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UPLIFTING music
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A fusion of drums, the sitar and piano at Rhythm Asia made for a musical evening
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THE DREAM merchants of music took Coimbatoreans to a different plane during the `Rhythm Asia' concert held at the PSG IMS auditorium recently.
This is probably the first time that the city is witnessing popular percussionist Sivamani aka `Drums Mani', India's premier jazz pianist Louis Banks and sitarist Niladri Kumar playing together.
Organised by the Coimbatore Metropolitan Round Table-62 (CMRT-62), the show held the audience spellbound for close to three hours.
Proceeds from the concert will go towards meeting the cost of their next school project at Kolathupalayam.
Sivamani, who performs the world over, was his usual best. He drummed sweet tunes with his new brand of music that burst forth from different forms of percussion instruments.
What kept the audience on their toes was the way in which he created music from anything and everything, be it a baby toy, a coconut shell, a bottle or even a bowl of water.
"I am coming to Coimbatore after a gap of three years. I enjoy performing here," he told the roaring audience.
The veteran Louis Banks, with decades of experience behind him, proved his class. The crowd came banking on him and he did not disappoint.
But, it was only when the young and passionate Niladri joined the duo did the show turn really lively.
The trio have been playing together for quite some time now, and it showed.
Niladri started off with a new instrumental piece on his modified electric sitar.
"This piece `Flight to Freedom' is specially dedicated for this evening as CMRT-62 is working on the theme `Freedom through Education.' Education is the best gift we can give our people.
There are a lot of illiterates and it's time we educated them," he said.
The next number by the terrific trio was on love, passion and peace.
"This piece was actually composed for Osama Bin Laden," quipped Niladri.
"It's not that we are promoting him. But, the music evokes the feelings of love and peace and we have played it many times before. Unfortunately, he did not hear it and went his way." The crowd went into raptures over the music and his witty repartee.
When the show was drawing to a close, the artistes played their popular tunes.
"This one is for the audience. Those who guess the tunes right will take home Rs. 1000. Not from my pocket, but from Sivamani's," remarked Niladri, amidst a huge roar of laughter.
RAYAN ROZARIO
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