Page 24 - The Indian EYE 070524

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 05, 2024 | The Indian Eye 24

Jazzstani Musical Evening

NEERAJ DHAR
San Jose, CA
repare to be transported on
a sonic and visual journey!
PThe Stanford Jazz concert
was nothing short of an unexpected
explosion, blowing you through the
horizon. The blend of the ancient
roots of Hindustani vocals with the
improvisational energy of different
jazz-oriented sounds, along with
Kanjira, an ancient Indian instru-
ment created a musical metamor-
phosis. As I approached the theater
decorated with colorful flowers and
vibrant art pieces, I felt a new sense
of excitement and curiosity of what’s
to come.
Inside, the stage was illuminated
with multicolored lights that shone
on the performers. Frank Martin,
who evoked emotions through the
touch of a key, Scott Amendola, who
brought the collaborative spirit with
his creative beats, Kai Eckhardt, who
was a backbone of the band with
bass. It was our privilege to witness
Selvaganesh’s “Shakti”, his energet-
ic bhols and beats sent shivers down
the spines. The legendary George
Brooks captivated the audience with
his mesmerizing rendition of the ra-
gas. The very talented Mahesh Kale’s
charisma was undeniable and his
performance transcended the phys-
ical, touching the soul of the audi-
ence. The blend of these two styles
allowed for a unique and lively con-
cert experience that resonated with cals, these elements come together down the music heritage. Cheering
the audience. to create a captivating performance. audience showing appreciation to
The concert opened with an in- Something particularly fascinating the performers, also got a chance to
strumental piece that constantly shift- was how the instruments didn’t just perform when Mahesh encouraged
ed, making the next sound unpredict- coexist, they came together to cre- them to sing along with him, enhanc-
able. Jazz is traditionally envisioned ate a beautiful unique wall of sound, ing the joy of being an audience. The
as a slow tempo and softer sound, but creating joy, excitement and an infec- younger crowd found fusion music
this performance was electrifying, tious energy. It was a delight to watch to be a creative outlet, considering
and completely changed an outlook the playful competition where individual genres can be limiting at
that a lot of the audience had. The Scott and Selvaganesh challenge times. It is important to mix genres
first vocal piece that Mahesh Kale and respond to each other’s impro- that can be altered to break boundar-
picked was an eight-hundred year old visations, creating a dynamic and en- ies and push creative limits. And also
poem, and despite being so old it still gaging experience for the audience. the slots between the songs where
sounded contemporary coming from Mahesh brilliantly included a ghazal the artists would talk were found in-
him. Mahesh and George seem to in- accompanied by George on piano sightful and humorous. This helped with various traditional and modern
tertwine adding depth and warmth to adding a subtle harmonic support to the younger audience to better con- instruments can jolt your attention
the sound, such that George is play- balance the vocal melodic structure nect to the music, artists and the and keep your senses intrigued, this
ing chords strong and softly, based creating a sound that is both familiar bond they share with each other. truly transports you to a new son-
on Mahesh’s dynamic vocal range and innovative. Fusion music is a great way to ic experience. The event concluded
creating an emotional expression Mahesh included, encouraged embrace various cultures’ music all in with a sweet treat from India served
that brought lyrics to life. Each in- and guided his students in the perfor- one. When we are used to hearing ra- by smiling ICMA volunteers and the
strument contributed uniquely and mance preserving the guru-shishya gas or alaaps with tanpura and tabla, audience walked out with every sense
when combined with Mahesh’s vo- tradition reflects his vision of passing the new experience of hearing ragas awakened and delighted.

www.TheIndianEYE.com