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Gig review/ Elena Gilliam

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Elena Gilliam/ Live with the George Gilliam Quintet  Genre : Vocal jazz Details ; Tata Theatre, January 12 Rating : **** In the middle of her concert at the Tata Theatre on January 12, American jazz vocalist Elena Gilliam brought back memories of the 1956 film The King And I , starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr. She sang 'Shall We Dance', a Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein II song from the movie, which is also the title track of her latest album. Gilliam displayed perfect phrasing and marvellous expression as she sang, "Shall we dance, on a bright cloud of music, shall we fly?" Like all the songs she performed, it was an example of how a simple, soulful rendition can really create an impact on the audience. Even her scatting was done with remarkable control and finesse, never getting into the histrionics that many singers resort to. At one point, she even produced the sound of a trombone, and it sounded so natural. Equally commendable was the p...
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Naren's indie round-up/ Jan 2025, Ep 1

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Joy Sengupta & Kinjal Chatterjee/ Tasveer Label: Merchant Records  Rating: *** 1/2 Composed by Joy Sengupta and sung by Kinjal Chatterjee, 'Tasveer' is about the pain and memories of separation. The tune's effect is enhanced by the orchestral flavour. A highlight is Nandini Chaudhury's writing, using poetic expression and impactful words. Examples are the lines, "Saazish karein chanda taarein kyon, alfaaz hai zubaan ki zanjeer kyun?" and "Jal jaaye har khwahishen, par na ho khatm ishq ki yeh bandagi". Pooja Relan's video blends live performance shots with a storyline featuring the couple played by Husne Shabnam and Akshat Sharma. It's got some stylish choreography done by Akshat himself, with body paint adding a fresh shade.  Prajakta Koli & Outsky/ Saanvare Digitally powered by: One Digital Entertainment  Rating: *** To promote her new book Too Good To Be True , author, actress and singer Prajakta Koli has come up...
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Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2024, Ep 3

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Antariksh/ Jee Le Zara (Acoustic) Label: Self-released  Rating: **** Fronted by Varun Rajput, Delhi band Antariksh released the Hindi-rock song 'Jee Le Zara' four years ago. It now comes out with an acoustic version, to complete its compilation album  Quest . It's a motivational song with the lines "Sapne udhaar ke man se nikaal de, kyun tu hai jee raha lamhe bekaar ke, jee le zara, kar manmaniyan, kyon de raha tu kurbaniyaan". The writing has been credited to Ankit Sengar, Joshua Peter and Varun. Some intricate acoustic guitaring and controlled back-up vocals accompany Varun's vocals in this pep-up number. Varun Dhabe/ Kaise Kahe Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 In 'Kaise Kahe', singer-composer Varun Dhabe  talks about longing and words left unsaid. The song has a vibrant tune and strong production, with Varun also playing slide guitar and keyboards. The lyrics have been written by Shivam Srivastava and Varun. There's some ...
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Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2024, Ep 2

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Anup Jalota & Sumeet Tappoo/ Chaturang Label: Soulful Melody Records Rating: **** Singer Anup Jalota and his senior disciple Sumeet Tappoo celebrate their 40-year association with the album Legacy . The first track 'Chaturang' is based on a traditional composition of the Sham Chorasi gharana , set in raag Mishra Desh and passed on to Jalota by his father Purushottamdas Jalota. The video, directed by Pratham Chourasiya, features a Kathak recital by actress-dancer Prachee Shah Paandya. It is shot as a live performance, with two tabla sets, sitar and flute among other instruments. The track has been produced by Prithvi Gandharv, and has a certain reminiscence of Naushad's style. Both Jalota and Tappoo coordinate rather well, whether it is in the poetic phrases, taraana syllables or sargams . The jugalbandi is perfect. Asha Bhosle/ Saiyaan Bina Label: Apni Dhun Rating: **** At 91, Asha Bhosle continues to dazzle. Her latest video 'Saiÿaan Bina...
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Gig review/ Bryan Adams

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Bryan Adams/ So Happy It Hurts tour, Mumbai  Genre : Pop-rock Details : Nesco Centre, Goregaon East, December 13 Rating : **** There were the naysayers, who questioned why anyone would watch someone who's playing in India for the nth time, complaining he's well past his peak. And there were the believers, who've grown up on Bryan Adams during their teenage days in the mid-1980s, when 'Summer Of 69' first stormed the airwaves and the clubs. Friday night belonged to the latter segment, as the Canadian star took them on a two-hour nostalgia ride at the Nesco Centre in Goregaon East. They hummed along as he sang 'Somebody', 'Cloud Number Nine' and 'Heaven', rocked and swung to the faster 'Summer Of 69' and 'The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You', and went hysterical when he sang '18 Till I Die', 'Please Forgive Me' and '( Everything I Do) I Do It For You'. Bryan is now 65, but has t...
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Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2024, Ep.1

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Siddhant Goenka/ Parchaiyan  Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 Singer Siddhant Goenka has been doing some good work using AI in his music videos. After creating such videos in 'Pari'; 'Farishtey' and 'Jazbaat', he is now out with 'Parchaiyan'. It's a Hindi rock song featuring him and Shreya Phukan on vocals, with Pratham Seth working on the composition. Hamza Khan's electric guitar solos are a treat, as Siddhant sings, "Lauta de meri parchaiyan". The video, scripted by Siddhant and Pratham, has its share of bikes, bar-rooms and live gigs. It goes with the mood of the song. The Siege feat. Shreyas & Nanku/ Ek Din Label: Universal/ Def Jam India Rating: *** 1/2 After getting a good to his track 'CBSC', rapper The Siege teams up with Shreyas and Nanku on 'Ek Din'. He sticks to the same producer Devonian, and the result is a smooth-moving hip-hop number. The Siege's real name is Siegen Moopanar...
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Naren's indie round-up/ Nov 2024, Ep 3

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR   Jaimin / 7  Sins Label: Self-released  Rating; **** With his 2022 album Cutting Loose , Kolkata-based Jaimin Rajani proved his mettle as a songwriter. His latest single '7 Sins' is an example of his wit and again, his charming way with words. "I try to help myself, but God just won't help me, oh my dreams they just won't come to me, when I'm awake", he sings, while also admitting he's been hit by all the seven sins of "pride, greed and lust, wrath, sloth, envy, gluttony". A highlight is the part by American mandolinist Patrick Fitzsimons. Guitarist and bassist Subharaj, keyboardist Arka Chakraborty, percussionist Arjun Chakraborty and classical guitar player Bibhubrata Acharjee add to the charm of this wonderful and melodic piece. Lyla feat. Mayuresh A/ Self Lou Label: Woodstock Music Box  Rating; *** Earlier this year, singer-songwriter Lyla had released her EP Bookmarks . She is now out with her new song 'Self Lou...
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