JAZZ VISIONS: Sandy Evans Trio with Sarangan Sriranganathan & Bobby Singh + The Vampires
Sandy Evans Trio with Sarangan Sriranganathan and Bobby Singh 2.00 – 3.00pm
Sandy Evans Trio sees eminent saxophonist and composer Sandy Evans delighting in the freedom of the classic saxophone trio format with her imaginative rhythm section of Brett Hirst and Toby Hall. As part of Jazz Visions, catch the trio exploring new sounds with two very special guest artists in a not-to-be-missed musical event.
Listening to ‘Bhairavi Tillana‘…I found myself entering a kind of trance and feeling as if I could listen for hours and be absolutely absorbed by the intricate rhythmic and melodic patterns – Roger Mitchell, Ausjazz
One of the highlights of the trio’s recent national tour was their performance of Sriranganathan’s Bhairavi Tillana. In this special festival concert the trio will be collaborate with two of Australia’s leading Indian musicians to weave an extraordinary kaleidoscope of colour, rhythm and melody. Expect soulful melodies, breathtaking improvisations, hypnotic grooves and stunning percussion solos, redefining the fusion of jazz and Indian music.
Sarangan Sriranganathan: The Multi Faceted Artist
True art’s or artist’s authenticity does not vary due to adulation or criticism: This is proving to be true of ‘Maestro’ Sarangan Sriranganathan, today appreciated both in the field of Fusion Music and in the world of Classical Music as an international phenomenon. A Classical Sitar virtuoso, Mesmerizing Singer and an excellent Keyboard player of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in his own country, but also gained him fame all over the world for his many accomplishments. Sarangan has received widespread recognition as a composer as evidenced by the numerous grants and awards that he has received, including the SAMA Award (Best Sitar player), Bunka Award by the Japanese Government and the SLBC Award (Best Music Director).
Sarangan has performed at some of the world famous Venues and Music Festivals. The Queen Elizabeth Hall (UK), Opera House (Aus), WimbledonTheatre (UK), Durban City Hall (South Africa), Foerde Festival (Norway), Gedankyo (represented Sri Lanka in the Second Asian Performers Seminar and ’96 CORA Forum-Media and Performance in the Digital Age, held by the Japan council of performers’ organisations in Tokyo, Japan), Swami Thiagaraja Music Festival (1991, Durban-South Africa), Womad Music Festival 2006 & 2007 (Adelaide-Australia), Sydney Music Festival 2007, Woodford Folk Festival 2006/2007 (Brisbane- Australia) and the Common Wealth Games 2006/ Melbourne Festival 2006 are the jewels in the crown.
Sarangan is well trained in Hindustan Music (Sitar), Western Classical (Piano) and Carnatic Music (Vocal and Veena). These forces shaped Sarangan into an essentially elitist Musician. But, his is not an elitism of the snobbish category that makes Music inaccessible to the majority. His repertoire is dominated by popular raga-s and thala-s, and always had a reasonable component of semi-classical Music. His elitism made him place a premium on the approval of the cognoscenti, and made him averse to populism of every variety. He challenges his audiences with his elaborate architecture, richness of Musical content, and sophisticated presentation. He is a Musical phenomenon to whom perfection of tone and execution come as spontaneously as the free and unfettered flow of his ideas.
He has the ability to inject passion into a live appearance with the least effort. He is a master of nuance, picking and choosing delicate expressions to suit the mood and feel of a Composition. When on stage Sarangan carries himself with an unusual calmness, like a man who has made peace with both himself and his Music.
Sarangan, the vocalist: Sarangan is an excellent singer with a mesmerising voice. He has sung many Compositions, mostly his own. He is very popular for the extremely fast Swara (Musical note) rendering in his Fusion concerts. He made it a practice – in most concerts – to sing parts of his performance along with their rendition on the sitar. He not only has the mind of a vocalist, but also a trained, authoritative voice.
Sarangan’s Sitar and Style: Sarangan enabled the experience of sitar Music to transcend the limitations of the technology of the instrument, and has engineered the instrument in such a way that it could express a variety of school of Music acoustically and electrically. He wanted to do with the sitar what no one before him had attempted, and found a way of making the instrument obey his commands. Sarangan has grown into a colossus with only sky as the limit. The kalpanaswaras(improvisations) are like cascading waterfalls and the alaps a serene, majestic river flowing through the plains.
Bobby Singh (tabla)
Born and raised in England, Bobby spent a great deal of his childhood in Mumbai studying with the great tabla maestro Pandit Nikhil Ghosh. Recognized a with a great talent at a young age, Bobby was put under the care of Nikhil Ghosh’s senior disciple, Aneesh Pradhan now one of the most sought out after tabla players in the world. Through Aneesh’s Guidance Bobby was nurtured into a mature internationally renowned tabla virtuoso, both in traditional Indian classical music and cross cultural genres.
Now a resident of Australia, he still spends most of his time between India and Australia. Bobby has received numerous awards and accolades and has performed with some of the finest musicians in Australia and overseas including Slava Grigoriyan, Greg Sheehan, Ben Walsh, David Hirschfelder, Guy Strazullo, Sandy Evans, Pandit Ashok Roy, Aneesh Pradhan, Shuba Mudgal, Joseph Tawardros, Kim Sanders, Ian Dixon, Charlie McMahon, Jeremy Allsop, Sandipan Samajpati, Partho Sarathy, Tony Gorman and Adrian McNeil amongst many others. He has performed at many festivals including Womadelaide, Wood ford Folk Festival, Bellingen Global Carnival, Sydney Festival, Hyde Park festival, Worlds Fair Bonn, Livid, Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Melbourne, Perth International Arts Festival, Singapore Arts Festival and Arts on the Move, amongst many others where the demand for his exciting, soulful and inspiring playing has become a highlight in many consecutive years.
Outside of the milieu of Indian classical music, his projects have included the formation of his own fusion group DHA, becoming a permanent fixture in the hugely popular and highly acclaimed electronic/fusion group “The Bird” and most recently a member in the high energy percussion trio the Circle of Rhythm. Bobby is considered one of the finest tabla virtuosos and is a highly respected musician in the World Music Scene in Australia. Most Recently a documentary on his musical life was recorded and shown on SBS titled “Viva, I Belong Every where”.
He has recorded many classical and fusion cd’s featuring some of the most exciting performers in the land. Amongst his recent cd’s are Ishq with Circle of Rhythm, a recording with jazz fusion band Passionfruit, Aasha an Indian classical music recording with Sarod player Adrian McNeil, Ruhani a duet with oud player Joseph Tawardros, Birdville Sessions with The Bird, a DVD, Live at the Studio Opera House with ‘The Bird’ and a featured guest on Cities with The Cat Empire.
In Singh’s hands the tabla was capable of an almost contrapuntal effect… – Sydney Morning Herald, John Shand
Sandy Evans (saxophone) Brett Hirst (bass) Toby Hall (drums) Sarangan Sriranganathan (vocals and sitar) Bobby Singh (tabla)
Visit Sydhwaney Sounds From Sydney – Your portal of Indian Classical Music and Dance in Australia
The Vampires 3.30 – 4.30pm
The Vampires are quickly becoming an icon on the Australian jazz scene with their unique blend of soulful jazz, old-school reggae and South American music.
Featuring compositions by saxophonist Jeremy Rose (2009 Bell Award Winner for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year) and trumpeter Nick Garbett, their powerful melodic invention and use of surprising grooves sets them apart.
With one eye to the future of Australian music and one nod to the past with echoes of Bernie McGann and The Catholics, along with inspiration from Bob Marley and John Zorns Masada, The Vampires music stands the test of repeated listening.
Their first CD South Coasting has been hailed as a fresh sound, and has led them to appear at major festivals around Australia including the 2009 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz, The Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the 2010 Jazzgroove Futures Festival.
Touring nationally this year to promote their acclaimed second CD, Chellowdene, this is a great opportunity to hear a set of fresh new sounds by an inventive new band.
Jeremy Rose (alto saxophone) Nick Garbett (trumpet) Alex Boneham (bass) Alex Masso (drums)
