New collaborations, fresh sounds, amazing musicians, The Hindu Friday Review Music Fest this year promises to be a different musical experience. From Shenkar (aka L. Shankar) to Simon Thacker to the pulsating and colourful South Koreans it is going to be three days of rocking and melodious music.
Here’s what you can expect to hear at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall from November 7-9 at 7.30 p.m.
STRING ALONG
THE PERFORMERS: Shenkar (vocals / double violin), Mike Albert (guitar), M. Lalitha, M. Nandini (violins) and Maynard Grant (drums)
An enthralling show transcending the boundaries of geography and genre is what is in store for audiences when Shenkar, Mike Albert and the violin sisters M. Lalitha and M. Nandini take the stage. Shenkar, with a body of work that includes collaborations with Frank Zappa, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Sting and other big names in international music, promises a show that will include, rock, pop, EDM, world music, classical music and more, a performance that literally has something for everyone. He has also worked on various film and television productions from Martin Scorcese’s The Last Temptation of Christ and Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ to the TV series Heroes , and will be joined by former Megadeth guitarist Mike Albert, founder of the Mike Albert Project. As if Shenkar’s vocals and double violin combined with Mike’s guitar skills weren't enough auditory goodness, the violin sisters Lalitha and Nandini, iconic performers in their own right who can easily switch from Carnatic music to western classical and fusion, will add some flavour to the world music performance.
Maynard Grant will be accompanying them on the drums, creative percussion by Anbu, and Manikandan on the thavil.
Shenkar says he is eager to perform in Kerala as both his parents are from here, and considers himself to be a “son of Kerala”. The performers promise light, darkness, the known and the unknown on this far reaching musical journey, and request the audience to relax and let music transport them to a whole new place. With their combined skill set and experience, that should not be too much to ask for.
BEYOND BOUNDARIES
Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti
THE PERFORMERS : Simon Thacker (guitar), Japjit Kaur (voice), Justyna Jablonska (cello), Sarvar Sabri (tabla) Guest artiste: Raju Das Baul (voice/khamak).
With ‘Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti’ music lovers are set to experience some of the very latest developments in intercultural music. Born in 2011, the quartet works to create new sounds and genres through extending the traditions of Indian and Western music. The group comprises Simon Thacker who plays classical guitar and composes, Japjit Kaur who is the lead vocalist, Polish cellist Justyna Jablonska, and tabla maestro Sarvar Sabri. Their debut album last year, Rakshasa , was recognised as one the most important intercultural releases with airplay on many world, classical, jazz and Indian radio programmes and included in several ‘Best Album of the Year’ lists.
Their musical language is inspired by different musical traditions that draw from Flamenco, to Blues to Dhrupad to Jimi Hendrix. Simon Thacker has also worked with Punjabi and Bhojpuri folk.
In The Hindu Friday Review Music Fest he is collaborating with Raju Das Baul, one of the foremost young exponents of the Baul folk music.
The group rejects the idea of simple fusion and instead immerses itself into different musical traditions to create something new.
“I see the music I create as a tradition I am creating from my immersion in other traditions”.
The rendition will have the classical guitar and cello, two instruments that aren’t common in India but which are capable of rhythmic ferocity. Japjit will be bringing her artistry to both folk and classical based songs in a variety of languages, Sarvar and Simon who have been performing together for many years have developed a particularly close understanding and Raju Das Baul will be singing Baul songs and playing the Khamak, one of the most ancient instruments from eastern India.
THE K-WIND
Noreum Machi
THE PERFORMERS: Juhong Kim, Artistic Director and Musician (Main vocal, percussion) Howon Lee (percussion, chorus), Hyunju Oh (percussion-chorus) Youngjun Kim (wind instrument-chorus), Taeho Kim (percussion-chorus)
Noreum Machi, a new wave music group from South Korea sings of the past, the present and of what is hopefully a blessed future. The performance, which consists of three parts, will showcase traditional Korean music with a bit of new-age rap.
Performing for the past 21years, Noreum Machi brings to the stage an entertaining ensemble of percussion, Korean shamanic vocals and movement. Though it has toured 60 countries and 150 cities, this would be their first performance in India.
Last year, the group celebrated its 20th anniversary concert at the National Theatre of Korea.
The performance will be divided into three parts—the past, the present and the future. To represent the past, the five performers would enter the stage singing the Binari in Korean traditional costumes while dancing the Pan-Gut to reflect the beauty of tradition.
The present will include Noreum Machi’s newly interpreted repertoires, ‘Passing Rain,’ and ‘K-Trap’ (Korean Traditional Rap).
The final segment, the future, will have the group performing the ‘Sinawi’, which would urge the audience to take part in the celebration of music.
Daily Tickets are priced at Rs. 300, Rs. 200 & Rs. 100 and Season tickets at Rs. 750 & Rs. 500.
Tickets can be purchased Online from >http://thne.ws/novfest-tkts
Helpline No: +919745186466 (Kochi)
