Susheela Raman@The Blue Frog,Mumbai

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Beitrag

Krish
Stammgast

#1 erstellt: 28. Jan 2008, 10:13

Hi,
Listening to great music live is a great high and if the performer is possessed like a Qawwal, he or she has the ability to transport the listener to a higher plane of (altered) consciousness / Ecstasy.

The Susheela Raman gig @ the Blue Frog last evening was one such performance.

Susheela Raman for the uninitiated, is a singer trained in the Carnatic tradition, but is also influenced in equl measure by a wide breadth of music ranging from the blues to West African music to Tamil folk and everything else in between for good measure.

Check out her website for more details

www.susheelaraman.com . And since I’m at it here is some of her music from Youtube -

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy7D_FIkWIY.

Getting back to the concert, Susheela was backed by Arif Darvish on the Tabla and the incredible Sam Mills (her husband??) on acoustic guitar and another bloke on electronics.

She covered a range of material, new and old from older albums like music for the crocodiles and 33 1/3. The music ranged from staple Carnatic classics like Nagumomo by Tyagaraja (which she sang as the encore), Tamil folk and covers of artists like Lou Reed , Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan… Carnatic, Voodoo acid jazz is how I would attempt to describe the music…if wants to label the music.

Blue Frog is an interesting experiment, which hopes to fuse great food ( Rahul Akerker provides the catering ) and Great music ( Dhruv Ghanekar & Ashu Pathak are part of the larger gang that owns the place).

Check out their website for listings, directions etc

www.bluefrog.co.in .

If the Susheela Raman gig is anything to go by, Mumbai will finally have a great venue like The Vortex, Ronnie Scot’s for great music.

Cheers

[Beitrag von Krish am 28. Jan 2008, 10:16 bearbeitet]

particleman
Stammgast

#2 erstellt: 28. Jan 2008, 10:34

Wow, that was an eye-opener for me. Was not aware such wonderful events were being organised here in our city. I am very happy to know of this, thank you very much!

bhagwan69
Inventar

#3 erstellt: 28. Jan 2008, 14:17

Sir,

I am impressed;

I was not so sure if our Forum Members would be going to Blue Frog. Very Interesting, indeed.

The sound in the Club is the 'best' I have heard [yes - not a TYPO] in a while. It sound great between 2030 & 2230 only. Later they make it very very loud !!!!

This is one of my favourite places.

Maybe 'Krish' we should visit together some time.

I suggest all Mumbai Forum members should visit this place.

The sound has been done by Andy Mumro of Dynaudio Acoustics Fame & now Munro Acoustics & they have used ADAM in the place.

http://www.munro.co.uk/

Very Interesting Place !!!!

http://www.munro.co.uk/Monitors/M5.htm
Just take a look at this speaker. Even Dynaudio does not sell this. The M5.

[Beitrag von bhagwan69 am 28. Jan 2008, 14:44 bearbeitet]

Krish
Stammgast

#4 erstellt: 29. Jan 2008, 13:53

bhagwan69 schrieb:

Sir,

I am impressed;

http://www.munro.co.uk/

Very Interesting Place !!!!

http://www.munro.co.uk/Monitors/M5.htm
Just take a look at this speaker. Even Dynaudio does not sell this. The M5.

And pray why did you think it unusual for a forum member to be visiting the Blue Frog

Yep, mebbe we should all go and take in a performance

bhagwan69
Inventar

#5 erstellt: 29. Jan 2008, 18:32

Yep, mebbe we should all go and take in a performance

Sure Sir !

That would be great;

Do count me in.

I have 4 concerts planned next month @ NCPA, but apart from them, I would be ready.

Please do look up the schedule & fix up an evening, I will be a part of it. It would be a pleasure.

I look forward to it.

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#6 erstellt: 29. Jan 2008, 19:42

Me too....

Krish
Stammgast

#7 erstellt: 30. Jan 2008, 07:01

Here is the upcoming gig schedule.

http://bluefrog.co.in/cms/home.html

bhagwan69
Inventar

#8 erstellt: 03. Feb 2008, 22:29

Hi !

I plan to be there on Monday;
This is how it looks :-

Name: SPL FREE EVENT: Zakir Hussain hosts jam by BELA FLECK, ANTONIO...
Tagline: ...SANCHEZ, EDGAR MEYER + TAUFIQ, RANJIT B., NILADRI KUMAR, SIVAMANI!
Host: Blue Frog
Type: Music/Arts - Performance
Time and Place Date: Monday, February 4, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Blue Frog Club (Mathuradas Mills compound)
City/Town: Bombay, India

Description
*******************************
SPECIAL EVENT: 7-10 PM (free entry!)
*******************************

ZAKIR HUSSAIN hosts jam by legendary musicians

Bela FLECK (banjo - US),
Antonio SANCHEZ (drums - Mexico/US),
Edgar MEYER (upright bass - US)

with masters

Taufiq QURESHI (percussion - India),
Ranjit BAROT (drums - India),
Niladri KUMAR (sitar - India) &
SIVAMANI (percussion - India)!

**FREE ENTRY!**

Jam runs 7-10pm - come early, do NOT miss this one: history in the making!

During performance:
> Dinner service suspended; resumes 10pm onwards
> Drinks self-service @ the bar only; normal service resumes 10pm

---

BELA FLECK

Just in case you aren't familiar with Béla Fleck, there are some who say he's the premiere banjo player in the world. Others claim that Béla has virtually reinvented the image and the sound of the banjo through a remarkable performing and recording career that has taken him all over the musical map and on a range of solo projects and collaborations. If you are familiar with Béla, you know that he just loves to play the banjo, and put it into unique settings.

MORE:

http://www.belafleck.com/bio.html

--

ANTONIO SANCHEZ

Three time Grammy Award winner Antonio Sanchez is considered by many critics and musicians alike as one of the most prominent drummers of his generation.

Born in Mexico City on November 1st, 1971, he started playing drums at the age of 5 and began performing professionally early in his teens.

He pursued a degree in classical piano at the National Conservatory in Mexico and in 1993 he moved to Boston to enroll at Berklee College of Music and graduated Magna Cum Laude in Jazz Studies.

MORE:

http://www.antoniosanchez.net/biography.html

---

EDGAR MEYER

Prominently established as a unique and masterful instrumentalist, Edgar Meyer delights his audiences both as a vibrant performer and an innovative composer. Hailed by the New Yorker as, "...the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument," Mr. Meyer's unparalleled technique and musicianship in combination with his gift for composition have brought him to the fore, where he is appreciated by a vast, varied audience. His uniqueness in the field was recognized by a MacArthur Award in 2002.

MORE:

http://www.edgarmeyer.com/

--

TAUFIQ QURESHI

Taufiq is the youngest son of the legendary "Tabla Wizard, Ustad Alla Rakha" (popularily called as ABBAJI)and brother of world famous "Tabla Maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain". He thus could arguably said to belong to India's first family of percussion.

His Guru and primary inspiration to date remains his illustrious father. However, while learning the rudiments of the tabla from his father, Taufiq from a very young age was drawn to the wider world of percussions, and exposure he got , thanks to brother Zakir's fusion experiments through the bands Shanti, Diga, Shakti and Rhythm Experience. It was however hearing his father play in an album with international master Buddy Rich and his expertise on the drums that Taufiq fell in love with the entire world of rhythm with its wide range of instrumentation

MORE:

http://www.taufiqqureshi.com/synopsis.htm

---

RANJIT BAROT

Ranjit Barot has grown along side with music ever since he saw light.

Born into a family steeped in Indian classical music and dance, melody and rhythm has always been an integral part of his life…

MORE:

http://www.ranjitbarot.com/notes1.htm

---

NILADRI KUMAR

Son and Disciple of Sitar Maestro PANDIT KARTICK KUMAR, Niladri Kumar is undoubtedly one of the finest young Sitar Virtuoso today. Years of learning have resulted in a prodigious technique and deep understanding of diverse musical styles. His open mind has led to an extension of his musical horizon to incorporate imaginative experiments in world music styles that delight the young and the old. He has persformed all over the world, in prestigious music concerts and festivals. He has been awarded the titles SUR RATNA, SURMANI, JADUBHATTA PURASKAR and the SANSKRITI AWARD for excellence in music performance

(from

http://www.whiteswan...o.detail/bio_id/162)

---

SIVAMANI

Siva - the creator!.... Creates magic with just about anything from his conventional cymbals to the timbale to the batajon to the vastly unconventional shells and conches and "Biryani Kadai".

Siva's style is deceptive for the uninitiated. Deeply profound and mysterious at one moment; tantalizing and exuberant at the next. However, augmenting the brute power, are his rhythmic style and harmony, which surrounds the discerning listener with warmth, joy and bliss.

MORE:

http://www.sivamani.in/new/

bhagwan69
Inventar

#9 erstellt: 03. Feb 2008, 22:32

All Members do try and come !!

This is a great chance to visit the club & also listen to some great performers - that too for FREE !!!

Do pass the word along !!!

bhagwan69
Inventar

#10 erstellt: 05. Feb 2008, 05:54

What an evening !!

Brilliant.

One of the best show/ concerts this city must have experianced;

Did any forum members visit ?

9 persons + player. All did a very very good job.

I do hope we get more of such concerts in our city;;;

Krish
Stammgast

#11 erstellt: 05. Feb 2008, 07:45

bhagwan69 schrieb:

I was there.How could I miss it.

Well. I thought that it was good but I liked the Susheela Raman concert much better.

Here is what I found disappointing.

To begin with the mixing.The sound was all over the place.The bass was excessively flatulent.Sounded like the whole Munro Acoustics system had OD'D on Kabuli chana.

I went there primarily to see the great Bela Fleck and Edger Meyer.Unfortunately they got crowded out by just too many people doing too much.

I mean for crissake this was the line up on the last number.

Zakir Hussain-Tabla,Taufiq Qureshi - Djembe and other percussion inst,Niladri Kumar -Zitar (a modded sitar that sounds like it's been mated with a Gibson LesPaul ), Bela Fleck -Banjo, Edgar Meyer - Upright Bass, Rakesh Chourasia -Flute,another bloke on the flute,a bloke on accoustic guitar,a bloke playing the sarangi, a bloke singing taans,a bloke on a thavil,Luis Banks - keyboards,Ranjit Barot - drums. 13 muscians.Phew !!

...and in the end it sort of became a thing of my technique/chops is bigger than yours.Do you believe the last song had snatches of the following - Raghupati Raghava...,the score from a few dollors more...

Now I have a few CDs of Bela Fleck.That man is a genius.I wish he had been allowed more room to play.

But having said that there were moments that it all hung together, magically.And it was free.So can't complain.

K