Gig reviews/ Marma and Indiva


BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Marma/ Chandana Bala Kalyan 

Genre: Devotional

Details: NGMA auditorium, January 24

Rating: ****

Merlyn DeSouza, Vivienne Pocha, Chandana Bala Kalyan & Shruti Bhave/ Indiva 

Genre: Multi region folk-fusion

Details: NMACC Studio, January 25

Rating: ****

Two shows in Mumbai last week provided a good variety of music from different parts of India. On January 24, singer Chandana Bala Kalyan showcased songs from her album Marma: Myriad Hues Of Devotion at the National Gallery Of Modern Art (NGMA) auditorium in Fort. The following day, she was back on stage at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) Studio as part of the eclectic group Indiva, led by pianist-keyboardist Merlyn DeSouza, and also featuring vocalist Vivienne Pocha and violinist Shruti Bhave.

The Marma concert focused on devotional music, moving from a Carnatic composition and Kannada bhajans to Marathi abhang and qawwali. The set was a mix of songs from the album and pieces she has performed at her other shows. While she began with a varnam in raag Shyam Kalyan, the Purandaradasa bhajan 'Guruvina Gulamanaaguva' was soulfully rendered. Kanakadasa's 'Neemayeya Olagu', also in Kannada, and the Jayadeva composition 'Nindati Chandanam' were seeped in spiritual splendour. A hori, composed for the festival of colours, and the Sant Tukaram abhang dedicated to Lord Vitthal provided an energetic flavour. So did Amir Khusro's Sufi composition 'Chaap Tilak', which had the audience clapping along.

Chandana was accompanied by Vinayak Netke on tabla, Vaibhav Wavikar on drums and Satyajeet Sanju on keys and harmonium. Violinist Shruti Bhave, guitarist Sanjay Divecha, flautist Rajeev Raja and vocalist Sabiha Khan made guest appearances. The songs blended traditional styles with contemporary arrangements, with 'Neelavaruana Krishna' even set to the blues format and some pieces using jazz inflections. The rhythm interaction lent variety. The event was organised by Zariya in association with NGMA.

This blogger was really looking forward to the Indiva show, having been notified by Merlin on numerous occasions but never making it. The content turned out to be a pleasant surprise. In contrast to my expectation of listening to a jazz fusion set, it turned out to be a heady melange of genres, languages and flavours, bringing out the diversity of Indian music 

Each of the four main artistes represented a natural element, with Vivienne beginning with the Kannada song 'Mannide' to relate to earth. Chandana led the Tamil song 'Uyire', meaning life, to symbolise air. Shruti played the water part on the Marathi song 'Mee Dolkara' and Merlyn represented fire with a Goan piece.

From Baul tunes of West Bengal and a Malayalam boat song to the energetic Swahili number 'Helele' and a musical mela with energetic performances by drummer Prathamesh Chari and tabla player Amit Kavthekar, it was a multi-region geographic excursion. Highlights were the cross between Mozart's 40th Symphony and 'Itna Na Mujhse', the song from the film Chhaya that it inspired, and an A.R. Rahman medley which included parts of Santana's 'Black Magic Woman'. Being the eve of Republic Day, Chandana sang a section from Narsinh Mehta's 'Vaishnava Jana To', whereas Merlin's composition 'Suno', written in response to the Nirbhaya incident, touched a chord.

While Merlyn dazzled on keyboards, keytar and melodica, Shruti's violin and Joydeep Banerji's bass added to the instrumental mix. Vivienne was at her usual brilliant self, and Chandana continued from the previous evenings's versatility. Both shows provided a well-selected glimpse.of different Indian sounds, which also used various international flavours. That's what made them special.



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