Fast Forward

A package deal
In the long years that one has followed Pankaj Udhas, we have never known his albums to sport a visual other than a mug shot of the ghazal singer. So it was indeed a surprise that the inlay of the new Udhas album, Humsafar sports very young faces and a discreetly placed sepia toned photograph of the singer in a corner. The music of the album, has that distinctive mellow timeless quality which Udhas’ music is known for. So why a package deal!

Rock solid
Musical Theatre has over the last few decades occupied centre stage and often enough seen as the longest running live act across the world. If there’s one rock opera which has withstood the test of time, ages and nationalities, it is Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar (JCS). Making its first appearance on the Westend stage in 1972, it showed for close to a decade - 1972-80; but was pre-empted from the top spot by three other Lloyd Webber musicals, Cats, Starlight Express and Phantom Of The Opera. When Alyque Padamsee first presented JCS in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1974, it enjoyed a stupendous run. Some of Bombay’s best voices were heard collectively, from one stage. Thirty years on, JCS still appeals to theatre directors. The simplicity of the story and the message of love and tolerance greatly enhanced by music, which is among rock’s much-heard tracks. The last few months has seen another production of JCS resounding the Mumbai stage, that by Rahul DaCunha. With the 1974 version still a vivid memory, it took a great deal of disciplining to shun those voices and casting and view the present one as an altogether new experience. The production values were superlative, especially the set design with a revolving stage, and the gates which were so effectively closed — slowly to indicate Jesus’ imprisonment. Technology being greatly advanced, the hi-tech sound engineering made all the difference. It was goodbye to handheld mikes (of 1974), and hello, hands-free microphones.

The casting had been subjected to a fair amount of speculation, the only foregone conclusion early on was that Vivienne Pocha, a professional singer would play the role of Mary Magdalene, Mumbai lacks quality female voices which can perform live; Vivienne frequently performs at a city hot spot for jazz, and has quite a following. Additionally, Vivienne has played Maria Von Trapp in a city version of Sound Of Music. Vishal (of Pentagram) was cast as Judas. Vishal has earlier been on stage as Krishna in an indigenous rock opera Jaya. One of that evening’s finer moments was when Mary and Judas did a brief, but impacted duet in What’s the Buzz? It was Vivienne’s call really. The other high-point of the show was Boman Irani’s burlesque King Herod, a role he played with verve, despite the garish clothes; and yet one could infer that it was not among Irani’s best performances. The disappointment came from Kartik Chintamani’s Jesus. His voice lacked depth and power, and he wasn’t a very convincing Jesus. Both he and Vishal shrieked their way around the top notes. Yet despite the shortcomings, Rahul DaCunha has done a commendable job with JCS.

Search for the original
Couldn’t help watch an argument between an irate lady customer and the sales assistant at a south Mumbai music store. The lady was greatly agitated about having bought three CDs of an album called Thank Abba For The Music. Now with so many compilations being released in the market and some albums being priced at a nice price, the said lady was understandably ecstatic at having found an Abba album for only Rs. 249. So she bought one for her own children and two more for assorted nieces/nephews. Now imagine the poor lady’s plight, when her own children turned around and told their mother that she had been had, it was not Abba who were singing, but imitators. A day later, the young ones drove home the point further, when they read a review in an eveninger that the album was really a cover version. The lady tried her best to even look for the fine print on the CD cover, which indicated that the album was a cover version. Now while music companies are showing their collective might against piracy, etc. should they not have a code which insists that any label releasing a cover version states that fact on the inlay, so that the buyer is made aware that he is not buying an original.

Now, it’s the daughters
Our legendary voices have left behind a legacy of songs they have made immortal. Often times, long after these legends have passed away, their offspring, i.e.: their sons cut their singing teeth on songs their fathers sang. Nitin Mukesh and Amit Kumar are prime examples. In the case of Mukesh Jr., he shot to prominence singing his father’s songs at live shows across the globe, and recognition came easily in Russia as he sang RK hits. Though they (the sons) attempt originals of their own, their inheritance doesn’t sit lightly on their shoulders. Now, Times Music has taken an unusual step with a tribute to two legends, Kishore Kumar and Salil Chowdhury. The dual album is called Madhur Smriti and the two singers who relive their fathers’ golden past are not the sons, but daughters — Antara Chowdhury, Salil Chowdhury’s daughter and Sromona, Kishore Kumar’s protege and daughter. Both albums contain ten handpicked songs that have affected music aficionados across the nation, when they first sprung from the composer’s baton and the voice of Kishore Kumar.

Christina to release her single
This year’s Grammy’s Best New Artist, teeny popster Christina Aguilera has already sold more than 6 million album copies of her chart-topping self-titled debut album. Now she is set to release a CD single of her hit I Turn to You. Due out soon, the CD includes both the English and Spanish versions of the track, a 4-colour image of Christina, and a CD-Rom video version of the hit. Christina also kicks off on her first American tour, which has been branded as ‘Sears and Levi’s Jeans Present Christina Aguilera in Concert,’ with Destiny’s Child as the opening act.

Britney endorses a website
The other teen sensation Britney Spears is already worth $ 37 million, yet is all set to spin some more money, she’s agreed to be the face of a teen website. She will be given stock options in return for becoming the hostess of YOUtopia.com which will be launched soon. Britney has also decided that she wants more than just a singing career, so she’s taking guitar lessons.

Piroj Wadia