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  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  One remembers humming the jazz-rock track 'You Know You Know', after hearing British guitarist John McLaughlin & The Fourth Dimension play it in February 2017. We've had earworms like 'Allah Hoo' by the Uttarakhand band Rahmat-e-Nusrat and 'Mehsoos' by the Surat-based Tapi Project. Very often, Royal Opera House Mumbai has left behind wonderful memories. It's been 10 years since the classy venue returned in its renovated avatar, and one remembered a string of concerts and other cultural events attended there. To mark the occasion, a celebration event was held on Friday, October 23. The main features were a projection mapping exercise by Floating Canvas Company and a performance by the group Tabla And Sons (in pic above), helmed by Vishal Shah with a repertoire that included a Shiva incantation, songs by A.R. Rahman, Ismail Darbar, Ajay-Atul and Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, besides some Sufi favourites and a percussion segment. All topped ...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Kulfi/ Rasik Balma Language & genre: Hindi/ English, fusion-rock  Label: Self-released Rating: *** 1/2 The interestingly-titled band Kulfi comprises a group of Delhi-based youngsters who blend Indian classical elements with rock flavours. Thus, on their new track 'Rasik Balma', lyrics like "Rasik balma, rayn bitaayi sajaayi, balma" are followed by, "Time to say goodbyeܵ, peace dwells in her eyes, one in dreams she floats". With vocals by Sambhav Baxi and Joel Reji, the band has tight arrangements, with a guest appearance by Momin Khan on sarangi. Guitarist Aditya Sarkar, keyboardist Blaze John Jomon, drummer Shaurya Gambhir and tabla player Kawangan Singh complete the line-up., with Joel also playing bass. Sort of rocksier avatar of Colonial Cousins. The group had released the single 'Morey Mandir' earlier this year. Formed in 2024, they have been gaining popularity on both the college and club circuit. Look forward to more. So...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Pratibha Singh Baghel/ Pratibha Ke Rang Genre : Ghazal, film, Sufi Presented by : Sufiscore Details : NMACC Grand Theatre, October 9 Rating : *** 1/2 The last time I reviewed singer Pratibha Singh Baghel's show when she performed at the Nehru Centre a year ago, I had given a four-and-a-half star rating. Given the fact that her singing abilities and quality of repertoire were equally good at her NMACC Grand Theatre show on Friday, what made me cut one point? Ratings are personal choices, but in this case, it was a competition between grandeur and grace. One would ask why the comparison should be made at all, as those seeing her for the first time would be impressed by her sheer skills. But then, without this comparison, one wouldn't know what could be done better. Titled Pratibha Ke Rang and organised by Sufiscore, Friday's show was lavish, featured a bigger band, had highly creative visuals, dhinchak lights and some marvellously choreographed dance seq...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Amithav Gautam/ Presence (EP) Language & genre: Instrumental, jazz guitar Label: Self-released  Rating: **** Six years ago, Chennai guitar prodigy Amithav Gautam had released the single 'Blossom'. He's also put up some wonderful Grateful Dead and Allman Brothers covers on YouTube. The 21-year-old, who's pursuing his bachelor's in jazz performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, has now released a four-track EP Presence . It's got some stylish guitaring and a good amount of variety, using different formations. The record opens with the vibrant 'Old Madras Blues', featuring bassist Keith Peters and drummer Shyam Rao. The same combo plays on the last track 'Sunshine After Rain', which has a nice lilt. 'Bounce' is a wonderful composition, with Amithav playing both guitar and bass, joined by Jai Row Kavi on drums. The title track brims with gentle melody, as Shreyaas Sanjeev joins on bass and Alex Maddy plays...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Easy Wanderlings/ Ten Years On The Map tour Genre: Soul-folk Details: NMACC Studio, October 3 Rating: ***** All we need  is a dream to keep us going, this is all we need, is a dream to keep us going. These lines are not simply part of one of their most popular songs. They also define the approach of Pune soul-folk collective Easy Wanderlings over the years. They're now towards the end of their multi-city 10th anniversary tour, and I caught them at the NMACC Studio on Saturday, October 3. Imagine, Swedish prog-metal giants Opeth were playing in Mumbai the same evening, and G5A was having an indie-themed event too. But I was seeing the Wanderlings after a long time, maybe three years after my AntiSocial experience. No regrets for my choice, for this was pure gold. Oooo، ooooo, doesn't it feel good, oooo, ooooo, enjoy it while it lasts. It lasted 90 minutes, with Sanyanth Naroth, Pratika Gopinath and guitarist Sharad Rao switching lead vocals, and sharing bri...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR   Syncopation / Side On Language & genre: Instrumental, jazz-funk Label: Self-Self-released Rating: ***** Delhi band Syncopation is back with a banger of a tune, blending jazz and funk in a delightful manner. Composed by guitarist and bandleader Risshi S Sachdeva, 'Side On' has some incredible solos, and flows seamlessly. Saxophonist Aniket Chaturvedi lights up the opening part, and Risshi's guitar solo firms up the middle section. After a brief horn fill-in, keyboardist Noushad Ashraf takes over. Through all this, Vishrut Shankar Shukla's bass and Nikhil Vasudevan's drums hold the piece marvellously. All this is captured live in a studio setting by videographer Anuj Goswami of Basement Company. The sound is reminiscent of some of the Brecker Brothers and Joe Sample records of yore. It keeps your feet tapping to the groove. Mohit Mukhi/ More Ways Of Going Nowhere (EP) Language & genre: English, pop-folk Label: Melo/ self Rating; **** Mum...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Indian Ocean/ Bol Ari Language & genre: Hindi, fusion-rock Label: Self-released  Rating: **** The opening lines are "Bol ari o dharti bol, raj singhasan daanvadol". They're from a verse by famous poet Asrar-ul-Haq 'Majaz', but in the background, you have rock guitars and supple rhythms. The vocals are trademark Rahul Ram. Welcome to Indian Ocean's new song 'Bol Ari'. It's their first in four years, and to give it their own touch, they add a few of their own lines, written by Himanshu Joshi. "Ab bhi sach hai kya bataayein, dikhta hai jo dekh na paaye," they go, with drummer Amit Kilam and Himanshu joining Rahul in the vocals. Nikhil Rao has some wonderful guitar parts, and Tuheen Chakraborty is on percussion. The lyric video, by Priya Bharambhatt, uses illustrations to express a feeling of resistance and resilience. The song is another addition to Indian Ocean's cap, and should be perfect for live rendition, like...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Avanti Patel & Rutuja Lad/ O Gaanewali Session 2 Genre : Thumri Label : Self-released  Rating : ***** The O Gaanewali series, featuring singers Avanti Patel and Rutuja Lad, has been popular on the live circuit, with various shows pan-India. The duo has also recorded songs under that title, and the Session 2 EP is just out. The series, conceptualised by Avanti ( on left in top pic ), pays tribute to women performers of light classical genres. In this EP, the emphasis is on thumri, dadra and allied forms. The recording has been done on Neumann KU 100 binaural microphones, with the veteran KJ Singh helming the sound. This gives the listener a 180-degree immersive experience. The record begins with the Rajasthani maand 'Badila', which explores the theme of love. Next comes 'Bedardi', a thumri popularised by the legendary Shobha Gurtu, with Avanti singing, "Bedardi ban gaye more saiyyan, koi jaao manaao more saiyyan". This is followed...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR The Stop-Gaps Cultural Academy/ On The Big Beautiful Musical Path Featured artistes : Compere Asif Ali Beg, singers Sharon Prabhakar, Delna Mody, Marie Paul, conductors Alfred J. D'Souza, Premila Coutinho  Genre : Musical theatre/ choral performance  Details : St Andrew's Auditorium, September 12 Rating : **** Mumbai's music theatre lovers were just about recovering from the NMACC Grand Theatre performances of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats when another group of felines crossed their path. On September 12, the Stop-Gaps Cultural Academy had a Broadway-themed evening at St Andrew's Auditorium, beginning with a three-song medley from the famed musical. Appropriately, the show was titled On The Big Beautiful Musical Path . The main choral ensemble was conducted by Alfred D'Souza, chairman of the academy. Dressed in cat costumes for the opening piece, the actors moved their whiskers and paws under a makeshift moon to the songs 'Jellicle Bal...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Euphoria/ Koi Naa Language & genre: Hindi/ Punjabi, folk-rock Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 There was a time when Hindrock band Euphoria ruled the music channels, with songs like 'Dhoom Pichuk Dhoom' and 'Maaeri'. Vocalist Dr Palash Sen and the band are back with the folk-rock piece 'Koi Na'. The video, featuring Preeti Verma, shows Palash beginning in a disappointed manner with music labels rejecting his work. But he decides to record something on his own and embarks on a journey. The song features guitarists Adil Rashid and Aditya Shankar Benia, bassist DJ Bhaduri and drummer Prashant Trivedi. The song has a nice folk-rock feel with inputs from the Nazar Pandhar Group. It's the video song from the new Euphoria album Dhoomsday . And it's got the band's trademark sound. Antariksh feat. Rahul Ram & Rohan Prasanna/ Dil Ki Aawaaz Language & genre; Hindi, pop-rock  Label: Self-released  Rating: **** Fronted by Varu...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Showcase/ Soundscapes of India Season 3 Genre : Multiple  Details : Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, August 29-31 Presenters : Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) with curation by MusiConnect India in collaboration with Ministry of Culture  Pictures (top to bottom): Dobom Doji Collective, Harini Iyer of Tamil Jazz Collective, Ngartini Huang of Indonesia, the line-up  There were the known names, and there were the unfamiliar ones. There was rock from Ladakh, abhangs from Maharashtra, Carnatic encounters with jazz, tribal stories from Nagaland, heady folk-fusion sounds from different corners of India. Soundscapes of India Season 3, held in New Delhi's Dr Ambedkar International Centre from August 29 to 31, was largely used as a means to showcase talent from across India. While the live performances took place at night, the days were filled with interesting panel discussions, intense workshops and pitching sessions, where artistes inter...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Music conference/ All About Music X Presented by : TM Management with help from thumpN Details : Grand Hyatt, Santa Cruz, August 25 to 27 The much-awaited All About Music conference had its 10th edition at the Grand Hyatt, Santa Cruz, from August 25 to 27. Over the years, it has been an important part of the industry calendar, providing insights on the state of affairs and a platform for networking. Months of planning and hard work obviously go behind its execution.  Yet, it's always had its limitations because too much is happening simultaneously. Like every year, there were panel discussions, conversations and artiste pitches in the three ballrooms, workshops and how-to-do-it sessions in another corner, performances somewhere else and the popular 'Connect Corner' in an another spot. Not to talk of a sizeable bunch who didn't attend any of them, preferring to make fresh contacts in the main lounge. Many of the sessions this year dropped the term ...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Greg Banaszak Trio Genre : Jazz  Details : Experimental Theatre, August 22 Rating: **** 1/2 Joe Alvares with Gino Banks & Friends Genre : Vocal jazz Details : Prithvi Theatre, August 23 Rating : **** Two venues hosting jazz concerts in Mumbai had contrasting types of audiences over the weekend. Senior citizens were prominent at the Experimental Theatre, NCPA, where saxophonist Greg Banaszak played with his trio on Saturday evening. The following morning, a sizeable number of youngsters were seen at the Prithvi Theatre, where veteran singer Joe Alvares performed with musicians much younger than him. On the one hand, it was a good sign to indicate that jazz appeals to different generations, at least in Mumbai. Both the shows were dominated by standards and older jazz tunes, with a few originals thrown in. But what one observed is a marked difference in the way the audience responded. The older crowd at the Experimental applauded spontaneously after every ...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Ronojit Bhuyan & Giacomo Tora/ Resonances Genre : Western classical piano Details : The Cube, NMACC, August 20 Rating : **** Pianists Ronojit Bhuyan and Giacomo Tora (on left in picture) met while studying at London's Trinity Labon Conservatory of Music & Dance. After becoming friends, they decided to form a musical partnership. One thing led to another, and on Thursday, they performed several pieces individually before coming together on a fresh arrangement involving four hands. The show was called Resonances and the venue was the Cube theatre of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, Mumbai. The repertoire comprised a good mix of baroque music, Romantic Era pieces, a waltz and French impressionist compositions. And the audience was in for a surprise when Giacomo played a piano version of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's Hindi film song 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. And for the four-hand finale، the young Italian pianist had composed a piano arrangement of A.R. Ra...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR   Farak/ Taare Language & genre: Hindi, Sufi-pop Label: Mashooriya, Mass Appeal Rating: *** 1/2 Lucknow-based artiste Farak is out with his three-song EP Duniya Ke Uss Paar.  His sound uses many traditional elements including qawwali, but he also displays flavours of hip-hop and desi rap. 'Taare' is the video song from the EP. It begins, "Hamara thokro se kuch purana khaas naata, hai jisne ishq hi dekha na, woh rab ka dulara hai". There's a brief poetry interlude, and Saswat Balan provides backing vocals. 10A's production uses harmonium effectively, and there are sounds of clapping and applause to give a live effect. The video, by Sahil Akhtar, uses a simple narrative, with Rupali Mishra as the female lead. It's an average video but the tune's hook and lilt make up. Anvaya/ Churaya  Language & genre: Hindi, electronic dance Label: Indo Warehouse  Rating: *** 1/2 DJ-producer duo Anvaya comprises US-bred Kaushal and Sonia, who ...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience / Various artistes Genre ; Blues Label : Ground Zero Blues Club Media/ Universal Music  Rating : ***** Though he's primarily known as an actor, Morgan Freeman is also recognised for his passion for the blues. In 2001, he started the Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and in his latest project, he brings together some stellar artistes from the genre to present blues anthems with a symphonic touch. As a performer, Freeman hardly appears in Morgan Freeman's Symphonic Blues Experience , a 12-track album running into a brisk 43 minutes. He recites a short introduction to the history and role of the blues in the opening track 'Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground' before singer Keith Johnson takes over. Then on, we hear a wonderful line-up of artistes, with accompaniment by the Ground Zero Blues Club Band and the Chineke! Orchestra conducted by Martin Gellner. In the Indian context, wh...