West meets east

Anwar Manuel Alam performing at La Makaan. Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

It was a touch of the western with a sprinkling of the Hindustani that was dished out at La Makaan by the Hyderabad Western Music Forum.

Anwar Manuel Alam's opening notes on the violin from a 16th century Italian composition was light fiddling with a tad of the ‘classical' rather than a full length display of serious music.

The Spanish lullaby (part of a collection of Spanish songs) that followed was more authentic than its predecessor in as much as the rocking, gentle motion was enhanced by the soft tones of Alam's string instrument. Joe Koster on the keyboard piano provided the much-needed background score.

The Brazilian carnival song with a bit of the jazz peeking in made more sense to the audience who were used to foot-tapping western numbers rather than listening intently to serious symphonies.

The ambience of La Makaan is such that it beckons music in the lighter vein or so it seemed. Daniel Engty chipped in with his acoustic guitar in the improvised Nagaland folk music. A Halleluiah by the female lead singers completed the picture.

Then came the shift in scene with Aradhana Karhade and Suhas Shastri (tabla) duo rendering the Gaur Malhar a monsoon raga number followed by one in Bhairav which opened with an aakaar taan and the popular piece

Mohan pyaare . The Bhairav raag diversified into the Greek gypsy beat with violinist keeping pace with both. The medley of east and west made for an entertaining evening.