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MUSIC
Rhythmic
Rhapsody
This
album is out to underline the space and range that rhythm commands in
music. Rhythms can communicate the most complex of emotions from joy to
melancholy. The taal through the combinations of specific bols used traditionally
or in an improvised manner has its own vocabulary and language. Taufiq
wanted to dedicate the album to his father and teacher, Ustad Allarakha
Khan. But fate willed otherwise and the master died before its completion.
 Taufiq
calls this album a transgression from tabla to percussion. "I wanted
to explore the fascinating world of percussive sounds." The set has
two CDs-the first is a collection of nine compositions and the other has
rare footage, interviews and video clips of the Ustad. The first piece,
Tree of rhythm has many firsts—Allarakha lends his vocals; all his
sons, Zakir, Taufiq, Fazal and his disciples feature in this piece. For
the first time Allarakha's voice has been professionally recorded singing
a dhrupad composition in a five-beat taal called sulfakta.
Then Ear
to there takes us back to the days of maharajas when a nagada player perched
high on the fort to make announcements, with the drum the nodal point
of communication, be it messages of love, war, arrival or departure. Nand-based
on raga Nand—is a fusion between Hindustani vocal, drums substituting
for tabla and the use of instruments like oboe, bassoon and French horn.
A refreshing
album indeed. The numerous usages of "I" in the notes perhaps
point to Taufiq's assertion of his individuality. With a legend for a
father and a star for brother (Zakir), he needs to.
-S.
Sahaya Ranjit
Short
Take • Ronu Majumdar
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 Flute
weaves magic in talented Ronu Majumdar's hands. Universal recently released
a fusion CD, In Search Of Life. Excerpts from a chat with the disciple
of Vijay Raghav Rao:
Q. How
did this album happen?
A.
On a Sunday morning in Basel, a group of musicians got together for an
exchange of musical compositions and ideas. Pianist Christian Seiffert
demonstrated his composition and instinctively I took up my flute and
improvised melodies. And an idea was born. He allowed me to play in my
own creative style. Sandor Frick accompanied us on the guitar. It resulted
in a spontaneous trigalbundi.
Q. Why
this cross-cultural flirtation? Isn't it a khichdi?
A.
No. It's not khichdi. Jungle mein mor nacha kisi ne na dheka (No one has
seen the peacock dance in the forest). Musicians have to step out from
their little worlds and be contemporary in their outlook. Maybe I am modern
in my outlook.
Q. Aren't
you running all over the place? Fusion, sugam sangeet, classical music,
etc?
A.
I
want to reach out beyond the strict classical frame. I want to remain
a Kishan kanhaiya all my life.
-S.
Sahaya Ranjit
Hot
Track
Forever
Young
Reload-Tom Jones:
(Gas Music; Rs 125)
In
the year when Santana has polished off the Grammies, another veteran,
Thomas Jones Woodward-a.k.a. Tom Jones, better known as The Voice—has
chosen to release Reload. The 60-year-old is known for reinventing
himself. Reload is a collection of collaborations between Jones
and other artists, both young and old. So he sings Never tear us apart
in that characteristic heavy, still-raw-sounding voice with new-girl-just-off-the-block,
Natalie Imbruglia; then a duet with singer-songwriter Van Morrison for
his Sometimes we cry. The most fun one of the lot is the energetically
rendered Sex bomb that will tempt you on to your feet. As for the attitude
that comes through this album ... Think of a sexagenarian singer who can
still belt out a funky "Sex bomb sex bomb, you're a sex bomb uh,
huh/You can give it to me when I need to come along/ ... And baby you
can turn me on..." Now that's enough to turn you on. Some people
don't mellow with age. Thank goodness for that.
-Anna
M.M. Vetticad
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Astitva
(T-series; Rs 40)
Lilting success by Sukhwinder Singh and Rahul Ranade. Must buy.
Mohan
Veena
(Magnasound; Rs 100)
Featuring
an evening raga, Yaman, and the spring-time melody, Basant. Classic.
Down
Memory Lane
(Sony; Rs 125)
Go way way back with these songs from Doris Day, Tony Bennett
and Roy Orbison.
Pandit Kishan Maharaj
(Sony Nad; Rs 75)
Tabla solo by the inimitable master of rhythm recorded in London.
Collector's item.
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Top
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Relics
of old empires exist everywhere. Why can't the Mani Shankar Aiyars of
India let them be? asks INDIA TODAY Senior Editor Ravi Shankar in
