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. Brij Narayan (Sarod)

Attended a concert of Pt. Brij Narayan (Sarod) accompanied by Dr. Aneesh Pradhan (Tabla, disciple of Pt. Nikhil Ghosh) at 39th Sangeet Samrat Alladiyakhan music festival on 10th April 2016.

Brij Narayan (His own style) hails from Mumbai and is disciple of Pt. Ram Narayan, Pt. Chaturthi Lal & Ust. Ali Akbar Khan.

Main Raag of the concert was morning Raag Komal Rishabh Asavari (आसावरी). He started with Aalap (आलाप) followed by Jod (जोड) and then Jhala (झाला). Brij Narayan ji made eye contact with the audience during recital. Then he presented a Gat (गत) when Tabla joined in. Audience applauded his Chakradhar (चक्रधर) & Tihai's (तिहाई). Sawal - Jawab (सवाल जवाब) of Sarod and Tabla were entertaining. It was Teen Taal (तीन ताल). First in madhyalay (मध्यलय), then drut (दृत) & then ati drut (अति दृत). Audience gave a long sustained applause.

Second Raag of the concert was Raag Mishra Pilu (मिश्र पिलू). It was a beautiful rendition.

Concert concluded with a Bandish (बंदिश) of Ust. Allauddin Khan in Raag Pilu (पिलू) in drut Teen Taal.

Brij Narayan ji has an expressive face. His expressions and eye contact with audience engage them in the concert and augments enjoyment.

Anishji played a different kind of Tabla. He was more forceful than usual. It might be an adjustment for sound of Sarod. His understanding and anticipation of what artist is going to play is amazing.

Surprisingly organizers did not use pick up microphone for this concert as well as for previous Sitar concert.

Around 125 people attended the concert and it lasted for about 1 hr 20 min.

Trivia: Brij Narayan is the son of Sarangi player Pt. Ram Narayan.
He was accompanied by his son Harsh Narayana (who is a Sarangi player) on Tanpura.

Entertainment rating 8.75/10.

Rajrupa Chowdhuri (Sarod)

Attended concert of Rajrupa Chowdhuri (Sarod) accompanied by Satyajit Talwalkar (Tabla) on 11th Apr 2015 in NCPA, Mumbai with Ravi. This concert was part of 4th edition of 'Saz-e-bahar', a festival specially conceived to provide a window into the range of instruments that adorn the repertoire of Indian classical music.

Organizers introduced Indian music instruments starting from ancient India to modern day. Interesting information was that C.V.Raman has performed a lot of work on Tanpura and the black patch on Tabla. They informed that Sarod entered India in 18th century.

First half of the concert was Raag Shyam Kalyan (श्याम कल्याण). Rajrupa first played solo and then Satyajit joined her with Tabla. She demonstrated fine Sarod playing and was focused on details.

Rajrupa presented Raag Tilak Kamod (तिलक कमोद) in the second half of the concert. She presented a rachana taught to her guru by Joshiji.

Satyajit played marvelous Tabla. He showed why he is considered amongst top Tabla players of India. He also appreciated and encouraged much younger Rajrupa.

Rajrupa is a fine Sarod player. Rather than forcing the notes out of Sarod, she extracts them. Lady Sarodiya is a rarity. This was my first concert of lady Sarodiya. Rajrupa plays very well and with humility. She is definitely a star in making.

It was a small but cosy auditorium. Sound system was very good. Sarod required frequent tuning adjustments. A number of foreigners attended the concert.

An excellent concert. Entertainment rating 8.75/10.

Amman Ali Khan (Sarod) and Ayyan Ali Khan (Sarod)

Attended concert of Amman Ali Khan (Sarod) and Ayyan Ali Khan (Sarod) accompanied by Satyajit Talwalkar (Tabla) and Anubrata Chaterjee (Tabla) as part of Emirates Classics III, at DUCTAC, Dubai on 2nd May 2014. This was my second time to watch Amman-Ayyan live.

Concert started with raag Shree. They presented two compositions. First in Jhap taal and second in Teen taal.

Then they presented raag Desh first in Ada Chautal and then in Teen taal. The compositions they played were of their grandfather Haafiz Ali Khan Saab.

Raag chaukeshi in teen taal was the next offering. Chrukeshi is a raag from South Indian system of  Indian classical music.

A folk tune from Bengal (Bhatiyali) was played next. I have heard this played by their father many times earlier.

Saraswati was then played for five minutes upon Satyajeet's recommendation. Then they moved to raag Kirwani for the conclusion and achieved the grand finale.

Amman and Ayyan play very well. They   are seventh generation sarodiya's. They definitely are two future Ustad's. Ayyan's Sarod was giving him trouble and had to be tuned frequently.

Both tabalji's were too good. Credit should be given to them for playing so well and to Amman-Ayyan for choosing tabalji's who are as good and at times even better than them. As compared to concert of Amjad Ali Khan last year (where these four accompanied him) tabalji's were given lot of free hand in this  concert.

Auditorium was not full despite it being a week end. It appears that since DUCTAC increased the ticket rates by 50%, sales have taken a hit. It's unfortunate that this has impacted patronage to Indian classical music. Sound system also gave a lot of trouble with whistling sound.

Amman and Ayyan are Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's sons. Satyajit is Talayogi Pandit Suresh Talwalkar's son and Anubrata is son of Pandit Anindo Chaterjree. So the players had a very strong lineage of classical music. However all said and done, I did not come out of the auditorium very satisfied. I did not feel that the performers gelled well.

Entertainment rating 8/10.