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Leading fusion music ensemble to perform today
Zakir Hussain gets U. Srinivas to smile in the company of V. Selvaganesh and John McLaughlin.
THE RED carpet was rolled out at the Windsor Sheraton for the band that started it all in fusion. The media was all excited and those with cameras outnumbered others. Ace guitarist John McLaughlin, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, mandolin Vidwan U. Srinivas, and kanjira wizard V. Selvaganesh were together again. While they were busy eating and talking, we did hear snatches of their conversation about how they were very excited about the concert at the Palace Grounds on Thursday night, and about the Bangalore audience and if they would be appreciative of fusion music. Zakir Hussain was telling the others that they were now in the home of Carnatic music. The four musicians together are considered one of the greatest fusion ensembles: a unique mix of jazz, Hindustani, and Carnatic styles of music.
One of the most versatile and influential guitarists of our time, McLaughlin is an extraordinary solo artiste, and the composer of some of the most stunning jazz-fusion pieces. He formed his own band in 1968, and moved to the U.S. the next year and played with some of the top names in the American jazz scene. He was personally invited to work and record with the legendary Miles Davis. Since 1993, he has been touring with The Free Spirits.
Zakir Hussain, son of Allah Rakha, is one of the most formidable players of tabla in classical music. Along with his dedication to Indian classical tradition, Zakir has been a pioneer in introducing the tabla to the audiences in the West through his collaborations with jazz and rock musicians and with percussionists from Latin America, Africa, and Europe. He arranged the opening music for the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta. Zakir has also composed music for films.
For Srinivas, mandolin is his first love. He has spent all his musical talent to conquer this "alien" instrument and use it to play Carnatic music. The child prodigy matured to perform in concerts at the sabhas of the South and then on worldwide tours.
At the West Berlin Jazz Festival in 1983, Srinivas gave a repeat performance for German TV. At the invitation of the Sydney Tamil Sangham, he went to Australia in 1984 and then other Asian countries, and the U.S. and Canada. He is considered a crowd-puller due to his amazing mastery of the mandolin.
Son of "Vikku" Vinayakram, Selvaganesh gave his first public performance at the age of 10. He has played with Carnatic legends such as M.S. Subbalakshmi, Vasanthakumari, Lalgudi Jayaraman, D.K. Jayaraman, Kadri Gopalnath, and T.N. Seshagopalan. Music lovers in Bangalore are in for a great treat on Thursday night and will go back with some pleasant memories.
By Satyamurty K.
Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy.
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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