas, and he was also the first to record with the Nuevos Medios record label, which also gambled on the new generation of the Habichuelas: Ketama.
He is the son of the Gypsy T'io josé Habichuela El Viejo (Granada 1910-1986), who founded this legacy of guitarists of whom Pepe (born 1944) is one of three brothers, all gifted guitarists. Pepe's son Juan continues the family tradition as founding member of Ketama, the foremost flamenco cross-over rock band. The rumba from Habichuela's first solo recording is an extraordinarily complex work, aknowledged here by Faucher who explains he has made choices as 'the original was impossible to extract as it is on the disc'. The introduction also explains that the works on recordings are like 'snapshots...which reproduce the pieces as they are played on that particular day and only at that particular time'. It appears the transcriber has worked closely with the composer and introduced three modifications which are clearly noted. It is in the introductory pages where this publication disappoints: the eulogy to Pepe Habichuela is in a tortuous Spanish style with sentences five lines long, i.e. an entire paragraph without drawing breath! The English is patently the result of inadequat translation. Surely the author would not actually want to say this: 'The artist well understands that he will only be safe by calling and putting the dance and the marvellous character's mischievousness a compás, and only in stripping them of grace and duende, making them slide their hands to pass it on to us'. From the Spanish I can deduce that he wishes to suggest the artist steals the grace and duende from past figures and allows it to flow through his own hands that we might witness it. To suggest that Pepe Habichuela strips anything of grace and duende is bordering on the libellous! These introductory words by Francisco Almazán are in Spanish and English only. The explanatory notes on 'sound and technique' are by Alain Faucher, the English is more felicitous than the translations of Almazán's Spanish and gives great insight into Pepe's unique technique. There are those who declare flamenco cannot be written down. This is patently untrue. However, like all music, noy every nuance can be accurately written in black and white. To my mind, the greatest fault of tab notation is the failure to notate the rythm. The extraordinarily improvised nature of Habichuela's rythm makes this some of the most difficult music to accurately notate. Without the recordings to hand I feel it would be extremely hard to get the correct nuances and subtle interplay of accompanying role/melodic exposition/rythmic interlude.
Everything is written here, and the result is a collection of some of the most beautiful, original and profoundly jondo solo flamenco guitar pieces ever recorded. Emma Martinez (Classical Guitar)
Amadou and Mariam
- from the liner notes "Tje Ni Moussou"
African music's recent history has been written on recycled paper, with a pen dipped in the ink of savvy resourcefulness. The biographical vicissitudes of The Bembaya Jazz, The Ambassadeurs, and the Rail Band of Bamako contain enough burlesque episodes for a sitcom, featuring indelicate managers, venal witchdoctors an piracy experts. In this hazardous context, the itinerary of Amadou and Mariam seems full of no-fuss heroics. Take the first hurdle in their long obstacle course: after meeting at the Institute for the Young Blind of Mali, they have to obtain approval for a marriage deemed unreasonable by their parents; the youngsters were the only ones to see the chances of a blind couple being successful.
In those days of military dictatorship, a musical vocation caused those with the most obvious gifts to converge on the hotels, where the house-bands, in exchange for civil-service salary, played to a clientele composed of government brass and foreign citizens, distilling the latest pop tunes and other fashionable music from Cuba in residential ballrooms. At the end of the Sixties, Amadou Bagayoko cut his teeth as a guitarist in the Ambassadeurs du Motel de Bamako, a versatile group later joined by Salif Keita. He refined his guitar technique, causing his fluid playing to sparkle, and thanks to a bridge or two that spanned the musical continents, cultivated a sense of versatility - the opposite of a scattering - that was to become the emergence of the radiant Bambara blues that has brought their recent productions to full bloom.
Mariam Doumbia sang, often accompanied by Amadou, and when the couple finally decided on a common career, their chances of success in Mali were so high that... they chose to emigrate to the Ivory Coast. Their success there took them by surprise.
Separated from their three children, they recorded a series of cassettes produced the Nigerian Aliyu Maikano Adamu; clothed by a single electric guitar, these recordings contain the initial versions of "Dounia", "A Chacun Son Probleme", and "Mon Amour, Ma Cherie". These songs returned some seven years later to grace the album "Sou Ni Tile", which broadened their horizon and caused the universality of African music to coincide with the resources of modern technology. "Tje Ni Mousso" ("Man And Woman") in bambara, added nuances of sound and rhythmical inflections to the already rich spectrum of their previous work, and caused other essences and perfumes to flow in from the four corners of the globe - the Portuguese cavaquihno, the violin of Bengal, jazz piano - towards the epicenter that is Africa, the land of a thousand dances.
Amadou and Miriam seem to hear their own music through the filter that made them marvel when they were adolescents: the pop of the Seventies, electric blues, reggae, Cuba... Without ever conceiving of it as a project, without even really thinking about it, man and woman caused their distant offspring, those who cradle was the Dark Continent, to come home. And this opening onto the world, this sense of hospitality, recharged the music of West Africa with a vital energy, and secured it in the maternal role that founded its identity.
This record gives "world music" a sense, a function, and a center of gravity that previous misuse of the term had hidden, damaging its reputation. The phrase invites us to a double understanding which can be found again in the use of words distilling counsel and recommendations, as happens in village meetings where the old exchange words with the young: and this manner of keeping a watchful eye, of preaching respect, patience and tolerance, finally causes little local virtues to unfold in a universal wisdom. With simple words, Amadou and Mariam relate the superiority of harmony over discord.
The amusing paradox carried by the songs of this blind couple from Mali is that they also have the power to return sight to those who think they can already see.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Playlist 25 July 07
On the show tonight, music by Aneesh Pradhan, tabla master currently out here touring with Shuba Mugdal, see previous post. Aneesh is a phenomenal tabla player and needs to be seen to be believed. If you get a chance to see him perform with Adrian McNeill please go, it will be amazing.
Other music by the following artists.
Monsieur Camembert- CD famous Blue Cheeses
Natacha Atlas- CD Best of
Gigi- CD Gold & Wax
Richard Horowitz & Sussan Deyhim- CD Majoun
Souad Massi- CD Deb (Heartbroken)
Susheela Rahman- CD Music for Crocodiles
Daude Neguinha- Cd Te Amo
Yungchen Lhamo- CD Ama
Sheila Chandra- CD This Sentence Is True
Happy listening and feel to give me some feedback.
Other music by the following artists.
Monsieur Camembert- CD famous Blue Cheeses
Natacha Atlas- CD Best of
Gigi- CD Gold & Wax
Richard Horowitz & Sussan Deyhim- CD Majoun
Souad Massi- CD Deb (Heartbroken)
Susheela Rahman- CD Music for Crocodiles
Daude Neguinha- Cd Te Amo
Yungchen Lhamo- CD Ama
Sheila Chandra- CD This Sentence Is True
Happy listening and feel to give me some feedback.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Aneesh Pradhan / Shubha Mugdal touring
Event information from Sangeet Australia: Supporting Hindustani Music
Two amazng events!
Dearest Patrons,
This month Australia welcomes the great and revered vocalist Shubha Mudgal. This renowned woman is an absolute must-see who needs little introduction. She is traveling with her ensemble the scintillating tabliya Aneesh Pradhan and on harmonium the very talented Sudhir Nayak. This is Hindustani music at its best from some of its finest and most honourable ambassadors.
Two Sydney dates to remember -
21st July A vocal concert of Shubha Mudgal this weekend to launch her DVD that was made at Sydney's Fox Studios in Sydney on her last tour
4th August Adrian McNeil and Aneesh Pradhan in an instrumental soiree to launch their new CD Raga Basant Mukhari.
Both released on www.underscorerecords.com
Full details below - Hope to see you there.
DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND!
ashish kalmath presents
SHUBHA MUDGAL
LIVE IN CONCERT
ANEESH PRADHAN TABLA
SUDHIR NAYAK HARMONIUM
World Premier launch and release of her inaugural classical music DVD film
In Sydney 7pm Saturday 21 July
Sir John Clancy Auditorium
UNSW High Street Randwick Gate no.9
In Melbourne 7pm 29 July
BMW Edge Auditorium Federation Square
Flinders St Melbourne
Bookings Ticketmaster 136100
more info www.asheeshkalmath.com
AND ON 4th AUGUST -
Sangeet Australia:
Supporting Hindustani Music
proudly presents ‘The Mehfil Series’
Extra super special guest from Mumbai the remarkable tabliya Aneesh Pradhan
To release their recent recording
an acoustic morning raga program with
Adrian McNeil sarod and Aneesh Pradhan tabla
Acoustic. Intimate. Breathtaking.
Raga Basant Mukhari: morning ragas released on Underscore Records www.underscorerecords.com
Saturday 4th August 11:30am
The Dickson Space 35-39 Dickson St. Newtown
Enter off King St. Close to Newtown Station or by 422 bus.
Snacks available. Performance approx. two hours with interval.
Disabled access available. Come early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets at the door $20/$15con
more info: 0416 352 900 or join our mailing list.
www.sangeetaustralia.org
About Aneesh Pradhan: Aneesh studied tabla under Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, one of the great tabla players of the 20th century. The rigorous training that he received from this maestro over many years profoundly guided Aneesh into the outstanding soloist and sensitive accompanist whom he is respected and admired as today. Based in Mumbai he is a highly sought after artist, both in India and abroad, where he tours extensively. He who has performed alongside practically all of the greatest figures in Hindustani music over the last few years.
Concert tours have taken him round the world to Europe, the USA, Japan, South Africa and South-East Asia. He has played at the Melbourne Festival and at the World of Music Festival in Brisbane, has taught at the University of New England in Australia. He was awarded a doctorate in history at the University of Mumbai with a treatise on Hindustani music in Bombay in the late 19th century. In 1999 he received the coveted Aditya Birla Kalakiran Award. Aneesh is also a noted composer of film soundtracks, as well as contemporary and fusion music and has collaborated with famous Ensemble Moderne in Cologne and the Asian Fantasy Orchestra in Japan. To top this off he is also the co-founder, along with Shubha Mudgal, of underscore records.
About Adrian McNeil: Adrian is a remarkable Australian musician who has studied Hindustani music and specifically the Sarod under the strict precepts of the Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher student tradition) training method under the late Pandit Ashok Roy of the Maihar Gharana for some 25 years. Most recently he has undertaken study under Dr. Ashok Ranade and Prof. Sachindranath Roy. His studies have frequently led him to India where he has lived and also written an exemplary text 'The Sarod: A Cultural History'. Currently Adrian is a Lecturer at Macquarie University where he is an ethnomusicologist in the Department of Contemporary Music Studies. He continues to be one of the most accomplished artists in Hindustani Music in Australia and is committed to further performance and research in this field. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Sangeet Australia and a powerful performer with regular concerts and recordings made in India.
About Underscore Records: A wonderful Delhi based record company with an extensive range of fine Indian music on the website www.underscorerecords.com from all the best artists. This artist-owned label is the undertaking of husband and wife team Aneesh Pradhan and Shubha Mudgal. One of their primary concerns is the ethical treatment of artists and their rights. They continue to grow and gain favour with the community of Indian musicians for whom they are champions. We recommend you make your purchases from this reliable and knowledgeable site wherever possible.
About Sangeet Australia: Formed in 2004 we are an artist-run, grass-roots organisation focused on fostering greater understanding and appreciation of this classical tradition of music from India . We produce a monthly series of high-quality acoustic soirees and various other activities, including larger concerts and workshops, supporting both local and international musicians. To contact us regarding sponsorship, to volunteer, offers of in-kind support, media enquiries, to join our mailing list, bookings, media enquiries or for more information call m. 0416 352 900 or
email: pavane_oliveiro@yahoo.com.au
Forthcoming Sangeet Australia event: The Gundecha Brothers - Dhrupad vocalists www.dhrupad.org Last weekend September. Details to be announced. Those interested in workshops/classes or sponsorship contact me now!
Join our mailing list for more details or send this email to your friends.
Our events appeal to the discerning music lover and those who seek a fulfilling engagement with the arts.
Thank you to those who have recently written with ideas and offers of help. Forgive my delay in replying but I will get around to all of you and thank each one of you for your thoughts and efforts. I will be in touch shortly.
Kindest regards,
Pavane Oliveiro
Director
and
Dr. Adrian McNeil
Artistic Director
Sangeet Australia:
Supporting Hindustani Music
m. 0416 352 900
Two amazng events!
Dearest Patrons,
This month Australia welcomes the great and revered vocalist Shubha Mudgal. This renowned woman is an absolute must-see who needs little introduction. She is traveling with her ensemble the scintillating tabliya Aneesh Pradhan and on harmonium the very talented Sudhir Nayak. This is Hindustani music at its best from some of its finest and most honourable ambassadors.
Two Sydney dates to remember -
21st July A vocal concert of Shubha Mudgal this weekend to launch her DVD that was made at Sydney's Fox Studios in Sydney on her last tour
4th August Adrian McNeil and Aneesh Pradhan in an instrumental soiree to launch their new CD Raga Basant Mukhari.
Both released on www.underscorerecords.com
Full details below - Hope to see you there.
DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND!
ashish kalmath presents
SHUBHA MUDGAL
LIVE IN CONCERT
ANEESH PRADHAN TABLA
SUDHIR NAYAK HARMONIUM
World Premier launch and release of her inaugural classical music DVD film
In Sydney 7pm Saturday 21 July
Sir John Clancy Auditorium
UNSW High Street Randwick Gate no.9
In Melbourne 7pm 29 July
BMW Edge Auditorium Federation Square
Flinders St Melbourne
Bookings Ticketmaster 136100
more info www.asheeshkalmath.com
AND ON 4th AUGUST -
Sangeet Australia:
Supporting Hindustani Music
proudly presents ‘The Mehfil Series’
Extra super special guest from Mumbai the remarkable tabliya Aneesh Pradhan
To release their recent recording
an acoustic morning raga program with
Adrian McNeil sarod and Aneesh Pradhan tabla
Acoustic. Intimate. Breathtaking.
Raga Basant Mukhari: morning ragas released on Underscore Records www.underscorerecords.com
Saturday 4th August 11:30am
The Dickson Space 35-39 Dickson St. Newtown
Enter off King St. Close to Newtown Station or by 422 bus.
Snacks available. Performance approx. two hours with interval.
Disabled access available. Come early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets at the door $20/$15con
more info: 0416 352 900 or join our mailing list.
www.sangeetaustralia.org
About Aneesh Pradhan: Aneesh studied tabla under Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, one of the great tabla players of the 20th century. The rigorous training that he received from this maestro over many years profoundly guided Aneesh into the outstanding soloist and sensitive accompanist whom he is respected and admired as today. Based in Mumbai he is a highly sought after artist, both in India and abroad, where he tours extensively. He who has performed alongside practically all of the greatest figures in Hindustani music over the last few years.
Concert tours have taken him round the world to Europe, the USA, Japan, South Africa and South-East Asia. He has played at the Melbourne Festival and at the World of Music Festival in Brisbane, has taught at the University of New England in Australia. He was awarded a doctorate in history at the University of Mumbai with a treatise on Hindustani music in Bombay in the late 19th century. In 1999 he received the coveted Aditya Birla Kalakiran Award. Aneesh is also a noted composer of film soundtracks, as well as contemporary and fusion music and has collaborated with famous Ensemble Moderne in Cologne and the Asian Fantasy Orchestra in Japan. To top this off he is also the co-founder, along with Shubha Mudgal, of underscore records.
About Adrian McNeil: Adrian is a remarkable Australian musician who has studied Hindustani music and specifically the Sarod under the strict precepts of the Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher student tradition) training method under the late Pandit Ashok Roy of the Maihar Gharana for some 25 years. Most recently he has undertaken study under Dr. Ashok Ranade and Prof. Sachindranath Roy. His studies have frequently led him to India where he has lived and also written an exemplary text 'The Sarod: A Cultural History'. Currently Adrian is a Lecturer at Macquarie University where he is an ethnomusicologist in the Department of Contemporary Music Studies. He continues to be one of the most accomplished artists in Hindustani Music in Australia and is committed to further performance and research in this field. He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Sangeet Australia and a powerful performer with regular concerts and recordings made in India.
About Underscore Records: A wonderful Delhi based record company with an extensive range of fine Indian music on the website www.underscorerecords.com from all the best artists. This artist-owned label is the undertaking of husband and wife team Aneesh Pradhan and Shubha Mudgal. One of their primary concerns is the ethical treatment of artists and their rights. They continue to grow and gain favour with the community of Indian musicians for whom they are champions. We recommend you make your purchases from this reliable and knowledgeable site wherever possible.
About Sangeet Australia: Formed in 2004 we are an artist-run, grass-roots organisation focused on fostering greater understanding and appreciation of this classical tradition of music from India . We produce a monthly series of high-quality acoustic soirees and various other activities, including larger concerts and workshops, supporting both local and international musicians. To contact us regarding sponsorship, to volunteer, offers of in-kind support, media enquiries, to join our mailing list, bookings, media enquiries or for more information call m. 0416 352 900 or
email: pavane_oliveiro@yahoo.com.au
Forthcoming Sangeet Australia event: The Gundecha Brothers - Dhrupad vocalists www.dhrupad.org Last weekend September. Details to be announced. Those interested in workshops/classes or sponsorship contact me now!
Join our mailing list for more details or send this email to your friends.
Our events appeal to the discerning music lover and those who seek a fulfilling engagement with the arts.
Thank you to those who have recently written with ideas and offers of help. Forgive my delay in replying but I will get around to all of you and thank each one of you for your thoughts and efforts. I will be in touch shortly.
Kindest regards,
Pavane Oliveiro
Director
and
Dr. Adrian McNeil
Artistic Director
Sangeet Australia:
Supporting Hindustani Music
m. 0416 352 900
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Peter Freeman on the show
I ran an interview with Peter Freeman tonight. Who? Well I don't blame you for probably saying that as he likes to stay behind the scenes and not be noticed. He's worked with people such as John Cale, L Shankar, Sussan Deyhim & Richard Horowitz and for the last 17 years has been the bass player and sound manipulator behind Jon Hassell. The interview is downloadable over in the interview section. If you want to know more about Peter or get in touch with him he has a presence on myspace.com
Happy listening...Hans
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Powerspot Playlist 27 June 07
On the show tonight, it's very much a Polynesian flavor. Since it's been raining for far too long here in Sydney, and my spirit has gotten slightly damp, the best I can do to keep sane is escape into the sunny, joyously harmonious sounds of our pacific neighbors. Hope some of you can join me either via the radio or streaming via the net.
Next week, an interview with Peter Freeman, sound designer, producer and long time bass player for Jon Hassell. I caught up with him on a recent trip to Sydney.
Musical contributions from
Te Vaka- CD Tutuki & Nukutehe
Black Paradise- CD West Papua- Spirit of Mambesak (pictured)
Telek- CD Serious Tam
V/A- Papua New Guinea Stringbands with Bob Brozman- CD Songs of the Volcano
David Fanshaw- Pacific Chants: Traditional Music of Eastern Polynesia (www.calabashmusic.com)
David Fanshawe presents important highlights from his monumental Pacific Collections, recorded over fourteen years (1978-1992). The selections focus on the rich variety of authentic himene (hymns) indigenous to Tahiti, the Cook Islands, the Society Islands, the Australian Islands, Manihiki, Pukapuka, Maupiti, Tahaa, Bora Bora, and Raivavae.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
20 June 2007
Hi Folks
Last night's playlist is as follows.
Afro Celt Sound System- Anatomic- CD Anatomic
Smadj- Vogue- CD Take It & Drive
Bouba Sacko- Tiramakan (calabashmusic.com)
Ali Farka Toure / Ry Cooder - Gomni - CD Talking Timbuktu
Boubacar Traore- CD Je Chanterai Pour Toi
Djelimady Tounkara- Amary Ndaou- CD Sigui
Jah Wobble- Buddha of Compassion- CD Mu
Nitin Sawhney- Falling- CD Human
Nitin Sawhney ID
Transglobal Underground – Kese Kese remix
Bally Sagoo- Kese Kese remix
(Both from DH Cheb I Sabbah’s Maha Maya-Shri Durga Remixed)
Afro Celt Sound System- Mojave- CD Anatomic
Ardavan Kamkar- CD Over The Wind
Ballake Sissoko- CD Tomora (mp3 download from www.calabashmusic.com)
Rokia Traore- CD Wanita
Last night's playlist is as follows.
Afro Celt Sound System- Anatomic- CD Anatomic
Smadj- Vogue- CD Take It & Drive
Bouba Sacko- Tiramakan (calabashmusic.com)
Ali Farka Toure / Ry Cooder - Gomni - CD Talking Timbuktu
Boubacar Traore- CD Je Chanterai Pour Toi
Djelimady Tounkara- Amary Ndaou- CD Sigui
Jah Wobble- Buddha of Compassion- CD Mu
Nitin Sawhney- Falling- CD Human
Nitin Sawhney ID
Transglobal Underground – Kese Kese remix
Bally Sagoo- Kese Kese remix
(Both from DH Cheb I Sabbah’s Maha Maya-Shri Durga Remixed)
Afro Celt Sound System- Mojave- CD Anatomic
Ardavan Kamkar- CD Over The Wind
Ballake Sissoko- CD Tomora (mp3 download from www.calabashmusic.com)
Rokia Traore- CD Wanita
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Ralph Towner article link
Just a quick posting.
If you like the music of Ralph Towner, you might enjoy this article and interview by Anil Prasad
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Your favourite records
What are your favorite records, and why do you go back and listen to them time and time again?
Mine are strangely enough the old ambient excursions that Brian Eno & Harold Budd released in the early 80's- Plateaux of Mirror and The Pearl. Those shimmering, quiet spaces which Eno created around Budd's minimalist piano works soothe my soul at the best of times. When I think back on the sad and happier moments of my life, the birth of my children, passing of loved ones, it is these two recordings which have always been present. If I had to keep five recordings only, these two would be in the collection.
What are yours?
Shruti Sadolikar - Live in Concert. 2 June 07
Sangeet Australia:Supporting Hindustani Music
in partnership with
The Marathi Association Sydney Inc.
proudly presents ‘The Concert Series’
One of India’s finest female vocalists
Live in Concert - Internationally renowned
Shruti Sadolikar Katkar
with
Anand Kunte - Sarangi and Mangesh Mulye - Tabla
Evening Ragas: Khayal Music of
the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
Saturday 2nd June 7pm
Shruti Sadolikar produced the most memorable recital of all an
created some kind of history for her gharana…she was able to put more body
and soul into the raga than legendary exponents…The Telegraph, Kolkata.
Tom Mann Theatre 136 Chalmers St. Surry Hills
Near Central Station. Snacks available from 6:00pm.
Disabled access available.
Tickets at the door $25/$20con
Discounts available: Families and Marathi Association members.
more info: 0416 352 900 or join our mailing list.
www.sangeetaustralia.org
Shruti Sadolikar in Concert - A female vocalist of the highest calibre.
A rare treat for lovers of fine classical Indian music.
About Shruti Sadolikar: A leading exponent of the Jaipur- Atrauli Gharana, Shrutiji studied from an early age under the tutelage of her father Pandit Vamanrao Sadolikar and later from Pt Gullubhai Jasdanwalla. She is currently learning from Ustad Azizuddin Khan, grandson of the great Ustad Alladiya Khan, the founder of the Jaipur Gharana. Shrutiji sings all forms of classical and semi-classical including khayal, thumri, tappa, natya sangeet and bhajan. Her deeper interest lies in haveli sangeet, a form that was the subject of her thesis and special performances overseas.
Shrutiji holds a masters degree from SNDT, Mumbai and has performed in India and internationally to great acclaim. She has several recordings including educational CDs. In a richly diverse and active award-winning career she has been a Guru at the renowned Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata and also formed a foundation in memory of her father to propagate music, arts and education. In 1999 she worked on a three hour play to which she also set the music. Sangeet Tulsidas, won five awards and was performed in Marathi all over Holland as part of the Theatre Festival.
About Sangeet Australia: Formed in 2004 we are an artist-run, grass-roots organisation focused on fostering greater understanding and appreciation of this classical tradition of music from India. We produce a monthly series of high-quality acoustic soirees and various other activities, including larger concerts and workshops, supporting both local and international musicians. To contact us regarding sponsorship, to volunteer, offers of in-kind support, media enquiries, to join our mailing list, bookings or for more information call m. 0416 352 900 or
email: pavane_oliveiro@yahoo.com.au
About forthcoming events: The Marathi Association Sydney Inc.
presents Shruti Sadolikar - Live in Concert.
St. George Bank Auditorium, Kogarah.
Semi Classical Program Saturday 9th June 5- 8pm.
$20 or $40 premium
Classical Program Monday 11th June 9am -12pm.
$25 or $50 premium
www.marathi.org.au
Bookings: Dhananjay 0413 594 104 Sharad 0412 478 171 Vijay 0408 251 882
Dearest Patrons,
Thank you to many of you who attended Debi Prasadji’s recent mehfil. It was a beautiful and intimate afternoon and, as always, your presence and support is much appreciated.
We hope you can all make it to the next event in our Concert Series. We are honoured to have such an esteemed guest and I am personally very pleased to be presenting a female artist at this program.
Anand Kunte on Sarangi and Mangesh Mulye on Tabla will complete this superb event. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to hear vocal music accompanied by Sarangi in this instance. This line up is sure to make for a spell-binding and exquisite evening.
We thank the Marathi Association for making Shrutiji’s visit possible and are very happy to have their support for this event. We urge you to attend Shrutiji’s other two programs at the St George Auditorium – the concert on Monday 11th June will be a chance to hear some morning ragas on the long weekend.
For those who may be interested in requesting a master class with Shrutiji or her accompanists I urge you to contact Dhananjay Gurjar of The Marathi Association (details above) with your expression of interest.
Media enquiries may also be directed either to myself or The Marathi Association.
Exciting news about forthcoming events with renowned vocalist Shubha Mudgal will be announced shortly.
Join our mailing list for more details or send this email to your friends.
Our events appeal to the discerning music lover and those who seek a fulfilling engagement with the arts.
Hoping to see you soon.
Your sincerely,
Pavane Oliveiro
Director
and
Dr. Adrian McNeil
Artistic Director
in partnership with
The Marathi Association Sydney Inc.
proudly presents ‘The Concert Series’
One of India’s finest female vocalists
Live in Concert - Internationally renowned
Shruti Sadolikar Katkar
with
Anand Kunte - Sarangi and Mangesh Mulye - Tabla
Evening Ragas: Khayal Music of
the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
Saturday 2nd June 7pm
Shruti Sadolikar produced the most memorable recital of all an
created some kind of history for her gharana…she was able to put more body
and soul into the raga than legendary exponents…The Telegraph, Kolkata.
Tom Mann Theatre 136 Chalmers St. Surry Hills
Near Central Station. Snacks available from 6:00pm.
Disabled access available.
Tickets at the door $25/$20con
Discounts available: Families and Marathi Association members.
more info: 0416 352 900 or join our mailing list.
www.sangeetaustralia.org
Shruti Sadolikar in Concert - A female vocalist of the highest calibre.
A rare treat for lovers of fine classical Indian music.
About Shruti Sadolikar: A leading exponent of the Jaipur- Atrauli Gharana, Shrutiji studied from an early age under the tutelage of her father Pandit Vamanrao Sadolikar and later from Pt Gullubhai Jasdanwalla. She is currently learning from Ustad Azizuddin Khan, grandson of the great Ustad Alladiya Khan, the founder of the Jaipur Gharana. Shrutiji sings all forms of classical and semi-classical including khayal, thumri, tappa, natya sangeet and bhajan. Her deeper interest lies in haveli sangeet, a form that was the subject of her thesis and special performances overseas.
Shrutiji holds a masters degree from SNDT, Mumbai and has performed in India and internationally to great acclaim. She has several recordings including educational CDs. In a richly diverse and active award-winning career she has been a Guru at the renowned Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata and also formed a foundation in memory of her father to propagate music, arts and education. In 1999 she worked on a three hour play to which she also set the music. Sangeet Tulsidas, won five awards and was performed in Marathi all over Holland as part of the Theatre Festival.
About Sangeet Australia: Formed in 2004 we are an artist-run, grass-roots organisation focused on fostering greater understanding and appreciation of this classical tradition of music from India. We produce a monthly series of high-quality acoustic soirees and various other activities, including larger concerts and workshops, supporting both local and international musicians. To contact us regarding sponsorship, to volunteer, offers of in-kind support, media enquiries, to join our mailing list, bookings or for more information call m. 0416 352 900 or
email: pavane_oliveiro@yahoo.com.au
About forthcoming events: The Marathi Association Sydney Inc.
presents Shruti Sadolikar - Live in Concert.
St. George Bank Auditorium, Kogarah.
Semi Classical Program Saturday 9th June 5- 8pm.
$20 or $40 premium
Classical Program Monday 11th June 9am -12pm.
$25 or $50 premium
www.marathi.org.au
Bookings: Dhananjay 0413 594 104 Sharad 0412 478 171 Vijay 0408 251 882
Dearest Patrons,
Thank you to many of you who attended Debi Prasadji’s recent mehfil. It was a beautiful and intimate afternoon and, as always, your presence and support is much appreciated.
We hope you can all make it to the next event in our Concert Series. We are honoured to have such an esteemed guest and I am personally very pleased to be presenting a female artist at this program.
Anand Kunte on Sarangi and Mangesh Mulye on Tabla will complete this superb event. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to hear vocal music accompanied by Sarangi in this instance. This line up is sure to make for a spell-binding and exquisite evening.
We thank the Marathi Association for making Shrutiji’s visit possible and are very happy to have their support for this event. We urge you to attend Shrutiji’s other two programs at the St George Auditorium – the concert on Monday 11th June will be a chance to hear some morning ragas on the long weekend.
For those who may be interested in requesting a master class with Shrutiji or her accompanists I urge you to contact Dhananjay Gurjar of The Marathi Association (details above) with your expression of interest.
Media enquiries may also be directed either to myself or The Marathi Association.
Exciting news about forthcoming events with renowned vocalist Shubha Mudgal will be announced shortly.
Join our mailing list for more details or send this email to your friends.
Our events appeal to the discerning music lover and those who seek a fulfilling engagement with the arts.
Hoping to see you soon.
Your sincerely,
Pavane Oliveiro
Director
and
Dr. Adrian McNeil
Artistic Director
Playlist 23 May 07
On the show this week, excerpts from Tokyo Earth Day. Music from Rag Fair & M-Flow, two of Japan's current in-vogue pop music acts. Earth Day has been going on now for 37 years. It is all about raising people's consciousness in order to change the way they do things to protect the planet and its resources. I think it was someone like the historical Buddha who may have said "before you change the world change yourself". Maybe the quote came from an old episode of Monkey. Maybe not but you get the drift I'm sure.
New music from Sephardic singer Yasmin Levy from her excellent album La Juderia, fourth world trumpeter Jon Hasell Live in Berlin 2006, as well as material from sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan.
Yasmine Levy- Cd La Juderia - La Alegria // La Nina De Las Flores // Locura // La Serena (http://www.mraentertainment.com)
Born in Jerusalem 27 years ago, Yasmin Levy was introduced to Ladino singing and culture from a very young age. Her father was the leading figure in the world of research into and preservation of the Judeo-Spanish culture, dating back to the 15th century in Spain. Today, it remains one of the most moving and romantic musical traditions of all times.
In her deep, spiritual and moving style of singing, Yasmin preserves and revives the most beautiful and romantic songs from the Ladino/ Judeo-Spanish heritage, mixing it with Andalusian Flamenco.
Her debut album “Romance & Yasmin” (Ladino) is now out in Europe.
Her new album “La Juderia” (Ladino meets Flamenco – in Spanish) will be released in April 2005.
The above information from: http://www.yasminlevy.net/
Excerpts from Tokyo Earth Day 2007 featuring Rag Fair, Mink, M-Flow and more. I have a three CD audio of this performance to give away to a listener who is into Japanese pop music. Please email me if you would like me to send it to you.
Jon Hassell- Live Berlin 2006 (private)- excerpts from the performance featuring Jon Hassell on trumpet, Peter Freeman on bass, Steve Shehan percussion. Originally broadcast on German radio.
Amjad Ali Khan- CD Moksha- Moksha // Atma (Real World Records)
Rahul Sharma- Music of the Himalayas- Melody of Kashmir (Real World Records)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Powerspot Playlist 16 May 07
On the show tonight, you either heard or you missed the following.
Nuyorican Soul- I Am The Black Gold of the Sun- CD In The Mind of Nitin Sawhney
V/A- Pindi Sandhu- Vlaatho Dho Kuriya - CD American Bhangra
V/A- Sultan Akhtar-. Suhn Kuriye - CD American Bhangra
V/A- Jesh Raju- Tere Ishq Soniye- CD American Bhangra (www.americanbhangra.com)
The Tinku Band- Superman
Marisa Monte- Infinito Particular- CD Infinito Particular
16 minute interview with Marisa Monte downloadable via the link on the right hand side.
Marisa Monte- Universo ao Meu Redor / O Bonde Do Dom/ Meu Canário / Três Letrinhas- CD Universo ao Meu Redor
Marisa Monte- Pra ser sincero- CD Infinito Particular
Bob Marley & The Wailers- Get Up Stand Up / No More Troubles / War- CD Live At The Roxy 1976
Ojos de Brujo- Memorias Perdias- CD In The Mind of Nitin Sawhney
Paco de Lucia- Almoraima- CD In The Mind of Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney- Songbird [Zero Id Remix]- CD In The Mind of Nitin Sawhney
Larry Marshall- I've Got To Make It- CD Studio One KINGS
Horace Andy- Every Tongue Shall Tell- CD Studio One KINGS
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Powerspot Playlist 9 May 07
On the show, treats and delights from the following artists.
Yasmin Levy- CD La Juderia
Mercan Dede-Secret Tribe CD Nar
(www.mercandede.com)
Music of Laos- The Buddhist Tradition (Celestial Harmonies)
Philip Glass- CD Kundun- Escape to India
Philip Glass's score for Kundun is the realization of a long-cherished dream. For years, I had hoped to work with Glass, and in Kundun we found the ideal subject for a special collaboration. His Buddhist faith and deep understanding of Tibetan culture combine with the subtlety of his composition to play an essential role in our movie on the life of the Dalai Lama. Philip Glass is an artist of tremendous sensitivity whose music works from the inside of the film, from its heart, to produce a powerful emotional intensity which remains for days in the listener's head. The beauty, magic, grandeur, and spirituality of the score allow us to feel the pulse of the story as it unfolds. For me, the images in the film no longer stand on their own without Philip Glass's music. I consider myself fortunate, indeed blessed, to have worked with him on Kundun...
- Martin Scorsese.
Satsuki Odamura- Koto Dreaming- Dancing on Rainbows
Satsuki Odamura's new CD, Koto Dreaming is a collection of innovative and uniquely Australian multicultural compositions for koto. Koto Dreaming breaks away from the traditional sounds and compositions for koto, and includes Satsuki's own collaborative compositions with Australian artists. It is a synthesis of her inspirations gained by her working closely with Australian artists and a culmination of her fifteen years accumulative experience as a koto virtuoso based in Australia.
Koto Dreaming begins with a work commissioned by celebrated Australian composer Ross Edwards and includes pieces by composers Caroline Szeto, Anthony Briggs, Linsey Pollak, as well as Satsuki herself, in collaboration with Sandy Evans and Tony Lewis – who together comprise the trio Waratah.
Nitin Sawhney- CD Philtre (Instrumentals)- Mausam / The Sanctuary
(Promotional)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/world/reviews/
nitinsawhney_philtre.shtml#review)
Pharoah Sanders-CD With A Heartbeat- Across Time
Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra- CD Beggars and Saints- Gopala
John Martyn- CD Couldn't Love You More- One World
Thanks for listening.
Yasmin Levy- CD La Juderia
Mercan Dede-Secret Tribe CD Nar
(www.mercandede.com)
Music of Laos- The Buddhist Tradition (Celestial Harmonies)
Philip Glass- CD Kundun- Escape to India
Philip Glass's score for Kundun is the realization of a long-cherished dream. For years, I had hoped to work with Glass, and in Kundun we found the ideal subject for a special collaboration. His Buddhist faith and deep understanding of Tibetan culture combine with the subtlety of his composition to play an essential role in our movie on the life of the Dalai Lama. Philip Glass is an artist of tremendous sensitivity whose music works from the inside of the film, from its heart, to produce a powerful emotional intensity which remains for days in the listener's head. The beauty, magic, grandeur, and spirituality of the score allow us to feel the pulse of the story as it unfolds. For me, the images in the film no longer stand on their own without Philip Glass's music. I consider myself fortunate, indeed blessed, to have worked with him on Kundun...
- Martin Scorsese.
Satsuki Odamura- Koto Dreaming- Dancing on Rainbows
Satsuki Odamura's new CD, Koto Dreaming is a collection of innovative and uniquely Australian multicultural compositions for koto. Koto Dreaming breaks away from the traditional sounds and compositions for koto, and includes Satsuki's own collaborative compositions with Australian artists. It is a synthesis of her inspirations gained by her working closely with Australian artists and a culmination of her fifteen years accumulative experience as a koto virtuoso based in Australia.
Koto Dreaming begins with a work commissioned by celebrated Australian composer Ross Edwards and includes pieces by composers Caroline Szeto, Anthony Briggs, Linsey Pollak, as well as Satsuki herself, in collaboration with Sandy Evans and Tony Lewis – who together comprise the trio Waratah.
Nitin Sawhney- CD Philtre (Instrumentals)- Mausam / The Sanctuary
(Promotional)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/world/reviews/
nitinsawhney_philtre.shtml#review)
Pharoah Sanders-CD With A Heartbeat- Across Time
Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra- CD Beggars and Saints- Gopala
John Martyn- CD Couldn't Love You More- One World
Thanks for listening.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Powerspot 2 May 2007
Ok you either heard or you missed the following on Wednesday night's show. Thank you to those people who emailed me and reminded me to put this on the blog. I was having one of my 'senior' moments and forgot.
Rokia Traore- CD Wanita- Kanan Neni (Label Bleu)
K Sridhar & Abdel Salameh- CD The Arab Path to India- Oud Solo / Sarod Solo ( Real World Records WSCD101, 1996)
Iarla O'Lionaird- Cd I Could Read The Sky- I'm Stretched On Your Grave (Real World)
Pat Metheny & Anna Maria Jopek- CD Upojenie
Ghazal- CD Moon Rise Over The Silk Road- Fire In My Heart
Arabesk- CD Front Ear
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan- CD Shahen Shah- Shamas-Ud-Doha, Badar-Ud-Doja (Real World)
Ronu Majumdar- CD Hollow bamboo- Charmer OF Braj
Natacha Atlas-CD Gedida- Bastet
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
On the show tonight, you either heard or missed the following
Aditya Verna- Sarod- Traditional Music from India
Raga Fhinjhoti (fast teentaal)
Aditya Verma is a charismatic sarod player based in Canada and India. A disciple of legendary sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar and renowned sarod master Ustad Aashish Khan, Verma has also trained under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, India's leading exponent of the instrument. Verma grew up in Montreal and started playing the tabla at an early age under the guidance of his father, Dr. Narendra Verma, and Ustad Zakir Hussain. From 1987, he has lived in India studying Hindustani classical music and specializing in the sarod. In recent years, Verma has won the admiration of audiences across North America, Europe and India with electrifying performances that reveal his emotional aesthetics and virtuosity. Besides playing concerts on stage, television and radio, Verma also gives lecture demonstrations, teaches and composes music of different styles for recordings and film. He is the recipient of numerous awards.
Yasmin Levy- Live
Marcel Khalife- CD Caress
Marcel Khalifé was born in 1950 in Amchit, Mount-Lebanon. He studied the oud (the Arabic lute) at the Beirut National conservatory, and, ever since, has been injecting a new life into the oud.
From 1970 to 1975, Marcel Khalifé taught at the conservatory and other local institutions. During that same period, he toured the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the United States giving solo performances on the oud.
Oud playing was traditionally constrained by the strict techniques that governed its playing. Highly talented and skillful musicians such as Marcel Khalifé were, however, able to free the instrument from those constraints and thus greatly expanding its possibilities.
In 1972, Marcel Khalifé created a musical group in his native village with the goal of reviving its musical heritage and the Arabic chorale. The first performances took place in Lebanon. 1976 saw the birth of Al Mayadeen Ensemble. Enriched by the previous ensemble’s musical experiences, Al Mayadeen’s notoriety went well beyond Lebanon. Accompanied by his musical ensemble, Marcel Khalifé began a lifelong far-reaching musical journey, performing in Arab countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Japan.
Marcel Khalifé has been invited several times to festivals of international fame such as: Baalbeck, Beit Eddine (Lebanon), Carthage, El Hammamat (Tunisia), Timgad (Algeria), Jarash (Jordan), Arles (France), Krems, Linz (Austria), Bremen (Germany), ReOrient (Sweden), Pavia (Italy), World Music Festival in San Francisco, New York, Cleveland (the USA).
He has performed in such prestigious halls as the "Palace of Arts" in Montreal, "Symphony Space" and "Merkin Concert" in New York, "Berklee Theatre" and "New England Conservatory" in Boston, "Royal Festival Hall", and "Queen Elizabeth Hall" in London,"UNESCO Palace" of Beirut, Cairo Opera House (Egypt), "Reciprocity","House of the Cultures of the World" and "UNESCO Hall" in Paris, "Central Dionysia" in Rome, "Yerba Buena" in San Francisco,"Sõdra Teatern" in Stokholm.
Since 1974, Marcel Khalifé has been composing music for dance which gave rise to a new genre of dance, the popular Eastern ballet (Caracalla, Sarab Ensemble, Rimah, Popular Art Ensemble)
Marcel Khalifé has also been composing soundracks for film, documentary and fiction, produced by Maroun Baghdadi and Oussama Mouhamad among others.
Marcel Khalifé has also composed several purely instrumental works like The Symphony of Return, Chants of the East, Concerto Al Andalus "Suite for Oud and Orchestra" "Mouda'aba" (Caress), Diwan Al Oud, "Jadal" Oud duo, Oud Quartet, "Al Samaa" in the traditional Arabic forms andTaqasim, duo for oud and double bass.
Marcel Khalifé’s compositions has been performed by several orchestras, notably the Kiev Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of Boulogne Billancourt Orchestra, The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the city of Tunis, and the "Absolute Ensemble".
Since 1982, Marcel Khalifé has been writing books on musicthat reflect his avant garde compositions and the maturity of his experience.
His challenges, however, are not only musical in character. Interpreter of music and oud performer, he is also a composer who is deeply attached to the text on which he relies. In his association with great contemporary Arab poets, particularly Palestinian poet par excellence, Mahmoud Darwish, he seeks to renew the character of the Arabic song, to break its stereotypes, and to advance the culture of the society that surrounds it.
His lyrical recordings adds up to about 20 albums, the likes Promises of the storm, Ahmad Al Arabi, Weddings, Peace Be With you, Ode To A Homeland, Arabic Coffeepot, The Children and Body(Al Jassad,) to name a few.
On his journey, Marcel Khalifé invents and creates original music, a novel world of sounds, freed of all pre-established rules. This language elevates him to the level of an ambassador of his own culture and to the vanguard of Near Eastern music in search of innovators.
I do not use the West to get to the West,” said Marcel Khalife about his album Caress/Mouda’aba
“If the new world order gives me the culture of MacDonalds and Pepsi Cola, I question that. Those things disappear after a short while. What we are doing is a project that will take years and years.”
Khalife’s mission began before Israel seized his cassettes upon invading his country, Lebanon, in 1982. “Since I was born,” he says, “I’ve felt I had a rebel’s soul within me. I rejected things that might be inherited, but that were wrong.” Born into a Christian family, Khalife—who plays the oud, an Arabic lute, has always been a voice of reconciliation, peace, and hope. During Lebanon’s civil war, he risked his life performing in bombed out concert halls, bringing his music and the great poetry of the Arab world to his war-ravished country.
At the same time, Khalife has been stretching the boundaries of his instrument and Arabic music. Oud playing was traditionally constrained by the strict techniques that governed its playing. Skillful musicians like Khalife have freed the instrument from those constraints greatly expanding its possiblities. About his latest CD and tour, Khalife says, “This work attempts to elevate Arabic music to a level that allows it to express profound human emotions, not by mere performance, but by empowering the music to mature and develop into a universal language of expression.
Khalife’s musical career has consistently been marked by two traits. The first is a multi-faceted, category-defying approach to music itself. “My grandfather was a fisherman and he used to sing songs of the sea,” Khalife recalls. “Then I used to go to church and listen to Christian music, and also to Islamic recitations of the Koran. In Lebanon we have a marriage of Islamic and Christian culture. That really helped to form my musical awareness.” Khalife always drew from diverse musical sources and composed in a variety of settings from oud duos to full orchestras.
His composition is noted for being deeply attached to lyrical text. Through his association with great contemporary Arab poets, most notably Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, he seeks to renew the character of Arab song, breaking its stereotypes and advancing the culture of the society that surrounds it. Millions in the Arab World recognize Khalife as a cultural icon.
“I do not fit in a cultural box, nor do I want to,” says Khalife, who now lives in Paris. “I have strived all my life to break free of old traditional constraints, to let music speak for itself unshackled by predetermined traditional rules. I have defied identities and categorizations, which only serve to blind us to the vastness and complexity of humanity. There are no set lenses with which I should be looked at. My music, it all comes together for the sake of humanity.”
The second trait has been a consistent message of peace and justice. And this continues today, setting the tone for this Fall’s tour. “More than ever, we all have to work much harder for peace,” says Khalife. “Peace cannot be imposed upon a people by a certain political power or agenda. Peace is achieved through respect, understanding of others and their culture; it is achieved by giving up fear of others; it is achieved through dialogue.”
Marcel Khalife will be performing with Al Mayadine Ensemble, a group that he founded in 1976. Al Mayadine has the double-meaning of “village-square” and “battlefield.” Khalife is joined on the tour by his long time premiere vocalist Oumaima Khalil, who has been performing with Khalife since she was 12 years old. Al Mayadine Ensemble also features Yolla Keryakos as second vocalist, Rami Khalife on piano, Peter Herbert on double bass and Bachar Khalife on percussion (riq, tabla, mazhar, vibraphone, congas, bongos).
Adapted courtesy RockPaperScissors - http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/index.cfm/fuseaction/current.press_release/project_id/185.cfmMarisa Monte
Fuji Dub- Fuji Orisa (Triple Earth remix)
Fuji -- Ferocious Urban Jungle Intensity -- a music named (so the story goes) by it's first master, Alhaji Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, when he saw a postcard of Mount Fuji in an airport transit lounge and felt it graphically represented the essaential peace lying at the heart of the music. 'Were' -- a music expressing Islamic faith that helps act as a wake-up call to morning prayer for Yoruba Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The roots of 'Fuji'.
'Fuji Dub' -- Five tracks from a Fuji master recorded in Brooklyn, U.S. remixed in Brixton, U.K.
The idea behind this was that I was fed up with all the various dance albums which used African or Arabic samples as a bit of exotic fluff on the top of a purely conventional (and boring) four-on-the-floor dance beat. Why not do it the other way round? Use an African music as the meat beat and studio dub techniques as the exotic bit. Nice idea in theory - not so easy in practice. Not least of which is that Fuji music (heavy duty Nigerian urban percussion) races along, whereas reggae gently lopes. Oh well, fun to do and has achieved cult status in certain quarters.
And who is the artist who wishes to remain anonymous? Simple - he even gets a name check within the first 30 seconds of the first song. He was fine for the remixing to be done, he was just concerned that it might confuse his audience as it's remixes of existing releases so him remaining anonymous was part of the deal. -- Iain Scott
Rhythm & Sound- No Partial
Marisa Monte- CD Infinito Particular- Track Infinito Particular
Aditya Verna- Sarod- Traditional Music from India
Raga Fhinjhoti (fast teentaal)
Aditya Verma is a charismatic sarod player based in Canada and India. A disciple of legendary sitar player Pandit Ravi Shankar and renowned sarod master Ustad Aashish Khan, Verma has also trained under Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, India's leading exponent of the instrument. Verma grew up in Montreal and started playing the tabla at an early age under the guidance of his father, Dr. Narendra Verma, and Ustad Zakir Hussain. From 1987, he has lived in India studying Hindustani classical music and specializing in the sarod. In recent years, Verma has won the admiration of audiences across North America, Europe and India with electrifying performances that reveal his emotional aesthetics and virtuosity. Besides playing concerts on stage, television and radio, Verma also gives lecture demonstrations, teaches and composes music of different styles for recordings and film. He is the recipient of numerous awards.
Yasmin Levy- Live
Marcel Khalife- CD Caress
Marcel Khalifé was born in 1950 in Amchit, Mount-Lebanon. He studied the oud (the Arabic lute) at the Beirut National conservatory, and, ever since, has been injecting a new life into the oud.
From 1970 to 1975, Marcel Khalifé taught at the conservatory and other local institutions. During that same period, he toured the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and the United States giving solo performances on the oud.
Oud playing was traditionally constrained by the strict techniques that governed its playing. Highly talented and skillful musicians such as Marcel Khalifé were, however, able to free the instrument from those constraints and thus greatly expanding its possibilities.
In 1972, Marcel Khalifé created a musical group in his native village with the goal of reviving its musical heritage and the Arabic chorale. The first performances took place in Lebanon. 1976 saw the birth of Al Mayadeen Ensemble. Enriched by the previous ensemble’s musical experiences, Al Mayadeen’s notoriety went well beyond Lebanon. Accompanied by his musical ensemble, Marcel Khalifé began a lifelong far-reaching musical journey, performing in Arab countries, Europe, the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and Japan.
Marcel Khalifé has been invited several times to festivals of international fame such as: Baalbeck, Beit Eddine (Lebanon), Carthage, El Hammamat (Tunisia), Timgad (Algeria), Jarash (Jordan), Arles (France), Krems, Linz (Austria), Bremen (Germany), ReOrient (Sweden), Pavia (Italy), World Music Festival in San Francisco, New York, Cleveland (the USA).
He has performed in such prestigious halls as the "Palace of Arts" in Montreal, "Symphony Space" and "Merkin Concert" in New York, "Berklee Theatre" and "New England Conservatory" in Boston, "Royal Festival Hall", and "Queen Elizabeth Hall" in London,"UNESCO Palace" of Beirut, Cairo Opera House (Egypt), "Reciprocity","House of the Cultures of the World" and "UNESCO Hall" in Paris, "Central Dionysia" in Rome, "Yerba Buena" in San Francisco,"Sõdra Teatern" in Stokholm.
Since 1974, Marcel Khalifé has been composing music for dance which gave rise to a new genre of dance, the popular Eastern ballet (Caracalla, Sarab Ensemble, Rimah, Popular Art Ensemble)
Marcel Khalifé has also been composing soundracks for film, documentary and fiction, produced by Maroun Baghdadi and Oussama Mouhamad among others.
Marcel Khalifé has also composed several purely instrumental works like The Symphony of Return, Chants of the East, Concerto Al Andalus "Suite for Oud and Orchestra" "Mouda'aba" (Caress), Diwan Al Oud, "Jadal" Oud duo, Oud Quartet, "Al Samaa" in the traditional Arabic forms andTaqasim, duo for oud and double bass.
Marcel Khalifé’s compositions has been performed by several orchestras, notably the Kiev Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of Boulogne Billancourt Orchestra, The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the city of Tunis, and the "Absolute Ensemble".
Since 1982, Marcel Khalifé has been writing books on musicthat reflect his avant garde compositions and the maturity of his experience.
His challenges, however, are not only musical in character. Interpreter of music and oud performer, he is also a composer who is deeply attached to the text on which he relies. In his association with great contemporary Arab poets, particularly Palestinian poet par excellence, Mahmoud Darwish, he seeks to renew the character of the Arabic song, to break its stereotypes, and to advance the culture of the society that surrounds it.
His lyrical recordings adds up to about 20 albums, the likes Promises of the storm, Ahmad Al Arabi, Weddings, Peace Be With you, Ode To A Homeland, Arabic Coffeepot, The Children and Body(Al Jassad,) to name a few.
On his journey, Marcel Khalifé invents and creates original music, a novel world of sounds, freed of all pre-established rules. This language elevates him to the level of an ambassador of his own culture and to the vanguard of Near Eastern music in search of innovators.
I do not use the West to get to the West,” said Marcel Khalife about his album Caress/Mouda’aba
“If the new world order gives me the culture of MacDonalds and Pepsi Cola, I question that. Those things disappear after a short while. What we are doing is a project that will take years and years.”
Khalife’s mission began before Israel seized his cassettes upon invading his country, Lebanon, in 1982. “Since I was born,” he says, “I’ve felt I had a rebel’s soul within me. I rejected things that might be inherited, but that were wrong.” Born into a Christian family, Khalife—who plays the oud, an Arabic lute, has always been a voice of reconciliation, peace, and hope. During Lebanon’s civil war, he risked his life performing in bombed out concert halls, bringing his music and the great poetry of the Arab world to his war-ravished country.
At the same time, Khalife has been stretching the boundaries of his instrument and Arabic music. Oud playing was traditionally constrained by the strict techniques that governed its playing. Skillful musicians like Khalife have freed the instrument from those constraints greatly expanding its possiblities. About his latest CD and tour, Khalife says, “This work attempts to elevate Arabic music to a level that allows it to express profound human emotions, not by mere performance, but by empowering the music to mature and develop into a universal language of expression.
Khalife’s musical career has consistently been marked by two traits. The first is a multi-faceted, category-defying approach to music itself. “My grandfather was a fisherman and he used to sing songs of the sea,” Khalife recalls. “Then I used to go to church and listen to Christian music, and also to Islamic recitations of the Koran. In Lebanon we have a marriage of Islamic and Christian culture. That really helped to form my musical awareness.” Khalife always drew from diverse musical sources and composed in a variety of settings from oud duos to full orchestras.
His composition is noted for being deeply attached to lyrical text. Through his association with great contemporary Arab poets, most notably Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, he seeks to renew the character of Arab song, breaking its stereotypes and advancing the culture of the society that surrounds it. Millions in the Arab World recognize Khalife as a cultural icon.
“I do not fit in a cultural box, nor do I want to,” says Khalife, who now lives in Paris. “I have strived all my life to break free of old traditional constraints, to let music speak for itself unshackled by predetermined traditional rules. I have defied identities and categorizations, which only serve to blind us to the vastness and complexity of humanity. There are no set lenses with which I should be looked at. My music, it all comes together for the sake of humanity.”
The second trait has been a consistent message of peace and justice. And this continues today, setting the tone for this Fall’s tour. “More than ever, we all have to work much harder for peace,” says Khalife. “Peace cannot be imposed upon a people by a certain political power or agenda. Peace is achieved through respect, understanding of others and their culture; it is achieved by giving up fear of others; it is achieved through dialogue.”
Marcel Khalife will be performing with Al Mayadine Ensemble, a group that he founded in 1976. Al Mayadine has the double-meaning of “village-square” and “battlefield.” Khalife is joined on the tour by his long time premiere vocalist Oumaima Khalil, who has been performing with Khalife since she was 12 years old. Al Mayadine Ensemble also features Yolla Keryakos as second vocalist, Rami Khalife on piano, Peter Herbert on double bass and Bachar Khalife on percussion (riq, tabla, mazhar, vibraphone, congas, bongos).
Adapted courtesy RockPaperScissors - http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/index.cfm/fuseaction/current.press_release/project_id/185.cfmMarisa Monte
Fuji Dub- Fuji Orisa (Triple Earth remix)
Fuji -- Ferocious Urban Jungle Intensity -- a music named (so the story goes) by it's first master, Alhaji Dr. Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, when he saw a postcard of Mount Fuji in an airport transit lounge and felt it graphically represented the essaential peace lying at the heart of the music. 'Were' -- a music expressing Islamic faith that helps act as a wake-up call to morning prayer for Yoruba Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The roots of 'Fuji'.
'Fuji Dub' -- Five tracks from a Fuji master recorded in Brooklyn, U.S. remixed in Brixton, U.K.
The idea behind this was that I was fed up with all the various dance albums which used African or Arabic samples as a bit of exotic fluff on the top of a purely conventional (and boring) four-on-the-floor dance beat. Why not do it the other way round? Use an African music as the meat beat and studio dub techniques as the exotic bit. Nice idea in theory - not so easy in practice. Not least of which is that Fuji music (heavy duty Nigerian urban percussion) races along, whereas reggae gently lopes. Oh well, fun to do and has achieved cult status in certain quarters.
And who is the artist who wishes to remain anonymous? Simple - he even gets a name check within the first 30 seconds of the first song. He was fine for the remixing to be done, he was just concerned that it might confuse his audience as it's remixes of existing releases so him remaining anonymous was part of the deal. -- Iain Scott
Rhythm & Sound- No Partial
Marisa Monte- CD Infinito Particular- Track Infinito Particular
Touring soon..PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE
SANGEET AUSTRALIA PRESENTS
THE MEHFIL SERIES
ACOUSTIC AND INSPIRATIONAL
CLASSICAL NORTH INDIAN MUSIC
IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING
VISITING SITAR VIRTUOSO
PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE
WITH MAHARSHI RAVAL ON TABLA
A CHANCE TO ENGAGE CLOSELY WITH THE SCINTILLATING SOUNDS OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC WITH A REVERED AND EXPERIENCED ARTIST OF THIS TRADITION. SEE DEBI PRASADJI'S BIO BELOW.
2:30PM
SUNDAY MAY 13TH
$22/18 CON. TICKETS AT THE DOOR
COME EARLY TO AVOID DISSAPOINTMENT
THE DICKSON SPACE
35-39 DICKSON ST
NEWTOWN
ON-STREET PARKING
BY BUS 422 OR NEWTOWN TRAIN STATION (5-10MIN)
ENTER DICKSON ST FROM KING ST.
DISABLED ACCESS AVAIL. FAMILY DSCOUNTS AVAIL.
ALL WELCOME.
SNACKS AVAILABLE
PERFORMANCE APPROX 2 HOURS WITH INTERVAL.
I BELIEVE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ARRANGE MASTER CLASSES WITH DEBI PRASADJI DURING HIS SHORT VISIT TO SYDNEY ON HIS EAST COAST TOUR.
CONTACT FOR MORE INFO 0416 352 900.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE
(TO AVOID CONFUSION - NO RELATION TO OUR APRIL GUEST PURBAYAN CHATTERJEE BUT RELATED TO THE GREAT TABLA PLAYER ANINDO CHATTERJEE!)
PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE, A SENIOR ARTIST, IS A DISTINGUISHED NAME AMONGST INDIAN MUSICIANS AS AN OUTSTANDING SITARIST AND A HIGHLY REGARDED TEACHER OF INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC. HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED FOR HIS DEVOTION TO HIS MUSIC. HIS CONTROL OVER THE RAGAS WITH SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION HAS PLACED HIM AMONGST THE TOP INSTRUMENTALISTS OF HIS ERA.
BORN IN KOLKATA INTO A FAMILY OF RICH CULTURAL AND MUSICAL HERITAGE THAT HAS PRODUCED MUSICIANS LIKE PT. ANINDO CHATTERJEE (TABLA), HE DEVELOPED A DISTINCT AND UNIQUE STYLE OF HIS OWN BY RECEIVING EXTENSIVE TRAINING FROM VARIOUS MAESTROS. HE TOOK HIS FIRST LESSONS FROM ELDER BROTHER PT. BISWANATH CHATTERJEE AND FROM PT. APARESH CHATTERJEE, ANOTHER NOTED SITAR EXPONENT.
STARTING IN 1965 HE RECEIVED TRAINING FROM THE GREAT NIKHIL BANNERJEE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS ALSO TRAINING EXTENSIVELY UNDER SMT. ANNAPURNA DEVI. IN 1986 HE BECAME A DISCIPLE OF WORLD FAMOUS MAESTRO USTAD ALI AKBAR KHAN.
PT CHATTERJEE BELONGS TO THE SENIA MAIHAR GHARANA AND DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE PLAYING STYLE OF NIKHIL BANNERJEE.
FOR MANY YEARS HE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMING IN MAJOR CONCERTS ALL OVER INDIA AND ABROAD INCLUDING THE DOVER LANE MUSIC CONFERENCE, RADIO SANGEET SAMMELAN, SADARANG MUSIC CONFERENCE, TANSEN MUSIC CONFERENCE, BISHYA BANGA SAMMELAN, NORTH AMERICA BENGALI CONFERENCE, NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AT ALL INDIA RADIO AND DOORDASHAN ETC..
PANDITJI HAS PLAYED IN NUMEROUS CONCERTS ACROSS USA, CANADA, UK, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, HOLLAND, ITALY, FRANCE, AUSTRIA, ICELAND, IRELAND, LUXEMBOURG ETC.. HE HAS ALSO PERFORMED IN NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS.
HE HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS AND ACCOLADES FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC AND BETWEEN 1977-2001 WAS A PROFESSOR AT THE RABINDRA BHARATI UNIVERSITY, KOLKATA AND FROM 1994-2001 WAS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND PERCUSSION. HE HAS ALSO CONDUCTED NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON HINDUSTANI MUSIC AND ITS TECHNIQUES AT UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS BOTH IN INDIA AND INTERNATIONALLY.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HIS KNOWLEDGE AND VAST EXPERIENCE IN SYDNEY.
MAHARSHI RAVAL
WE ARE ALSO VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME MAHARSHI RAVAL, AN EXPERIENCED TABLIYA RELATIVELY NEW TO SYDNEY WHO PROMISES TO BECOME A FORMIDABLE PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC. HE HAS TOURED EUROPE, ACCOMPANIED MANY ARTISTS IN THE SAPTAK (OCTAVE) FESTIVALS, PERFORMED WITH THE FAMOUS VOCALIST AJAY POHANKAR AND SO ON. COME AND SEE THIS EXCITING NEW TALENT.
COMING IN JUNE:
THE GREAT VOCALIST
SHRUTI SADOLIKAR!
MORE INFO TO FOLLOW
Dear Patrons,
Thank you for joining the Sangeet Australia Mailing list. If you have recently joined this is our monthly mail-out to inform you of our forth-coming events. Please forward to friends who may be interested.
Firstly, thank you to all of those who attended the concert and discussion sesssions with visiting Purbayan Chatterjee and Bobby Singh. We also thank the ABC Radio National for recording the concert and I will be informing you all by email of the broadcast dates as soon as I have them. If you couldn't make it you will have a chance to listen.
Our thanks also to Assad Abdi at The SideTrack Theatre who has been so helpful and supportive and we hope The SideTrack Performance Group had every success with their recent production of 'Seven Pirates' at The Parramatta Riverside Theatre.
Once again, it is through the hard work, generous support and thoughtfulness of our volunteers that our event was possible. Special thanks to Venkat and Melinda Narayanan who have regularly helped and after the May mehfil will, unfortunately, be moving away. Your help and presence over the years has been much appreciated.
If you would like to assist us, either with skills and resources that you may have, or, with a gift of your time we would love to speak with you. Please contact me via this email address.
As some of you may know we are currently in a process of intense development as we are re-structuring our organisation for better sustainability and more fruitful out-comes for all involved. We welcome feed-back, suggestions, requests and offers of advice or mentoring during the arduous task of formalising our infrastructure.
Warmest regards,
Pavane Oliveiro
Director
Sangeet Australia:
Supporting Hindustani Music
www.sangeetaustralia.org
THE MEHFIL SERIES
ACOUSTIC AND INSPIRATIONAL
CLASSICAL NORTH INDIAN MUSIC
IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING
VISITING SITAR VIRTUOSO
PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE
WITH MAHARSHI RAVAL ON TABLA
A CHANCE TO ENGAGE CLOSELY WITH THE SCINTILLATING SOUNDS OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC WITH A REVERED AND EXPERIENCED ARTIST OF THIS TRADITION. SEE DEBI PRASADJI'S BIO BELOW.
2:30PM
SUNDAY MAY 13TH
$22/18 CON. TICKETS AT THE DOOR
COME EARLY TO AVOID DISSAPOINTMENT
THE DICKSON SPACE
35-39 DICKSON ST
NEWTOWN
ON-STREET PARKING
BY BUS 422 OR NEWTOWN TRAIN STATION (5-10MIN)
ENTER DICKSON ST FROM KING ST.
DISABLED ACCESS AVAIL. FAMILY DSCOUNTS AVAIL.
ALL WELCOME.
SNACKS AVAILABLE
PERFORMANCE APPROX 2 HOURS WITH INTERVAL.
I BELIEVE IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ARRANGE MASTER CLASSES WITH DEBI PRASADJI DURING HIS SHORT VISIT TO SYDNEY ON HIS EAST COAST TOUR.
CONTACT FOR MORE INFO 0416 352 900.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE
(TO AVOID CONFUSION - NO RELATION TO OUR APRIL GUEST PURBAYAN CHATTERJEE BUT RELATED TO THE GREAT TABLA PLAYER ANINDO CHATTERJEE!)
PANDIT DEBI PRASAD CHATTERJEE, A SENIOR ARTIST, IS A DISTINGUISHED NAME AMONGST INDIAN MUSICIANS AS AN OUTSTANDING SITARIST AND A HIGHLY REGARDED TEACHER OF INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC. HE IS WIDELY RESPECTED FOR HIS DEVOTION TO HIS MUSIC. HIS CONTROL OVER THE RAGAS WITH SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION HAS PLACED HIM AMONGST THE TOP INSTRUMENTALISTS OF HIS ERA.
BORN IN KOLKATA INTO A FAMILY OF RICH CULTURAL AND MUSICAL HERITAGE THAT HAS PRODUCED MUSICIANS LIKE PT. ANINDO CHATTERJEE (TABLA), HE DEVELOPED A DISTINCT AND UNIQUE STYLE OF HIS OWN BY RECEIVING EXTENSIVE TRAINING FROM VARIOUS MAESTROS. HE TOOK HIS FIRST LESSONS FROM ELDER BROTHER PT. BISWANATH CHATTERJEE AND FROM PT. APARESH CHATTERJEE, ANOTHER NOTED SITAR EXPONENT.
STARTING IN 1965 HE RECEIVED TRAINING FROM THE GREAT NIKHIL BANNERJEE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS ALSO TRAINING EXTENSIVELY UNDER SMT. ANNAPURNA DEVI. IN 1986 HE BECAME A DISCIPLE OF WORLD FAMOUS MAESTRO USTAD ALI AKBAR KHAN.
PT CHATTERJEE BELONGS TO THE SENIA MAIHAR GHARANA AND DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE PLAYING STYLE OF NIKHIL BANNERJEE.
FOR MANY YEARS HE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMING IN MAJOR CONCERTS ALL OVER INDIA AND ABROAD INCLUDING THE DOVER LANE MUSIC CONFERENCE, RADIO SANGEET SAMMELAN, SADARANG MUSIC CONFERENCE, TANSEN MUSIC CONFERENCE, BISHYA BANGA SAMMELAN, NORTH AMERICA BENGALI CONFERENCE, NATIONAL PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AT ALL INDIA RADIO AND DOORDASHAN ETC..
PANDITJI HAS PLAYED IN NUMEROUS CONCERTS ACROSS USA, CANADA, UK, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, HOLLAND, ITALY, FRANCE, AUSTRIA, ICELAND, IRELAND, LUXEMBOURG ETC.. HE HAS ALSO PERFORMED IN NUMEROUS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS.
HE HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS AND ACCOLADES FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO MUSIC AND BETWEEN 1977-2001 WAS A PROFESSOR AT THE RABINDRA BHARATI UNIVERSITY, KOLKATA AND FROM 1994-2001 WAS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC AND PERCUSSION. HE HAS ALSO CONDUCTED NUMEROUS WORKSHOPS AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON HINDUSTANI MUSIC AND ITS TECHNIQUES AT UNIVERSITIES AND INSTITUTIONS BOTH IN INDIA AND INTERNATIONALLY.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF HIS KNOWLEDGE AND VAST EXPERIENCE IN SYDNEY.
MAHARSHI RAVAL
WE ARE ALSO VERY PLEASED TO WELCOME MAHARSHI RAVAL, AN EXPERIENCED TABLIYA RELATIVELY NEW TO SYDNEY WHO PROMISES TO BECOME A FORMIDABLE PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIAN MUSIC. HE HAS TOURED EUROPE, ACCOMPANIED MANY ARTISTS IN THE SAPTAK (OCTAVE) FESTIVALS, PERFORMED WITH THE FAMOUS VOCALIST AJAY POHANKAR AND SO ON. COME AND SEE THIS EXCITING NEW TALENT.
COMING IN JUNE:
THE GREAT VOCALIST
SHRUTI SADOLIKAR!
MORE INFO TO FOLLOW
Dear Patrons,
Thank you for joining the Sangeet Australia Mailing list. If you have recently joined this is our monthly mail-out to inform you of our forth-coming events. Please forward to friends who may be interested.
Firstly, thank you to all of those who attended the concert and discussion sesssions with visiting Purbayan Chatterjee and Bobby Singh. We also thank the ABC Radio National for recording the concert and I will be informing you all by email of the broadcast dates as soon as I have them. If you couldn't make it you will have a chance to listen.
Our thanks also to Assad Abdi at The SideTrack Theatre who has been so helpful and supportive and we hope The SideTrack Performance Group had every success with their recent production of 'Seven Pirates' at The Parramatta Riverside Theatre.
Once again, it is through the hard work, generous support and thoughtfulness of our volunteers that our event was possible. Special thanks to Venkat and Melinda Narayanan who have regularly helped and after the May mehfil will, unfortunately, be moving away. Your help and presence over the years has been much appreciated.
If you would like to assist us, either with skills and resources that you may have, or, with a gift of your time we would love to speak with you. Please contact me via this email address.
As some of you may know we are currently in a process of intense development as we are re-structuring our organisation for better sustainability and more fruitful out-comes for all involved. We welcome feed-back, suggestions, requests and offers of advice or mentoring during the arduous task of formalising our infrastructure.
Warmest regards,
Pavane Oliveiro
Director
Sangeet Australia:
Supporting Hindustani Music
www.sangeetaustralia.org
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Powerspot 18 April 2007
On tonight's show you either heard or you missed the following:
Ja Joosh (My Country) w/Rich Medina & Afrostreet- National Geographic GeoReMixes (www.calabashmusic.com)
John Brown's Body- Head & Heart / Full Control - CD Pressure Points (www.calabashmusic.com)
Nitin Sawhney- Beyond Skin- CD Beyond Skin (www.nitinsawhney.com)
Ojos De Brujo- Feedback remixed by Nitin Sawhney- National Geographic GeoReMixes (www.calabashmusic.com)
Bombay Dub Orchestra- Feel (Thievery Corporation Remix) CD Eden Global Chillout (www.calabashmusic.com)
Niyaz- In The Shadow of Life- CD Eden Global Chillout (www.calabashmusic.com)
Kim Sanders- Tanzara / Gidemem Raza Ben- CD Trance'n' Dancin (http://www.netspace.com.au/~kimsanders)
Jon Hassell- Open Secret- CD Maarifa Street (Happy 70th birthday Jon Hassell)
Amjad Ali Khan- Live - Ballarat Victoria
Ghazal- Eternity- CD The Rain
Ja Joosh (My Country) w/Rich Medina & Afrostreet- National Geographic GeoReMixes (www.calabashmusic.com)
John Brown's Body- Head & Heart / Full Control - CD Pressure Points (www.calabashmusic.com)
Nitin Sawhney- Beyond Skin- CD Beyond Skin (www.nitinsawhney.com)
Ojos De Brujo- Feedback remixed by Nitin Sawhney- National Geographic GeoReMixes (www.calabashmusic.com)
Bombay Dub Orchestra- Feel (Thievery Corporation Remix) CD Eden Global Chillout (www.calabashmusic.com)
Niyaz- In The Shadow of Life- CD Eden Global Chillout (www.calabashmusic.com)
Kim Sanders- Tanzara / Gidemem Raza Ben- CD Trance'n' Dancin (http://www.netspace.com.au/~kimsanders)
Jon Hassell- Open Secret- CD Maarifa Street (Happy 70th birthday Jon Hassell)
Amjad Ali Khan- Live - Ballarat Victoria
Ghazal- Eternity- CD The Rain
Kim Sanders gig news May 5 2007
KIM SANDERS & FRIENDS first Sydney appearance with drummer Toby Hall
Following the band’s rapturously received performance at Peats Ridge Festival in December, Kim Sanders & Friends will perform for the first time in Sydney with drummer Toby Hall at Paddington Uniting Church on May 5.
The gig will include ethereal Sufi meditations, Bulgarian Gypsy grooves, bent Congolese pulsations, strange hypnotic originals and tunes of Middle-Eastern appearance.
“It was great playing with Toby at Peats”, says Kim. “ I love rhythms and drumming, and we have three drummers who rotate in the group now. Bobby Singh brings the subtlety and complexity of Indian Classical music, Peter Kennard is a superb colourist and a master of the frame drum, and now Toby takes the music to different places again with drum kit. He is a great improviser”
World Music veteran Kim Sanders has studied with Sufi ney-masters in Turkey, played with Gypsy wedding-bands in Macedonia, in mosquito-infested nightclubs in Gambia, seedy tavernas in Greece, concert-halls and recording studios in Turkey, China and Indonesia, not to mention Rooty Hill RSL. Saxophonist Sandy Evans, bassist Steve Elphick and drummer Toby Hall have built on their jazz roots to become three of Australia’s leading World Music exponents. Their strong improvisations have made their names familiar worldwide.
Kim Sanders: Ney (Sufi flute), kaval (Bulgarian wooden flute), Bulgarian and Turkish gaidas (bagpipes), aardvark, tenor sax
Sandy Evans: soprano, tenor sax
Steve Elphick: bass
Toby Hall: drums
8 pm, Saturday 5 May
Paddington Uniting Church
395 Oxford St, Paddington (Paddington Markets site)
Tickets on the door: $18/15 conc
For photos, interviews and other info: kimzgaida@hotmail.com
http://www.netspace.com.au/~kimsanders
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Andy Palacio & Fat Boy Slim
Fatboy Slim meets Andy Palacio & Garifuna Collective
Electronic beats combine with Afro-Caribbean soul as the British dance music star
visits Belize to record with local Garifuna musicians
April 11, 2007 –British dance music superstar Fatboy Slim visited Belize in early April to participate in a unique recording session that brought together European club grooves with the soulful rhythms and melodies of the local Afro-Caribbean Garifuna community.
Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, is a world-famous DJ whose records have sold millions of copies and whose award-winning music videos have set new standards for the medium. Andy Palacio is a Belizean musician who was born and raised in a small coastal village and whose critically acclaimed new album Wátina was recorded in a rustic thatch shack on the beach.
The unlikely pairing took place on the picturesque resort island of San Pedro, Belize during the last week of March. The musical experiments were inspired by Fatboy Slim’s fascination with Garifuna music. The Garifuna are a unique Central American culture that brings together elements of West African traditions with Indigenous Caribbean heritage. Their language reflects influences from West African and Caribbean Arawak languages. Garifuna music has a deeply African flavor and is played with traditional turtle shell percussion, gourd rattles and wooden drums, as well as contemporary instruments.
“We arrived here with no real songs, no real ideas. I came here with a CD with beats and bass sounds from England and about half an idea of what to do and over the last four days we've hung out with the local musicians, listened to what they do, tried to match the two and see what happens,” Fatboy Slim said of the sessions.
Working in the Mata Grande Recording Studio just north of San Pedro village, Fatboy Slim recorded members of the Garifuna Collective jamming on traditional Garifuna drums. Backup singers Cella Torres and Deseree Arana also provided vocals in the unique local style. Meanwhile, Andy Palacio wrote and sang a song for the sessions, and local spoken-word poet and dancehall singer the Grandmaster also made a guest appearance. Belizean music producer Ivan Duran of Stonetree Records was on hand to help with the interaction between technology and tradition.
The sessions resulted in three tracks that will be released by Fatboy Slim on his next album, possibly under another pseudonym, The Mighty Dub Katz. Fatboy Slim has also offered to remix some tracks from Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective album Wátina, which was released recently by Cumbancha and has been receiving critical accolades around the world.
For more information on Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective, please visit http://www.cumbancha.com/.
Electronic beats combine with Afro-Caribbean soul as the British dance music star
visits Belize to record with local Garifuna musicians
April 11, 2007 –British dance music superstar Fatboy Slim visited Belize in early April to participate in a unique recording session that brought together European club grooves with the soulful rhythms and melodies of the local Afro-Caribbean Garifuna community.
Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, is a world-famous DJ whose records have sold millions of copies and whose award-winning music videos have set new standards for the medium. Andy Palacio is a Belizean musician who was born and raised in a small coastal village and whose critically acclaimed new album Wátina was recorded in a rustic thatch shack on the beach.
The unlikely pairing took place on the picturesque resort island of San Pedro, Belize during the last week of March. The musical experiments were inspired by Fatboy Slim’s fascination with Garifuna music. The Garifuna are a unique Central American culture that brings together elements of West African traditions with Indigenous Caribbean heritage. Their language reflects influences from West African and Caribbean Arawak languages. Garifuna music has a deeply African flavor and is played with traditional turtle shell percussion, gourd rattles and wooden drums, as well as contemporary instruments.
“We arrived here with no real songs, no real ideas. I came here with a CD with beats and bass sounds from England and about half an idea of what to do and over the last four days we've hung out with the local musicians, listened to what they do, tried to match the two and see what happens,” Fatboy Slim said of the sessions.
Working in the Mata Grande Recording Studio just north of San Pedro village, Fatboy Slim recorded members of the Garifuna Collective jamming on traditional Garifuna drums. Backup singers Cella Torres and Deseree Arana also provided vocals in the unique local style. Meanwhile, Andy Palacio wrote and sang a song for the sessions, and local spoken-word poet and dancehall singer the Grandmaster also made a guest appearance. Belizean music producer Ivan Duran of Stonetree Records was on hand to help with the interaction between technology and tradition.
The sessions resulted in three tracks that will be released by Fatboy Slim on his next album, possibly under another pseudonym, The Mighty Dub Katz. Fatboy Slim has also offered to remix some tracks from Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective album Wátina, which was released recently by Cumbancha and has been receiving critical accolades around the world.
For more information on Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective, please visit http://www.cumbancha.com/.
Happy Birthday Jon Hassell
Echoes celebrates the 70th birthday of the great fourth world fusion trumpeter by dedicating a program to his music. Listen to it here. And happy birthday Jon. We love what you do.
We've just posted the audio of our 70th Birthday tribute to Jon Hassell on our myspace site @ www.myspace.com/echoesspaceJON HASSELL: A 70th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONAn unsung hero of techno-tribal music enters his 8th decade still blowingTrumpeter Jon Hassell's music roots go back to Karlheinz Stockhausen, Lamonte Young's Theatre of Eternal Music and playing on the first recording of Terry Riley's In C. He created the sound of Techno-Tribal music that was brought to popularity in collaborations with Brian Eno, and his distinctive trumpet sound has been adopted by musicians like Mark Isham. We look back on a musician who is still pushing the sonic envelope as he celebrated his 70th birthday on March 22 featuring interviews with Hassell, Brian Eno, Steve Roach, Robert Rich and Jeff Rona.Hear it on www.myspace.com/echoesspace
We've just posted the audio of our 70th Birthday tribute to Jon Hassell on our myspace site @ www.myspace.com/echoesspaceJON HASSELL: A 70th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONAn unsung hero of techno-tribal music enters his 8th decade still blowingTrumpeter Jon Hassell's music roots go back to Karlheinz Stockhausen, Lamonte Young's Theatre of Eternal Music and playing on the first recording of Terry Riley's In C. He created the sound of Techno-Tribal music that was brought to popularity in collaborations with Brian Eno, and his distinctive trumpet sound has been adopted by musicians like Mark Isham. We look back on a musician who is still pushing the sonic envelope as he celebrated his 70th birthday on March 22 featuring interviews with Hassell, Brian Eno, Steve Roach, Robert Rich and Jeff Rona.Hear it on www.myspace.com/echoesspace
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