Into The Fire: Synthesising East With West

Synthesising East And West Jazz and Carnatic can make an enthralling combination

The Australian Art Orchestra and the Sruti Laya Quartet warmed up the chill winter evening with their instrumental ensemble 'Into The Fire'. When a doyen like Kaaraikkudi Mani ventures into a fusion of the western jazz with Indian Classical - the effect is predictable. It synthesises the best of both worlds. The concert was that and much more. Lalitha Kala Thoranam's open-air auditorium reverberated with the mellifluous notes soaring out of B.V. Balasai's bamboo, amplified by Adrian Sherrif's trombone and Scott Tinkler's Trumpet and propped up by Sandy Evan's Saxophone. Synthesising the breves and the quavers was Alister Spence on the Ketboard. The descant was further enhanced by Carl Dewhurst's guitar, Steven Elphick on the double Bass and Durga Prasad's gottu vadyam. Complimenting the harmonious blend was the west-east percussion, leading the right rhythm through the redoubtable Karaikkudi's mridangam, with dexterous support by ghatam Suresh.The beat and the bang of Niko Schauble's drums provided the perfect sync to a delightful evening of music. The opening notes of Pentacle took the audience through five ragas that changed with every cycle to create five tempos demonstrated the adaptability of two different media used in the right mix. The third piece, Madhuram (Mishratilangu) took off with the ghatam with Balasai close on is heels with his flute for a wonderful creation. The chittaswaram by the flautist lent the cadence. This and the fifth piece-Rajaraja rajeeth were the highlight of the evening. Vasantha Pravaham in Bahudari and Ranjani by Karraikkudi himself, a fusion consummate, in as much as it incorporates a natya piece by Rajeswari Sainath to pure Rhythm.

The Hindu Friday Review. Ranee Kumar Friday, January 26, 2007