Jogiraj Sikidar (Vocal)

Attended a concert of Jogiraj Sikidar (Vocal) accompanied by Nandkishor Banchhode (Tabla), Shashwath Sunilkumar (Harmonium) and Shreekutty & Meenu  (Tanpura) organized by Anubhooti at Embassy of India auditorium, Abu Dhabi, on 29th Jan 2016. Attendance to the concert was about 100.

Concert started with Raag Yaman. He first presented 'Salona mora saiyan (सलोना मोरा सैयाॅं)' in vilambit Ektal (विलंबित एकताल). He displayed fine lower octave singing.
It was followed by 'Eri hari piya bina (एरी हारी पिया बिना)' in drut Teen taal.

He then presented a madhyalay bandish 'Kanha re Nand nandan (कान्हा रे नंद नंदन)' in Raag Kedar.

Then he presented a Thumri 'Ab ke sawan ghar aaja (अब के सावन घर आजा)' in Mishra Desh and Tilak Kamod in Banaras Gharana style.

He then presented a Gazal (गजल) 'Tere karib aake (तेरे करीब आके)' in Raag Nand (नंद).

Concert concluded with Kabir's Bhajan (भजन) 'Mat kar moh tu (मत कर मोह तू)' in Raag Bhairavi (भैरवी).

Jogiji humbly requested for audience's permission to start the concert. He made good use of aalap and tarana. He is a very fine singer and probably deserves more recognition than he gets. He displayed variety in the alap, tarana, lower and higher octaves and a blend of Gharana. The way he was encouraging the accompanists underlined the fact that he is a very good teacher too.

Shashwat has lightning fast fingers and demonstrated his understanding of the mood of concert. He was applauded by the audience.

Nandu started slow but picked up as the concert progressed and came at par. His Tabla play with harmonium was applauded.

Tanpura artists needed prodding by Jogiji for vocal accompaniment.

Sounds system was optimum however more gain was needed for Tabla.

Entertainment rating 9/10.

Disclosure: I am a founder member of Anubhooti.

Gauri Pathare (Vocal)

Attended concert of Gauri Pathare (Vocal) accompanied by Siddhesh Bicholkar (Samwadini) & Yati Bhagwat (Tabla) on 4th Apr 2015 in Chembur, Mumbai. This concert was part of 'Sangeet Samrat Alladiya Khan music festival 2015'.

Concert started with Raag Nand (नंद). Raag Nand is speciality of Jaipur Gharana (जयपूर घराना). First she sung khyal and followed it with a drut bandish 'Dhan dhan bhag Nand ko (धन धन भाग नंद को)'. Her students provided the chorus for bandish.

Then she presented Raag Gaud Malhar (गौड मल्हार), a traditional bandish (पारंपारीक बंदिश) 'Kari Kari badara barase (कारी कारी बदरा बरसे).

Finally she presented very famous composition of Pt. Jitendra Abhisheki 'He surano Chandra wha (हे सुरांनो चंद्र व्हा)'. Audience applauded as soon as she started.

Both Siddhesh and Yati are young artists. Siddhesh plays extremely well. He was too good in drawing applause from audience and artists alike. Yati also plays well, but sometimes he was a bit tentative. Two of Gauriji's disciples (Miss Damle & Miss Deshpande) accompanied with Tanpura.

Gauriji sung well. She displayed authority in singing bandishes and was humble. She gave credit of her singing to the Gurus and said that mistakes, if any, were hers.

The duration of concert was about 1 hr 10 minutes. Since the concert was scheduled at 4.30 pm, the attendance was on lower side of @ 125 in the beginning but increased later on.

Sound system was OK and did not trouble the artists. Today there were mosquitos in the auditorium but the number reduced as the audience started clapping.

A good concert. Entertainment rating 8/10.