narenmusic

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Vikku Vinayakram, V. Selvaganesh, Uma Shankar, Swaminathan Selvaganesh/ 3 G Genre: Carnatic percussion  Details: The Studio NMACC, April 29 Rating: ***** Just three months ago, 80-year-old ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram had enchanted the large crowd at the NSCI Dome, Worli, with his guest appearance with the Indo-fusion band Shakti. His 11-beat solo on 'Bridge Of Sighs' lasted 17 minutes, transporting the audience into another zone. On Saturday night, Vikku was in supreme form again, but this time it was a family affair, also featuring his sons Selvaganesh on kanjira and Uma Shankar on ghatam, and grandson Swaminathan on vocals and kanjira. Held in the intimate setting of The Studio at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, it was a treat for the 200-odd attendees. Selvaganesh, who conducted the proceedings, declared, "I can actually see the audience. Very soon, I shall even feel them". He was absolutely correct, as what followed was an interactiv...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR The Yellow Diary / Mujhe Mere Naam Se Label: Sony Music Rating: **** Mumbai alternative rock band The Yellow Diary is out with the inspirational number 'Mujhe Mere Naam Se'. Vocalist and songwriter Rajan Batra sings, "Mujhe mere naam se jaan lo, main hawa ban ud jaaonga, us jahaan mein". The song is all about dreaming big, and never losing hope. The animated video, created brilliantly by Lazyom, shows an astronaut and a rocket launch as a symbol for the theme. The song is produced by Himonshu Parikh, who also plays keys. Drummer Sahil Shah, bassist Stuart D'Costa and guitarist Vaibhav Pani complete the line-up. The lead guitar solo at the end is outstanding. Vishal Sharma, Avanie Joshi, Inder Kumar/ Kadi Kadi Label: SoulTrax Studios  Rating; *** 1/2 Rapper Vishal Sharma aka Lega-C teams up with singers Avanie Joshi and Inder Kumar on 'Kadi Kadi', the first release of SoulTrax Originals, set up by New Delhi-based SoulTrax Studios. The...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Jethro Tull/ RökFlöte Genre: Rock Label: InsideOut Music Rating: *** 1/2 In the second Jethro Tull album released within a 15-month span, frontman Ian Anderson traverses a completely different thematic trajectory. If last year's The Zealot Gene made references to Biblical verses and contexts, the new record RökFlöte has been inspired by Norse Paganism. At the outset, Norse folklore is a subject this writer is unfamiliar with, with the probable exception of names like Odin, Freyja and Thor, and the fact that it's a recurrent subject among the Viking metal bands of North Europe, besides being used by Anderson himself in the 1975 song 'Cold Wind To Valhalla'. As such, this review will overlook that aspect of the new music. Nor will it seek to explain some of the obscure song titles like 'Ginnungagap', 'Voluspo' and 'Ithavoll', much as one would be tempted to use Google and feign instant expertise. What's interesting, however...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Vasundhara Vee Sings Jazz Event : Jazz@Prithvi Genre : Jazz Details : Prithvi Theatre, April 23 Rating : **** Over the past few months, Jazz@Prithvi has become a much-awaited event for Mumbai's jazz aficionados. Presented by maestro Louiz Banks and curated by his son Gino, it features original compositions or fresh takes of standards by Indian artistes. While the first show was an evening affair at the Prithvi Theatre Festival last year, it has occupied a monthly 11 a.m. pre-lunch slot on the month's fourth Sunday since January. Performances by The Act, MaMoGi and Sanjay Divecha focused on modern compositions. This Sunday, we heard vocal jazz by Vasundhara Vee, who focused on interpretations of standards and other popular fare. Singing without microphones in the venue's natural acoustic setting, she displayed a vast range and perfect command over technique. Vasundhara was accompanied by a tight band, comprising guitarist Srinjay Banerjee, bassist Saurab...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Indian Ocean/ Jaadu Maya Label: Self-released Rating: ***** Fusion-rock pioneers Indian Ocean are out with 'Jaadu Maya', the first single from their forthcoming album Tu Hai . It comes in two versions - the eight-minute complete song and the video edit which is four minutes and 42 seconds long. Either way, it's a treat as Rahul Ram and Himanshu Joshi sing Varun Grover's lines which talk of a world falling apart, but yet within reach of a silver lining. The lyrics have words like "Tum jitni zehar samajhte ho bas ussey thodi behtar hai", with the line "Kuchh khaak samajh na aavegi is duniya ki jaadu maya" as the main line. The sound is signature Indian Ocean, bringing back the magic of the Kandisa, Jhini and Black Friday days, reminding you of "Bharam Bhaap Ke'. Nikhil Rao plays some amazing guitar parts, and drummer Amit Kilam is in supreme form, with accompaniment from Rahul's thumping bass. Percussionist Tuheen Chak...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Concert : SOI Academy Orchestra  Conductor : Marat Bisangaliev Genre : Western classical  Details : Tata Theatre NCPA, April 16 Rating : **** The magic of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn's 'Piano Concerto No 11' was brought out immaculately by nine-year-old Ayaan Deshpande at the Tata Theatre on Sunday evening. As soloist in the three-movement composition, he charmed the audience with his confidence and technique, even playing two cadenzas. Another young pianist, Vihaan Bamugade, dazzled on French composer Paul de Senneville's melodious 'Mariage D'Amour'. The occasion was a performance of the SOI Academy Orchestra, conducted by the seasoned Marat Bisangaliev, music director of the Symphony Orchestra Of India (SOI). A majority of the participants were in their teens or maybe younger, having been trained at the Academy. One of them, violinist Nyra Jain, became the first to complete the 11-year course envisioned. While the soloists dazzled in ...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Zohran Miranda/ Time For Two Label: So Bad Records Rating: *** On the title track of his EP Time For Two , guitarist-vocalist Zohran Miranda is joined by singer Yamini Lavanian, who has co-written it. Both of them have their parts clear, and their voices stand out individually, and yet complement each other. Produced by Zohran in association with Jovian Soans, the sound has a pop-tronic sound with doses of old-school rhythm n' blues blended with futuristic orchestrations. The video is due soon. The five-song EP features another collaboration with Yamini, besides an appearance of sister duo Simetri on one track. It's ideal music for a drive. Ankur Sabharwal/ Drifting Label: Self-released  Rating; **** After working together on the fabulous video of 'Better Man', singer-songwriter Ankur Sabharwal and filmmaker Mrinal Bahukhandi get together on the nostalgic 'Drifting'. The video, which also features Ankur's son Arjun as his younger self, go...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Shor Police/ You Got Me Good Promoted by: Tunes Without Borders Rating: **** The first thing that strikes you about this number is the groove. It's consistent through the song, which impresses with its charming blend of 1980s retro-pop and later-day disco. Shor Police, comprising Clinton Cerejo and Bianca Gomes, has your feet tapping on 'You Got Me Good'. The line "Baby pour your love on me" has you singing along. The video features a live performance shot in a retro disco lights setting. It's the second single from the duo's album Well Hello , after the trendy 'Monopoly Money'. We're looking forward to the rest. Rohan Solomon/ Serenity  Label: 44G Records  Rating: *** 1/2 There's a certain pleasantness in Rohan Solomon's voice that makes it endearing. We'd noted that in 'Without A Trace', and feel it once again in his new song 'Serenity'. The song is about getting away from busy city life to find...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Usha Uthup Live In Concert Genre : Pop/ Bollywood  Details : Nehru Centre Worli, March 29 Rating : **** Whether she performs at an auditorium, open-air venue or nightclub, Usha Uthup always gives the audience a rollicking, memorable time. There's entertainment, nostalgia, interaction and humour, all blended in the right quantity. And before the show, one always wonders what colour Kanjeevaram she'll wear. This time, it was a concert hall. At the Nehru Centre, Worli, on March 29, she wore red, with her trademark bindi and gajras in perfect sync. She also showed her Kanjeevaram sneakers, much to the awe of the ladies in the house. The jokes kept flowing, whether they were about being politically-correct, pointing out similitaries in western and Indian tunes, or describing what "the nation wants to know". The occasion was a fund-raiser by Alert-India for the cause of leprosy elimination. And the venue was jam-packed, having been sold out four days ...