Sachin Patwardhan (Spanish Veena)

Attended a concert of Sachin Patwardhan (Spanish Veena) accompanied by Parag Dhadphale (Tabla) organized by Anubhooti at Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, on 11th Oct 2019 with Aditi and Mane, Patil, Thangaokar, Oka families . Attendance to the concert was @ 90.

Sachin is a disciple of Utd. Amjad Ali Khan of Bangash Gharana. Parag is disciple of Pt. Suresh Samsnt and Pt. Sudhir Mainkar.

Spanish Veena is an instrument invented by Sachinji by adding strings to Spanish Guitar and making it suitable to play Hindustani classical music.

Sachin started the concert with bada khyal. It was late morning Raag Charukeshi. This is 26th melakarta raag from Cathartic music and is adopted into Hindustani classical music. He started with Aalap, Jod, Jhala. The base was created in this phase. Then he elaborated the raag with three bandishes. First bandish was in Rupak taal, second one was in Madhyalay Teen taal and last one was in Drut teen taal. He played Charukeshi for about 1 hour 15 minutes. 

Audience demanded a chota khyal. So it was another late morning Raag Gujri Todi of Todi thaat. This raag is very effective in producing karun rasa. He presented a composition in Teen taal. The crescendo of this raag was especialy good. 

Concert ended with my favourite Bhairavi. He presented Bhairavi first without Tabla. This was too good. Then he continued Bhairavi with Tabla and concluded the concert on a high note.

Sachin played Spanish Veena with ease. He displayed his dexterity in playing fine as well as strong notes, slow as well as fast lay and was applauded frequently. Sachin is also a very down to earth person, no ego.

Parag got his 5 min of fame 3 times and made good use of it. He too was encouraged by audience to play freely.

It was evident that these two artists were playing together for the first time. They were tentative initially but the stated to gel and the association grew as the concert proceeded. 

Sachin is the musician of new generation.  He is tech savy. He had his Macbook connected and had earphones plugged to one ear to get direct sound feedback. His Spanish Veena sound output was given directly to sound system so there was no microphones in front of him.

The concert lasted for 2 hours. Sound and lights were good. Embassy of India awarded certificates of appreciation to the artists. This was Anubhooti's 14th concert. 

Trivia: Sachin ji is originally a Sarod player and also plays violin. He is also an MBA. Parag is an engineer. A highly qualified duo. 

It was a unique concert because he is the only one who plays Spanish Veena.. 

Disclosure: I am a founder member of Anubhooti.

Pt. Satish Vyas (Santoor)

Attended concert of Pt. Satish Vyas (Santoor) accompanied by Pt. Mukundraj Deo (Tabla) on 3rd Apr 2015 in Chembur, Mumbai. I attended the concert with Ravi. This concert was part of 'Sangeet Samrat Alladiya Khan music festival 2015'.

The duration of concert was about 1 hr 15 minutes. Satishji played two raagas. Concert started with Raag Jhinjhoti (झिंझोटी). Audience was seeped in the bliss of Jhinjhoti.

Then he played Raag  (चारूकेशी) for the followers of Carnatic music. First he played Aalap followed by two Bandishes (बंदिश).

Needless to say Satishji was outstanding. Even those who don't follow classical music, like Santoor. With Satishji playing Santoor even they would have enjoyed. Mukundraj Deo played fine solo dagga pieces. Looks like solo dagga play is an 'in thing'. He played in-beat and off-beat Tabla very well. Audience liked him very much.

Today's sound system was not up to the mark. Santoor requires very sensitive sound system, only then all the details are conveyed to the audience. Today minute, delicate and fast paced notes were lost.

Around 300+ people attended the concert. It was good to see a number of college going youngsters attend the concert along with the elders. All announcements, including one by Satishji, were in Marathi.

This was my second concert of Pt. Satish Vyas in four months. I had a feeling of deja vu because he played same raagas in Abu Dhabi concert as well. On the lighter side, when I met him after concert he said 'I would have played something different, if I had known you were in the audience.'

A  satisfactory evening. Entertainment rating 9/10.

Swar Nakshatra (स्वर नक्षत्र)

Mandar's concert report

Attended concert titled "Swar Nakshatra (स्वर नक्षत्र)". Singers of the evening were Pradnya Deshpande & Pt. Hemant Pendse (a disciple of Pt. Jeetendra Abhisheki) accompanied by Dr. Narendra Chiplunkar (Samvadini), Kedar Paranjpe (Keyboard), Rajeev Hasabnees (Tabla), Manoj Bhandvalkar (Pakhwaj), Rajendra Salunkhe (Side rhythm) on 30th Jan 2015. The program was anchored by Ravindra Khare. This program was organized at Indira Sanskritik hall, Phaltan (फलटण) by Yashwant Co-op Bank Ltd to commemorate anniversary of their Kolki-Phaltan branch. I attended the program with my father. Format of the program was interesting. They had selected a few raagas and presented 2-3 songs of each one.

Concert started with Raag Yaman (यमन). Three songs in Yaman were presented. 'Sundar te dhyan (सुंदर ते ध्यान)', 'Man re parasi Hari ke charan' and Babuji's 'Jeevalaga kadhi re yeshil tu (जीवलगा कधीरे येशील तू)'.

Second raag was Bhoop (भूप). Pu. La. Deshpande's 'Maze jeevan gane (माझे जीवन गाणे)', Sudhir Phadke's 'Jyoti kalash jhalke (ज्योती कलश )', 'Dhund madhumati (धुंद मधुमती)', Pt. Abhisheki's 'Abeer gulal (अबीर गुलाल)' (This was a different rendition of the song from what I have heard earlier, I liked this one very much), 'Rang rang rangli.... Radha' probably of Master Krishnarao (मास्टर कृष्णराव) and finally 'Marmabandhatli thev hi (मर्मबंधातली ठेव ही)' of Dinanath Mangeshkar from play Sanyasta Khadg'

Next raag was Puriya Dhanashree (पुरीया धनश्री). Two songs were presented. 'Payaliya jhanaka..(पायलिया झनका..)' (The song was cut short after aalap) and 'Jeevalaga rahile re.. (जीवलगा राहिलेरे)'

Then came Khat. Khat is a mixture of six ragas. They presented 'Surat piya ki chin bisraye..(सुरत पियाकी छिन बिसराये)' Composed by Pt. Abhisheki from play 'Katyar kaljat ghusli'.

Next raag was Charukeshi (चारूकेशी). First song was 'Rutu hirwa rutu barva' written by Shanta Shelke and composed by Shreedhar Phadke. Then they presented 'He surano Chandra vha.. (हे सुरांनो चंद्र व्हा)' written by Kusumagraj from play Yayati-Devyani. Then a virani of Mirabai 'Neenda nahi ave ji (निंद नहीं आवे जी)' was presented with accompaniment of Harmonium and chords on key board without any percussion instrument.

Then came raag Pilu (पिलु). They presented a gavlan sadrush (गवळण सदृश) song composed by Pt. Pendse, 'Kashi jau mi vrundavana (कशी जाऊ मी वृंदावना)' on pre-recorded music track. Next came famous 'Nahi punyachi mojni..(नाही पुण्ण्याची मोजणी)' and finally they presented a Gharandaj Lavni 'Ka ho dharila majwar raag.. (काहो धरीला मजवर राग)'. Lavni requires dholki and there was no dholki. So tabalji played dholki pieces on Tabla. Interesting!

Last section was Abhang (अभंग). First composition was Janabai's 'Sant bhar Pandharit..(संत भार पंढरीत)' followed by apratim virani of Tukaran maharaj 'Bheti lage jeeva laglise aas.... (भेटीलागे जीवा)'. The program ended with a Bhairavi (भैरवी) 'Kaivalyachya chandanyala... (कैवल्याच्या चांदण्याला..)'

I would have liked if they had also given an introduction of each raag before first song, rather than going to the songs directly. I would have also liked to see a few duets. Although they had male and female singers, both sung solo songs.

Pradnya Deshpande had chosen all her songs in higher octave. She could have chosen a few in lower octave to demonstrate that she can sing in lower octaves. Pt. Hemant Pendse sung very well. Especially the songs with more classical base and the bandishes (बंदिश).

Anchor was a very knowledgeable person. His study of sant (संत) literature and current events was evident and he had a knack of quoting the quotes and poems most appropriately and with authority. He also provided interesting nuggets of interesting information. He was an ideal anchor that anchors but doors not overshadow.

All the musicians played well. Dr. Chiplunkar on Samvadini was the best. All in all a pleasing experience.

Auditorium was in a state of disrepair and unless something is done soon, it would not remain good enough for programs.

I had no plans to attend a concert this week end. It was an impromptu decision that turned out to be a good one.

Entertainment rating 8/10.

Pandit Satish Vyas (Santoor)

Attended concert of Pandit Satish Vyas (Santoor) accompanied by Ojas Adhiya  (Tabla) organized by Anubhooti at Embassy of India auditorium, Abu Dhabi, on 19th Dec 2014. Occasion of this concert was first anniversary of Anubhooti.

Concert started with raag Jhinjhoti. Panditji started with aalap. The minute, detailed and delicate pieces he played in aalap generated instant wah wah (Verbal applause). Then he played two compositions. First was in Jhaptal. Satishji and Ojas got multiple applauses for their soft as well as forte playing. Second was in drut Ektal. This too was applauded by audience. He played for one hour and ten minutes.

Then he presented Raag Chsrukeshi that was adopted by Hindustani music from Carnatic music. No need to mention that it was too good. This section also consisted of Sawal-Jawab. Audience applause had become a common feature by this time. He played for about fifty minutes.

Needless to say Satishji played excellently. He was in a sublime mood today. SBI Dhabi audience came to know why he is considered best Santoor player next only to Pt. Shivkumar Sharma.

Ojas played excellent tabla. Audience liked him very much. He has potential to become one of the greatest tabla player. I wish he does.

It was a full house. For the first time a number of people had come from Dubai for this concert. Sound system, though, was not on its best behavior.

Special mention should go to the audience. It was a knowledgeable and rasik audience who applauded in all the right places. In informal discussion post concert, Ojasji also appreciated the audience and the auditorium.

A wonderful experience. Entertainment rating 9.5/10.

Disclaimer: I am a founder member of Anubhooti.