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.

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.

Ustad Shujat Khan (Sitar) and R.Prasanna (Guitar)

Attended Hindustani- Carnatic fusion concert of Ustad Shujat Khan (Sitar) and R.Prasanna (Guitar) accompanied by Ojas Adhiya (Tabla), B. Amrit (Kanjira) and P. Ravindran (Mridangam)  as part of Emirates Classics III, at DUCTAC, Dubai on 17th April 2014 with Raju and Jayant. This was my second time to watch Shujatji live.

First section of concert was played by Prasanna with Mridangam & Kanjira.

The concert started with Prasanna playing a composition of Muthuswamy Dixitar. Then he played a composition in raaga Suddha Saweri & another composition demonstrating his command on guitar.

The percussionists played jugalbandi after that.  Audience loved it & was applauded a lot. Prasanna ended this section with a composition called 'Bowling for peace', a composition from his album, a fusion.

Second section was played by Ustad Shujat Khan. Solo initially and then with tabla & mridangam. This section consisted of only one composition.

He played Jhinjhoti (aalap jod) followed by a composition. He termed the style of playing as 'informal'. Shujatji played sitar nimbly and applauded  the percussionists encouraging them .

This section took the concert to a different height. The trio played exceptionally well and took audience to the edge of ecstasy. They deservedly received standing ovation.

Final section was a jugalbandi of Prasanna and Shujatji with the three percussionists.

First Shujatji sang a gazal while playing sitar in this section. The lyrics were very good but the singing slowed down the tempo.

Then they all played together. This was my first time to watch Hindustani - Carnatic jugalbandi. The artists regained the lost tempo in this section. Prasanna garnished this section with some western style guitar play.

Concert ended on a high with all the musicians playing crescendo.

Volume of sitar was little loud & sometimes smothered sound of guitar. Program started almost half an hour late. Attendance was not very encouraging with only half of the auditorium full, probably because it was a working day.

Shujatji has lightning  fast fingures and played with ease. It is a delight to watch him playing. He also sings very well. I would, however, prefer sitar over vocal. Tabalji Ojas was a thin young man. But he played like a hurricane. He matched Shujatji stroke by stroke. Too good. This was my first time to watch carnatic classical music played on electric guitar. Another novelty was that Mridangam was placed on a custom made low stand.

Enjoyed the concert. Entertainment rating 9/10.