Listen Up!

Lotsa talent out there...

A while back, I mentioned Kidd Skilly and his collaboration with Akon for the track "Ni Sohniye." There's been a crazy dance contest associated with the song and the videos are posted on Skilly's website where viewers can vote for their favorite dance troupe. With all the reality shows and contests on TV, I didn't really want to see just another dance show. But I have to say I'm impressed with the quality of talent that the contest has managed to bring out.

Don't believe me? Check out this website where you'll see videos by different groups from all over the US. I even spotted a troupe from Vancouver, Canada. Don't go by the look of the videos but play close attention to the routines and choreography. You have bhangra troupes, you have university dance teams, people from dance studios - there's a whole lot of talent out there!

And talking about new talent, you have to hand it to the guys at DesiFest for bringing new talent to the fore. They've taken the music fest to Montreal, Vancouver and now we're finally in good ol' Toronto. With a bunch of talented artists playing at Yonge and Dundas Square, South Asian musicians are definitely here to stay and full marks go the DesiFest for putting it all together. The final concert tomorrow (May 31) promises to be fun and loud! Check the program guide here.

And if this isn't enough to show you that we have lots of talent within our South Asian genes, here's a video that was posted on the MyBindi home page a while back. I call it Jackson meets Mehndi!

The "Tablas" have turned!

I had the privilege of watching Zakir Hussain and other musicians (The Masters of Percussion) play at the Roy Thompson Hall earlier this month and I have to say that a good two weeks on, I am still mersmerised by the very thought of the beautiful music I heard that day. What prompted me to remember this show was an email I received from a music fanatic friend of mine who was dying to know how the show turned out. And despite my attempts, I couldn't quite put into words the ambiance, or the emotion involved in watching such talented performers do what they do best.

Apart from Hussain and his very talented brothers, I thought the real joy that night was Niladri Kumar, on sitar. I loved his passion and his cheekiness as he engaged Hussain in a light-hearted game of one-upmanship. The dancing drummers from Manipur were fabulous as they brought music, dance and magic to the stage. Taufiq Qureshi was magnificent as ever and all three brothers share many mannerisms with their legendary father. I have to say that anyone who missed out on the show, missed out on a fantastic musical experience.

Since the concert, the one thing that  has stuck out in my mind was the camaraderie displayed by Zakir Hussain and his brother Taufiq Qureshi. I always look forward to improvisations and friendly banter that takes place between artist and audience at any show. It gives you a glimpse into the personality and lets you see a more human side of the celebrity in the spotlight. Zakir Hussain's shows are known for his rich music but I'll always take away the small talks and jokes he shares with his audience at the end of the show. Sure, I'll remember how much I was blown away by his artistry and the sheer magic in his fingers. But I will never forget him talking about musical sounds/beats and the arguments with his partner! How he drew parallels between music and everyday life, in his own unique style. Nor will I forget Taufiq's musical presentation of his run-in with the immigration officers at US airports (all in good fun, of course!). It's amazing to see musicians who have a sense of humour. Better still, when they try to make a point through simple examples that everyone can relate to. An escalating argument is presented through ascending beats of a high pitch. A soothing environment is regular, soft beats. Music just amazes me. That you can convey so much, without saying a word.

It takes a tremendous amount of discipline and professionalism to play at venues night after night. But my respect for the troupe who played that night grew manifold after Hussain shared a sad story. One of his musicians on tour with him, passed away on stage a little earlier. The ensemble payed their respects to their departed friend and artist and it was the sheer humility of such a celebrated artist that made me appreciate the show a lot more. Needless to say, the music played on well into the night but the concert will be forever etched in my memory... and this time, it wasn't just for the music.

A Dream come true?

There's a great play coming to town shortly, thanks to the Toronto Festival of Arts + Creativity 2008 Luminato. Every year during summer, there are a ton of plays and shows to watch and my pick for this summer is A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Canon Theatre. And this time, the performance has a distinct South Asian flavour. Don't know what I mean? Read on...

While I love music and concerts are possibly my biggest indulgence, theatre and plays are in a league by their own. Apart from the sheer acoustics of the venue, I'm always intrigued by how the production team uses sound during a particular performance. This is probably one of the main reasons I'm curious to see how this Shakespearan classic pans out.

Tim Supple's presentation of A Midsummer Night's Dream showcases a company of Indian and Sri Lankan artists who come from diverse backgrounds. You have dancers, singers, acrobats, even martial arts experts! That's exactly why I can't wait to see how all of this comes together. Added to which, I've heard great reviews from other theatre enthusiasts who've caught the show in the UK and in India. When it comes to language, you'll hear "English, Tamil, Malayalam, Sinhalese, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and Sanskrit." How's that for multi-lingual!

So get a bunch of friends together or go on that much-needed break and check out this show. It certainly has the potential to be a different experience. And when you have Shakespeare delivered to you, with a South Asian sensibility, then it really should be a unique show! LISTEN UP! to A Midsummer Night's Dream.

And we have a new Idol!

I have to admit that I haven't been following American Idol this season. But I wish I had! I happened to catch some video shortage of the finalists and boy, was I blown away! Sharing a name in common is the only thing that brings these guys together. Apart from that, David Cook is a rocker at heart while the silken voice David Archuleta is phenomenally talented for a 17-year-old. Eventually, David Cook won the contest with his edgy, gruffier voice. But take a few minutes to listen to some of the most unusual versions of popular songs that these two contestants presented.

Since I haven't seen the whole season, all I do have is the videos from youtube that show these very talented singers at their very best. First up is Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, sung by David Cook. Although I wouldn't say this even compares to the original, I have to admit that it's an interesting experiment. Do I like it? Not really but I love the voice, the throw and sheer passion that comes through with this on-stage performance. Incidentally, he sang a great version of U2's I still haven't found what I'm looking for... But that's keeping true to the spirit of rock. The Jackson cover was impressive simply because it takes a lot of effort to visualise a non-rock song in a completely different setting. Take a listen...

Not to be left behind, you have David Archuleta, who did a cover of Stand by Me, by Ben King. One of my personal favourites, I was pleasantly surprised to see that his version was different and original while keeping in the framework of the song. His voice is simply magnetic and he definitely can hit all the right notes. But my favourite apart, his version of Lennon's Imagine managed to get the masses on his side. It's a testament to his voice and talent. It's a pretty brave version of the classic. Archuleta's version builds on his strengths and impresses thoroughly. Happy listening!

After listening to both singers and digging around to catch up with as many performances I could find online, I have to say that a rock singer takes precedence in my heart. Call me biased but I'll always be a rocker at heart. As to Mr Archuleta, at 17, he has a long way to go and it would be a shame if such a beautiful voice was lost somewhere. America has its Idol again and mercifully this time, there was no Sanjaya in sight...!

No Reservations!

  There's been a lot of music to catch up with so far and summer has barely begun (never mind that the mercury tells me otherwise!) And as if the Small World Music Series wasn't enough, there's more on the horizon when it comes to great South Asian artists visiting our part of the world. Apache Indian is scheduled to perform on May 31, thanks to the RBC's DesiFest in downtown Toronto.

  My first memory of Apache Indian was listening to the track "Arranged Marriage" ages ago. Remember that? "Me wan gal from jullunder city. Me wan gal a soni kudi, Me wan gal mon to look after me, Me wan gal that say she love me."  The track never fails to amuse me and brings a smile to my face. But more than that, I loved "Boom shack a lack." I remember it for its thumping bass line and his booming vocals, alongwith super cool dancers in the background. The intro music, with the trumpet or sax, is firmly etched in my head. So much so that I'd recognise it anytime I hear it... even now! And just for that, watch the video below and refresh your memory... (Okay okay just another excuse to listen to it...again!)

Apart from that, he had a bunch of tracks that made it to the Brit "Top of the Pops" and other charts. More than anything else, I always thought he was extremely creative for bringing together bhangra and reggae together to make something that was quite unique back then. Since then of course, there have been a ton of artists who have built on creating fusion sounds.

  Anyway, finally we get a chance to listen to the man live and from what my buddies back in the UK tell me, he's a mean live performer. So hopefully we'll have some good weather and the sun will shine as Apache takes centre stage at the end of this month.

Pssst! The DesiFest guys have a bunch of great talented South Asian artists set to rock May so check out their program schedule for more details... http://www.desifest.ca/toronto/program-guide

Come out, show some support for this great attempt at bringing South Asian musicians to the forefront... LISTEN UP!