Stephen Devassy, the renowned pianist from Palakkad in Kerala, may be a familiar name in Bengaluru. His latest participation for Aradhana is extra special because he would be performing with flautist Pravin Godkhindi and flamenco guitarist from Poland Miguel Czachowski. “We have been on stage together several times, but this is the first time we will be performing in Bengaluru, and that is something to cherish,” said Godkhindi.
Stephen is particularly happy about the vibrant piano scene in Bengaluru. The gifted pianist, who did his eighth grade piano at the age of 16, also plays on the keytar, a lightweight electronic keyboard. Stephen feels this concert will be "something to remember. The musicality that Pravin, Miguel and me often spontaneously bring about, will have a variety of genres with classical and the non-classical expressions.”
“Bangaloreans will get to hear instruments from our team of six. That is an added speciality—celebrating strings, wind and thumps, as the instruments present a novel language of melody, ” adds Stephen who has worked often with AR Rehman, Chaurasia and Hariharan in movies, albums and live shows.
Stephen’s love for instrumental music was extended to his album Project 70 containing nine tracks featuring only instrumentals with orchestral and synthetic music. He has often said Beethoven’s Für Elise, one of the most popular 60-minute instrumental renditions, was done for solo piano, without vocals. It has remained a powerful song of love and that is what instruments speak for. Stephen holds a record for being the highest Asian scorer in piano exams from Trinity College of Music, London."
The team for the concert would also include Giridhar Udupa on ghata and konnakkol, Arun Kumar on drums and Keith Peters on bass guitar. The concert will feature Hindustani flourishes by Pravin, Miguel fusing folkloric music traditions of Southern Spain and several western compositions from Stephen with an underlying rock-styled presentation.
Pravin, who would be accompanied on Indian percussion on the tabla by his brother Kiran, would be on Chinese flute and the tribal Indian versions. On whether his eight-foot long Contrabass flute would be part of the performance, Pravin said, “I will keep that a surprise for Bangaloreans.”
Stephen Devassy Live in Concert ft Pravin Godkhindi & Miguel Czachowski on October 13 at MLR Convention Centre, J P Nagar 7th Phase at 7 pm
