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Music beckons at the Unwind Centre
THE UNWIND Centre just went from functional to funky, accompanied by an extraordinary drum roll. The five-year-old work-in-progress, now one of the city's vital musical lungs, was re-launched to the rhythm of three virtuosos, Ghatam S. Karthik, Roberto Narain and Ben Clark.
Enthusiasts were introduced to different approaches to percussion at the afternoon drums workshop. While Ben Clark gave a brief history of the acoustic drum kit, Roberto Narain spoke on using technology with acoustic drums. Ghatam S. Karthik came in with the counterpoint, explaining the mind-boggling mathematics behind Carnatic percussion. "Knowledge about the instrument enhances the respect you give it," remarked Roberto Narain.
Like Karthik said, "Music is like food, you have to taste it, not just hear about it." And patrons of the Centre got more than a taste of the music that evening, when the three percussionists performed.
"Sometimes, performers getting together is a nightmare but we drummers are a tribe apart!" said Ben Clark. "And, of course it helps that we come from different angles," he added. While Roberto Narain's music is grounded in rock, Ben Clark has a jazz and folk orientation, and Kartik has a firm grounding in Carnatic classical.
"Rhythm is the common ground. When everyone is clear about the objective, an `instant band' does work," said Roberto Narain.
The spruced up Centre welcomes people with a mini-theatre, an inviting coffee shop and a soundproof `Practice Pad' with the latest equipment for musicians to practice till perfect. The Centre's repertoire includes the staple weekly `Live 101'every Friday night, the yearly June Rock Out, and numerous workshops by musicians from around the world. Last year's June Rock Out saw top bands from the four metros perform. If all goes as planned, the Dave Mathews Band will perform at the next Rock Out, scheduled this year for July.
"Realising the vision of the Unwind Centre has been an uphill journey," said its founder John Christian. But, judging by the hordes of young music lovers and musicians buzzing in and out of the Centre, the vision has been realised.
By Akhila Seetharaman
Photo: S. Thanthoni
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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