We have already a long musical association with Susheela Raman and Sam Mills.
They’re approch to music is very close to our own vision of design, architecture and life.
Fusion, this horrible word. The mixing of old and new, past and present, east and ouest, black and white….
Under the impulsion of Susheela and Sam and the support of Paul Jacob from Chennai we produced 2 impressive concerts last year under the Brand of “The CrossRoads Concert Series”which aims to unite people hailing from diverse cultures to create new and dynamic musical experiences.
Artists are chosen for their ability to communicate directly with their audiences and are deeply comitted to the crossing of boundaries.
Individually, the artists have unique and interesting musical trajectories.
Tamil Voodoo was like a big Fusion Rock concert on the beach
with the participation of the singer semi-godess Kovai Kamala and at some point some 24 musicians on stage…
‘Tamil Voodoo’ was a musical journey into the intensity and vitality of the Tamil Bhakti and Trance drumming traditions, working with some leading urban talents. It was a musical collaboration featuring Bhakti singing legend Kovai Kamala, Internationally renowned Tamil Londoner Susheela Raman and her guitarist/producer, Sam Mills. Chennai’s own Funky Bodhi, along with drummers representing the Tattapam and Tudumbattam traditions of Tanjore and Mettupalayam of Tamil Nadu.
Susheela, Sam and Paul Jacob
The Tamil Voodoo stage beeing built
Taking a break before Sound check
Rehearsal the night before with the traditional drummers in the Artist Studio
Kovai Kamala in sound check
The second concert was Songs Of The Madmen, a magical night of poetry.
Sam Mills, Susheela ’s husband and producer had spent lot of time in west bengal with the Baul singers and produced the mythical album “Real Sugar” with Paban Das Baul for Real World label.
http://www.realworldusa.com/albumpages/paban/default.html
Still very much in touch with them he went up to Calcutta and gathered 14 of them, from the old and the new generation and put them in the train to Dune!!!!
Bauls are free spirited, anti-orthodox musical mystics, strong individuals who defy the conventions of both the householder and the renouncer. The Baul tradition upholds the body as the arena of self-realisation…
With their intense musicality, earthy passion and mystical riddles their music is fierce,poignant, unpretentious and full of love; Bengal’s gift to the world.
The word “Baul” means divinely possessed, without limits, simply mad; the Bauls address each other as khepa meaning furious. They have a mode of life entirely determined by a fundamental choice and bring chaos and disorder wherever they go - attracting people towards them, inviting intimacy, breaking the rhythm of daily life.
Their wild behavior and repetitive rhythms make them seem strange and manic; so it’s not surprising that in traditional Bengali society, where strict caste and class distinctions are rigidly maintained, they are chastised and despised.
Through their songs, dances, gestures, through silences, through postures and looks, the Bauls tell stories of the earth, of the body, of lovers uniting - subtly revealing the mystery of life and the laws of nature. Submission to the divine is the tightrope to wisdom; Baul knowledge is transmitted through
songs.
The crack team of 14 of the very best Baul singers was Bishonath Das Baul, Shubol Das Baul, Debdas Baul, Kanai Das, Tinkori Das, Kartick Das Baul, Nityo Gopal Das,, Lakhan Das Baul, Dinobondhu Das, Haalim Fakir, Nabo Das, Navin Das And Bapi.
But to make it more intresting Vincent Segal, the world renowed Cellist came all along from France to experiment with them.
Vincent Segal playing at the Madmen concert.
The result has been Mind blowing and The show started at 5 in the afternoon to finish by 6 the next morning….only because they had to take the taxi to catch the train in Chennai!!!
Cannot wait for the next one in january 2009…..
Check out www.shusheelaraman.com
Vincent Segal : www.bumcello.com
