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Saturday evening 25th August 2007 -
Shishukunj brings you “The night of The Elements”, fire, water, wind and earth by Swar Vishvam
The concert conceptualised by the incredible talented Sandeep Raval brings together the sounds of East and west in a unique form. Sandeep has developed understanding of the relationship between percussion and melody, and how the moods of these two elements can best be combined to best effect.
The music blends each performer's creative input both stylistically and in terms of the technical and expressive strengths of the musical disciplines represented. These include Indian music (folk, classical and film), jazz and western classical. The music is largely improvised, with each piece based on a loosely agreed framework.
All too often the world music approach stops at the blending of sounds while the techniques used to give each contributing style its character are ignored. Swar Vishvam is developing an approach where the rhythmic, phrasing and melodic characteristics of the different styles are freely and spontaneously interchangeable, performed by musicians well respected and established in their own fields. The lineup of Swar Vishvam is fluid, with anything from three to ten musicians performing.
Performing with Sandip and Swar Vishvam are legendary Indian percussionist Sivamani,
Sivamani is one of India’s best-known and most colorful percussionists with an unmatched talent in the entertainment world. It is no wonder that he should have played with the likes of tabla player Zakir Hussain, Mandolin player U. Srinivas, Flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia, percussionist Elvin Jones and Mamathi and Ghattam musician Vikku Vinayakaram.
And those around him have flourished as well. He has worked with composer A. R. Rahman the composer of “Bombay Dreams” whose musical is now being staged by Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Apollo Theater in London and at the Broadway Theater in New York.
Having played with Steven Segal for his world music album, performed for Nelson Mandela in Cape Town when they converted the prison, Roben Island, into a museum, and accompanied Senegalese superstar Youssou N’Dour in jam and recording sessions, it will be no small feat for Sivamani to fully break into the US market.
“I just want to share my gift,” Sivamani states candidly, “I want everyone to receive the power and the energy and I want to make them happy through music and peace. And this Sivamani will do, simply by playing to the heartbeat of life . . .
Sandeep Raval
World music percussionist with a mission to spread the world music vibe. Sandeep has developed an understanding of the relationship between percussion and melody, and how the moods of these two elements can best be combined for the best effect. Sandeep continues to perform and record in a variety of Indian and non Indian genres, including the famous musical Bombay Dreams & The Far Pavilion
UMAMAHESH Vinayakram
Disciple of Shri Radha Viswanathan (the daughter of M S Subalakshmi), is recognized as one of the most talented performers of South Indian vocal, and a rising star both in India and abroad. He is making fans out of every admirer of Indian music, including the great Pandit Ravi Shankar himself
Unnati Dasgupta
Unnati literally means “prosperity” in Hindi. Deriving from a highly regarded music background, Unnati’s grandfather, the late Bilash Chandra Dasgupta, was a popular Devotional singer in Kolkata, India. Unnati’s father, the late Shri Nitai Dasgupta, was a versatile & innovative Indian Classical Vocalist with 6 albums released on PUNV Records. Unnati’s unique blend of global music encompasses light Indian Classical, Hindi contemporary, Bengali folk, with Jazz & Soul influences which reflects Unnati’s diverse upbringing in the UK
Lisa Mallett
Lisa has studied classical flute at the Birmingham Conservatoire and has received instruction in the bansuri from Pt.Hariprasad Chaurasia. She has worked with a variety of artistes and companies worldwide, including the Pakistani kathak dancer Nahid Siddiqui, the South Indian percussionist Sivamani, Talvin Singh, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Akram Khan Dance Company (MA) and most recently, the touring production of Mahabharata (Nitin Sawhney/Stephen Clark). In addition, she regularly records for theatre, pop, and TV sessions and leads music workshops in Birmingham. She also works part time as the Education Officer for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
Denise Gorden (Vocal)
Denise is an amazing vocal talent and has played with some of the top jazz musicians around, including James Taylor Quartet on their frequent trips to Northampton.
Urja Desai Thakore:
Urja Desai Thakore is a well-known dancer/choreographer and teacher of Kathak. Trained at the famous “Kadam school of Kathak” in India, Urja feels a strong emotional connection to the expressive aspects of the form, which according to her is the soul of Kathak. She has been successful in immersing her own style and way of presentation with her aesthetic sense. Shishukunj has been proud to have her as a teacher for the last 3 years
Other performers with Swar Vishvam will include: