What you'd normally expect to see at an Unseen Underground gig is hardcore metalheads and some pretty extreme metal bands. But this time Unseen Underground had something distinct yet amazing.
On a platter
J.A.M. II (Just About Music) was a Jazz and contemporary rock musical night featuring student groups from the Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music coached by drummer and clinician Benny Greb from Germany, contemporary Jazz maestro Prasanna, guitar virtuoso Ed Degenaro from California, bassist Steve Zerlin from Berkley College of Music, pianist James Carson and vocalist Natalie John.
This show was also apparently the Spring 2011 Graduation Concert for the academy; so the students and faculty were out in full force.
The evening started with a group of students playing alongside pianist James Carson. Singer Natalie John joined them with mesmorising notes on the saxophone.
The crowd was awestruck by the style of playing and the mixed sound harmonised through different genres of music from Indian classical to Jazz, blues to progressive rock. The crowd also enjoyed the Land of Confusion by Genesis covered phenomenally by the music crew.
Then it was time for the students who had successfully completed Spring 2011 courses to collect their certificates.
After that the real madness started when Ed Degenaro came to stage with his fretless guitar solos and sweeps, harmonised with the mind-blowing voices of Ujjayinee Roy and Natalie John.
Fusion night
Towards the end, a quartet comprising guitar maestro Prasanna, bassist Steve Zerlin, ghatam player Dr. Karthick and drummer Benn Greb, showed everyone what happens when Carnatic music meets modern Rock, with their skilful dexterity.
Whoever missed this show would regret missing an epic concert.
