After two workshops on seasonal and festive songs, the series will continue with the theme of Raag Yaman. The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn a wide range of songs from various genres based on this popular raag. After three instructional sessions, the workshop will conclude with a brief performance by the participating children in the Little Theatre in Mumbai.
British Tamil musician performs
Susheela Raman, London-born acclaimed British Tamil musician, was invited by the British Council to perform at the book launch of Willaim Dalrymple’s Nine Lives on November 4.
Susheela grew up singing South Indian classical music and began giving recitals at an early age. As a teenager, she branched out into more Blues-based music, which demanded quite different voice techniques. In 1995, she went to India to study with Shruti Sadolikar, one of the greatest living Hindustani vocalists and this was a learning as well as an unlearning experience for her. Susheela Raman has released four albums since 2001.
Born in Hendon, London, she returned to England in 1997, beginning work with her partner, guitarist/producer Sam Mills, who had made a record called Real Sugar with Bengali singer Paban Das Baul. This record inspired Raman, as “it bridged a gap and found common ground for one particular kind of Indian music to be expressed to a new audience.”
In 1999, Raman co-wrote songs for the album One And One Is One by Joi, also performing on the track Asian vibes. After three years of experimenting and collaborating with Sam Mills, Raman made her first album Salt Rain. Released in 2001 on Narada, an American subsidiary of EMI, it went Gold in France and won her the Best Newcomer award from BBC Radio 3. Salt Rain drew on traditional Tamil music blended with jazz, folk and pop influences and was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2001.
In 2006 Susheela was again nominated for a BBC World Music Award and was the subject of a one-hour documentary by French-German TV Channel ARTE, called Indian Journey and directed by Mark Kidel.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s tribute
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performed for a cause at Nehru Park during the Music In The Park series organised by SPIC MACAY.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan presented various raags and enthralled the audience. During the concert, he also paid a tribute to former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi on her 25th death anniversary by dedicating a specially-composed raag called Priyadarshini. Said the Ustad, “Indira Gandhi graced many of my concerts and it was fulfilling to pay a tribute to her.”
Nasheed artistes for a cause
Spreading peace with music, the International Islamic Peace Conference and Exhibition, a 10-day conference, hosted a live performance by Nasheed artistes in Mumbai on November 1.
Zain Bhikha, an Islamic vocalist from South Africa, gave a live performance on this occasion. Through this event, the Islamic Reach Foundation wants to spread this unique form of Islamic devotional music sung by professionals. Peace train by Yusuf Islam, Zamilooni which talks about the Prophet and his first wife and Go forward young Muslim sung along with the children from Mumbai and other songs were presented by Zain Bhikha.
Nasheeds are religious songs sung along with the percussion instrument daff. This type of singing of moral songs without music is considered permissible (halaal) by all Muslims and is rarely found in India. Said Zain, “It’s great to perform in India. It was one of my dreams to perform here as my ancestors belonged to Gujarat. Nasheeds will soon get recognition here.” Zain Bhikha, a South African Muslim singer-composer, has achieved a great fame and fan following and also writes and directs plays.
Abdullah Rolle, the other Nasheed artiste who performed at November 4, was born in UK and embraced Islam about five years ago. He is a British artiste with over 20 years’ experience in music. Since an early age he has been involved in music production, musical instruments and singing. His first CD was launched last year at the Global Peace and Unity Conference held in London in November 2008.
