Rajendra Gangani (Kathak)

Attended a concert of Pt. Rajendra Gangani (Kathak) accompanied by ensemble of musicians on 12th Dec 2015 at Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune with Alhad kaka, Dilip kaka and Vinita kaku.

Rajendraji is trained in the Jaipur Gharana by his father. He also has a rare mastery over the tabla, harmonium & pakhawaj.

Rajendraji made a swirling entry to the applause of audience. His energy is amazing. He danced almost for 1.15 hrs and also managed to say bols and make announcements. By having a dialogue with audience he took the audience with him on joy ride. He drew many applauses.

He displayed amazing foot work and graceful movements. He performed on Uthans (उठान), Parans (परन), Bandishes(बंदिश), Mukhdas (मुखडा) and tihais (तिहाई).

He even created sound of rain through sound of his ghungroos while dancing. He displayed various moods with his facial expressions, body language and dancing.

His jugalbandi and sawal-jawab with tabalji Azad were especially mention worthy.

Concert ended with a dance on bhajan of Surdas. This bhajan was commemorating Guru, a gurubhajan.

The live music with Lehra, Tabla and Vocals was good. Rajendraji frequently advised them about the speed he needed from them.

Trivia - Organizers had to stop the sale of tickets for the day due to huge audience response.

A very different, good, amazing and entertaining performance.

Entertainment rating 9/10.

Ragunandan Panshikar (Vocal)

Attended a concert of Ragunandan Panshikar (Vocal) accompanied by Tanmay Deochake (Samwadini), Prashant Pandav (Tabla) on 12th Dec 2015 at Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, Pune with Makarand, Shilpa, Alhad kaka, Dilip Kaka and Vinita kaku.

Ragunandan Panshikar is a vocalist from Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. He is the son of the eminent Marathi stage actor Prabhakar Panshikar and a disciple of Gaan Saraswati Smt. Kishori Amonkar and late Gaan Tapaswini Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar.

Concert started with Raag Bhup (भूप). He presented 'Pratham sur saje (प्रथम सुर साजे)' in vilambit tritaal. As the raag progressed the beats became 1.25 and 1.5 times faster.

Then he moved seamlessly without break into the famous bandish (बंदिश) made famous by his Guru Kishoriji 'Sehela re aa mil ja re (सहेला रे आ मिल जा रे)'. Audience applauded the transition and start of bandish spontaneously.

He then asked audience for farmaish for concluding item. Audience demanded bhajan (भजन). He willingly fulfilled the request by inviting Mauli Talwalkar (A regular accompanist of Bhimsenji). The abhang e presented was 'Padmanabha Narayana (पद्मनाभा नारायणा)'.

Raghunandanji sung very well. His Aalap and taan (तान) were very good. He resisted the temptation of drut singing. It was my first time hear him and I would not mind another opportunity.

Prashant and Tanmay are well known names in classical music circles and they played to their reputation.

Trivia - The pendal constructed for the festival had an area of 90,000 sq ft. Being open air, the sound system was very good.

Entertainment rating 8.5/10.

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Raja Miya (Vocal)

Attended concert of Ustad Raja Miya aka Gulam Husnain Khan (Vocal) accompanied by Siddhesh Bicholkar (Samwadini), Yati Bhagwat (Tabla), Naved Khan (his son) & Madhuri Sharma (Tanpura) on 4th Apr 2015 in Chembur, Mumbai. This concert was part of 'Sangeet Samrat Alladiya Khan music festival 2015'.

Concert started with Raag Jayjaywanti (जयजयवंती). In keeping with tradition of Agra gharana he first sung nom-tom (नोम तोम) Aalap then a Vilambit bandish followed by a Drut bandish 'More mandirwa Milo (मोरे मंदिरवा मिलो)'.

Then he presented Raag Nat Bihag (नट बिहाग), a bandish 'Jhan jhan jhan jhan payal (झन् झन् झन् झन् पायल)' in Teen taal.

Upon farmaish (फर्माईश) he presented a Bandish of his Guru 'Sapaneme darasa dikha (सपनेनें दरस दिखा)'.

Finally he presented a Dadra in Bhairavi 'Banao batiya chalo (बनाओ बतिया चलो)' to conclude the concert.

Raja Miya sings very well in Agra gharana's forceful style. I had never heard his name earlier, but liked his singing. I went to the concert without much expectations but was pleasantly surprised. However his voice deteriorated in Bhairavi.

Siddhesh Played very good Harmonium. Ustadji had to tell tabalji multiple times what beat he wants.

The duration of concert was about 1 hr 10 minutes. Attendance was at the start of concert was @ 150 but it dwindled as the concert progressed. I think it was because of timing (it was getting late), not the singer.

A good concert. Entertainment rating 8/10.