Where will you be this weekend? If your answer is UB City, then you need no further information on a spectacular concert this year. Bengaluru’s favourite, composer, Grammy Award winner and ambassador of environmental consciousness, Ricky Kej, brings a stellar ensemble for two performances he has christened Music for the Planet.
His first public ticketed show in India, Ricky brings a world class troupe, featuring three international Grammy Award winners, two Grammy nominees, a plethora of artistes from Indian and a mega children’s choir. “This is the group of people that I perform with all over the world. It is great that I’m able to bring them to my home town and showcase what we do across the world here,” says a thrilled Ricky.
With a set-list based completely on his latest album Shanti Samsara , Ricky says while there is a marked difference between making music in an album and playing live, “We’ve been doing this so often that it comes easy. When you are recording, everything needs to be perfect and timed. The fun part about playing live is the improvisational aspect. It is a no-holds-barred performance where we react to the audience and make changes on the fly. Magic comes about at concerts like these and you see your composition going to places you never imagined it could go.”
While it is “quality music by quality musicians,” Ricky reiterates that “the concert also focusses on musicians from across the world coming together to throw light on environmental consciousness.”
The underlying theme, Ricky continues is a reflection of his thoughts. “For me, my music needs to be an extension of my thoughts and my philosophy. My best method of communication is music, so all my songs will reflect this message.”
High notes
Post the album, which was launched at the Climate Change Conference, Ricky has been keeping himself busy with shows and talks. “Apart from performing all over the world, with shows in four countries since January, I’m also spreading awareness in schools and colleges about climate change and environmental consciousness. Also I’m focussing my attention in starting a music education programme for children with songs on nature.
These are simple songs on the tiger, rhinoceros, water and trees among others, for children between seven and 11. Although simple, they are easy to remember and their morals will stick with the kids forever. I will be putting them on public domain royalty free as well. I will be training musicians and singers later this year to go to schools to teach these songs to children. This will be an India-wide movement extending to other developing countries around the world. This is my pet project for now.”
On stage
Coming back to the show, Ricky admits that this is the first time they will be having most of the original musicians who played in the album performing on stage.
“And although playing at the amphitheatre puts us under the stars, it is sort of an antithesis to our theme since we are playing in one of the most developed parts of Bengaluru. The ideal set-up would be playing in a forest. But we don’t live in an ideal world and to reach out to people, this is the best way. It is a beautiful venue and I’ve always wanted to play there. In fact, this is the first open air concert I’m doing in India!”
Global sounds
Fellow Grammy Winner from South Africa, Wouter Kellerman, with whom Ricky wrote the coveted Award-winning album Winds of Samsara , says: “Ricky and I go back a long way, from winning the Grammy Award together, to doing many concerts all over the world. It’s going to be fun teaming up together with the entire ensemble.”
Rocky Dawuni, Grammy nominee from Ghana, is equally excited to be in Bengaluru. “Ricky and I share the same love for mother nature and music. This binds us.”
While Hai Phuong, from Vietnam, says she can’t wait to perform live with the team and is “honoured to be part of this musical endeavour”, Lonnie Park, Grammy nominee from the US, says he is thrilled to be sharing stage with Ricky “yet again for an amazing cause of environmental consciousness. The live set-up makes it that much more special.”
Closer to home, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt says there is a lot for music lovers to take home from the meaningful message to the star-cast music. “Don’t miss this golden opportunity!” he tells the city’s music crowd.
Joining them on stage is a massive troupe of musical talent, from Charanraj M R, Chaitra H G, flutist and singer Varijashree, violinist Manoj George, tabla player and percussionist Muthu Kumar, singer Alexis D’Souza, guitarist Ronald Coates, The Raveolution String Section and Greenwood High International School Choir.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime event this weekend on February 24 and 25, 7 pm onwards at UB City Amphitheatre, Vittal Mallya Road. Tickets on BookMyShow.
A sound map of the grooviest shows this weekend
