What the audience says: DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA & Calcutta Chronicles

Fabulous concert at WiltshireMusicCentre: India meets jazz meets Tagore meets folk rock!

Debashish Bhattacharya blew my mind last night. Fusion of influences was clear. Great talent on stage.

Immersive, intense and powerful.

Bhattacharya's greatest asset is soul. (TimeOut London)

Immediately warm and absorbing.

The musicianship was outstanding. Your compositions were a breath of fresh air and a joy to listen to from start to finish(...) seeing your show has refreshed my inspiration and made me realise why I love music again.

Dizzying ragas sent the audience home richer.

Magic!

[They] were absolutely burning - really on form. Catch them on the rest of this tour if you can, you won't be disappointed.

Fantastic show enjoyed by the entire audience. Debashish is a genius and a true gentleman.

Wowzers, Debashish Bhattacharya and his gang at Colston Hall were amazing this evening. Best £12 I ever did spend!

Stunning performance tonight, thank you for sharing your music with us! 

Wonderful concert at Colston Hall last night, thank you so much. 

Thanks to #Debashish and #Makingtracks for great show last night 

Magic last night! 

Great night guaranteed.

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing. - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Bhattacharya charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing. (Local Secrets)

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Bhattacharya had charmed the audience equally with his chatty stage manner and comic as well as musical timing. - See more at: http://www.localsecrets.com/ezine.cfm?ezineid=4338~calcutta-musical-journey+gigs-and-nightlife#sthash.1cdgK0tX.dpuf

Q&A with Debashish Bhatacharya

Q. Your album Beyond the Ragasphere features several guests; jazz guitarist John McLaughlin and bluegrass musician Jerry Douglas among others. What was it like collaborating with these great musicians?
A. It was full of challenges, musical and artistic, working over seas, coordinating with different time zones , real time studio to studio - composed each number and arranging keeping in mind my collaborators' musical repertoire- not easy, OMG! But you know I did it - with success.

Q. How important is it for you to collaborate with musicians from different musical cultures?
A. I want to share things with other musicians as well as learn and act creating a new territory of music. Living on the edge. If you see my albums I did only exclusive collaboration albums and each one is different- except one Indian raga music album of my own. Collaboration is an exercise between knowledge plus taste plus culture of music and awareness of artistic challenge to recreate something tasteful, enjoyable and attractive. In collaboration you can't hide.

Q. Are there any musicians you would love to work with?
A. Jerry Douglas, Tomani Daibete, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Bela Flek, John McLaughlin and Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Jake Shimbokuru, top Irish Celtic musicians, as well with The Philharmonic Orchestra of London. And with my Hawaiian band.

Q. You have your daughter Anandi with you in the band. What is that like?
A. Working with her is great fun, she is very composed and super talented... She knows me musically very very well - you will see that on stage.

Q. How do you enjoy playing for e British audience?
A. I think UK audience is one of the best so far I've experienced in 30 years of traveling the world.

Q. You play the lap steel guitar, an instrument associated with Hawaii and US country music. How did you come to play this in India?
A. My musical parents and their ancestors never played any instrument - they were all singers, my father got a Hawaiian guitar from a friend before I was born. I got it in hand at the age three and loved the sound and till today the relationship is uninterrupted, musical and loving. I’m trained in Indian classical music and used the lap steel guitar to express my art as lap steel guitar is closest to human voice - it's a singing instrument. But it was hard on me; in order to achieve the wholesome performing style I had to create at least twenty different things in skill and designing a new lap steel guitar of my own and had to patent it to protect the identity of this newborne instrument. I've had to bring it up to the standard of the classical Indian music instrumentally, technically and most importantly, musically.  I always get to see people talking in India - they can't believe themselves that Raga music can sound so perfect in the way my guitar makes it sound. It is hard though to make living on playing ragas on guitar in India. But humbly I did it- by taking the hardest way of challenging my ability and feeling responsible - if I didn't do it no one else would.
The Hawaii connection: I've researched the route and the musicians responsible for bringing Hawaiian music and guitars to India and found them: in 2004 I met Tau Moe and his daughter Dorian Moe who was born in Calcutta. I honoured him with playing a full concert just for him in his village Laie before he passed away. I since recorded a full length album with Hawaiian musicians and played their Hawaiian steel guitars. This made the full circle from the Hawaiian to the Indian guitar. (For ranges of my guitar refer to debashishguitar.com)

Q. Can you say something about some of the music you will play on the tour – are the songs traditional or contemporary
A. It's a journey of my musical life traditional to contemporary. Raga to Beyond the RagaSphere.

Q. Who are your musical influences?
A. Nature , beauty, painting, perfume, food; my parents, my grand father,Ustad Allauddin Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar Ustad Ali Akbar, Ustad Alla Rakha, Pandit Kishan Maharaj, Pt Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan , Ustad Ameer Khan, Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and Pt Brij Bhushan Kabra and many others. B.B.King, Ray Charles, Paco De Lucia, African music from Mali, Blue Grass, Hawaiian melody, Chinese pentatonic music, Irish music, Mozart, Bach and other Western classical composers, folk music of Eastern Europe - all influenced, awakened and helped me to understand what actually music is and what it does to the performer and audience and helped me to stand where I'm today.

Next on tour...

... slide guitar magician Debashish Bhattacharya & his Calcultta Chronicles band.

What the audience says: Mokoomba!

Mokoomba are sounding amazing tonight @yorkearlymusic! People are up and dancing

Phenomenal evening @CambJunction Mokoomba were bursting full of creativity & artistry which belies their tender years. #legendsinthemaking

Mokoomba were incredible as usual at RichMixLondon tonight. Big love!

The most amazing night [with] Mokoomba. Never seen so many happy people in one room.

Mokoomba made me smile and dance all night at RichMix tonight. You really are one of the best live acts around at the moment.

The Sage Gateshead wove its magic again last night - STUNNING gig in Hall 2 - joyous music, people of all ages, shapes and colour dancing...

Still feeling full of energy after a fantastic night dancing to Mokoomba @CambJunction - they never disappoint!

Fantastic night with Mokoomba in York - we danced the night away Be sure to catch them in Bury tonight!!

You were awesome in London...totally coming to check you out in Brighton too!

Amazing night thanks for the dancing and the fire. That's some voice you got there. Loved it. 

Man... Mokoomba were so good. If you get the chance go see them while they're in the country.

Guys, that gig was up there with the best nights of African dance music I have ever enjoyed - you have absolutely cracked it, and the next album will prove it!

Great to see Mokoomba in York tonight - love those Zimbabwe rhythms!!

AMAZING gig by Mokoomba tonight at RichMix London - boogieing my socks off! :-) incredible musicianship, tight harmonies and slick moves!

Fantastic performance from Mokoomba tonight - great crowd and fun dancing! Amazing, go see them!

These guys are just so excellent. I had the best time ever. Thanks so much for making me happy.

Enjoyed the wonderful Mokoomba this evening at RichMixLondon! Great live music.

What a great night at RichMix w/ Mokoomba, freshest band from Zimbabwe - incredible rhythms, voices to fill a desert, energy to burst.

Amazing Mokoomba loved every moment.

Thanks to @Mokoomba for bringing music and camaraderie to @CambJunction last night!

Now on stage Mokoomba Live at RichMix. Enjoying every minute of their Acoustic Set !!!!

Wow, a mind blowing gig from Mokoomba tonight!

Thank you to @Mokoomba for their amazing show tonight. Catch them on the last few days of their tour if you can.

Wonderful gig in Bristol last night. Even better than when you were here [last time]! Keep it up - and hope to see you here again soon.

You were amazing!!!Come back soon please!!!
 

If you haven't seen Mokoomba live pick a date here and do it. Go on do it. These boys are incredible.

Just seen Mokoomba at the Sage - words cannot express how boss they are.

An x'lent nite of African music @LighthousePoole particularly encore with funde'ish drum.

You guys were awesome at the Sage tonight, please come again soon.

Mokoomba are sounding amazing tonight @yorkearlymusic! People are up and dancing.

My first event @sage_gateshead and what a cracker!!! Wonderful sound & operformance by Mokoomba.

Had the privilege of watching Mokoomba today, they were tight, disciplined and great musicians, enjoyed myself and Trust Samende was killin! loved the guitar and bass tune.....crazy!!

Great night of Zimbabwean rhythms and energy from Mokoomba at @CambJunction tonight...check them out....

Mokoomba rocked the Rich Mix tonight...niiiice!

Had a fantastic time @sage_gateshead last night.

Seriously good music!

Exceptional presence and invigorating talent...

Mokoomba played an excellent set at Rich Mix last night.

Amazing show from Mokoomba last night in Pontardawe. X

This is the third time we've been to see you! Are you going to sing our favourite a capella song on Saturday night?? Would be brilliant if you could even if it does make us cry!!! See you Saturday!

Great concert in Bristol.

Amazing gig last night @Colston_Hall - Mokoomba are awesome. Well worth a look.

Mokoomba were excellent on Sunday night at the Brighton studio theatre, would love to be dancing to their music right about now!

Mokoomba live at Rich Mix London. (photo: Katerina Pavlakis)

Live review: Mokoomba at Rich Mix London

Versatile Sounds from the House of Stone Fill The Rich Mix

by Lennon Mhishi

photo: Daniele Sbrisny

Considering the general coverage that most African issues receive, especially Zimbabwe, in the past decade, Mokoomba is one of the good news stories that should certainly be shared, and that shows that there is always more to people and places than what is predominantly reported on.

I saw Mokoomba perform for the first time as part of the SOAS Concert Series in the Brunei Gallery in October of 2012. I had been introduced to their music by a friend in South Africa, and they were a pleasant surprise, although I had not heard them talked about. Since then, the band has grown in stature, and gone on to win the Best Newcomer Award of Songlines Magazine, perform at the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), featured on BBC and to tour many countries all over the world. In many ways, they are part of a new sound coming out of Zimbabwe, and I have even heard whispers that they might even be the 'new' Bhundu Boys! There is no doubt that they can scale heights.

My desire to understand their music, coupled with my research interests in Zimbabwean music an performance spaces saw me follow them to the Jazz Café in Camden in 2013, and they did not disappoint either. When I walked into Rich Mix this time around, on the 1st of April, maybe I was not expecting a lot because I thought now I knew the songs and the sound, and because the show was on a Tuesday, I expected less people.

I was in for a surprise. The standing space was filling up, and the red and blue hues of the lights in the place gave it this cosy yet expectant and exciting air. When the music came, it was on another notch, well surpassing my expectations. The energy and versatility of the band, manifest in the dances and the straddling and fusion of different musical styles, was infectious, and had the crowd dancing through the sets. Away from their usual Afro-fusion, Mokoomba performed an acoustic set that mixed musical varieties such as imbube, reminiscent of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the use of languages such as Shona, Tonga, Luvale and Nyanja, as one of the band members, Abundance Mutori pointed out.

Mokoomba, through such performance, has also brought to the fore the rich linguistic diversity of Zimbabwe, as even I, as a Zimbabwean, have been predominantly exposed to Shona and Ndebele. Their musical and linguistic versatility is evidence of the vast cultural potential of music and performance. From conversations I have had, Mokoomba has become part of a larger Zimbabwean musical repertoire, and a musical rallying point of pride and belonging for some Zimbabweans in the diaspora. Lead singer Mathias Muzaza asks, “Vekumusha muriko here uko?” which loosely translates into asking if those from home are there.

It would be apt to expect that in the near future, the Mokoomba sound can only become richer, and we shall be talking of the rise and rise, and continued rising of the band. One hopes Zimbabwe will also rise with them!

________________

House of Stone: From the Great Zimbabwe/Dzimbabwe where the name Zimbabwe comes from, which can be translated to mean 'house of stone'.

Q&A with Mokoomba!

Q : Zimbabwean music has a long history in the UK – going back to the Bhundu Boys, Stella Chiweshe, Thomas Mapfumo & the Four Brothers. Were you aware of their success and do people in Zimbabwe recognize how popular they were here?

A.Yes,as Mokoomba we are aware of the success that these Zimbabwean music icons had in the UK because they did pave the way for the Zimbabwean musical history, and these are also the bands that we looked up to when we were still young.

Q. The Bhundu’s played chimurenga music with rock and roll, disco, country, and pop influences. How is your music different?

A. Our music is different from that of the Bhundu boys in the sense that we classify our music as Afro-Fusion, which is a mix of our Tonga, Luvale and Nyanja ways of playing percussions and singing, fusing all this with other modern genres of music like Soukous, Rock, Funk and Reggae.

Q. Who are your biggest musical influences?

A.Our Zimbabwean artists who made it big, namely, Bhundu Boys,Stella Chiweshe,The Four Brothers,Oliver Mtukudzi,Chiwoniso Maraire and also other African artists who have made an impression, like Salif Keita, Youssou N’Dour, Habib Koite.

Q. Can you say something about your home in the Victoria Falls region of Zimbabwe? Can you describe it for a UK audience?

A. Victoria falls is a small town. The mighty Victoria Falls is one of the wonders of the world, and the town is also is rich in different musical styles because it’s a border town to several African countries which makes it a melting pot of different cultures in and out of Zimbabwe.

Q. Your first and breakthrough album, Rising Tide, was recorded for a Belgian record label. How did you meet them?

A. We met Poney Gross, director of ZigZag World, during the Music Crossroads Competitions in 2008, which was a youth empowerment through music programme.

Poney sat in the jury for this competition and was then in charge of organising our first European tour. Since then, we are working with ZigZag World as our management agency as well as our label.

Q. What are the songs that you are performing on this tour about?

A.The songs we are going to perform on this tour have different themes but mainly focussing on songs of our culture, from the Tonga and the Luvale traditions, and on songs of Hope and Love. It’s an acoustic set, brand new, and we will present it for the first time !

Q. How did you all meet when you started the band?

A. The six of us in Mokoomba we all come from the same home town, so we went to the same schools and played together at an early age. We had the same passion for music, so we have been a band together from childhood !

Q. You’ve been on TV in the UK and played at several festivals. Ahead of this UK tour what do you think of the UK?

A.The UK is a great place for us, the audience here is amazing and we are grateful of their support. The response of the UK audience to our music is really exceptional. We feel very lucky and proud to play live on TV for ‘Later with Jools Holland’ and to play at some of the great British festivals.

Interviewed by Mike Gavin at EditionPR

Mokoomba on tour with making Tracks - starts next week!

What the audience says: Ballake Sissoko Quartet

Beautiful, thrilling concert by Ballake Sissoko... Gorgeous musicianship, and a great spirit of communion.

It was superb! Balafon Fassery Diabate player stole it for me!

Thanks for a fantastic evening! Ballake Sissoko and his band have been majestic.

A real cultural delight... Sissoko Ballake & his Malian musicians. Inspired.

Amazing gorgeous music from Ballake Sissoko and his band .

Still reflecting on a magical musical evening with Ballaké Sissoko and friends... Catch them if you can.

Amazing night, thank you. The band were astonishingly good and Babani Kone with acoustic backing a delicious treat.

Beautiful, magical music! You and your quartet are virtuosos, each and every one of you. I'm still buzzing from listening and dancing to your music. Hope to see you all again.

Blows away the winter blues...

Magic music.

Amazing concert and even shook the great man's hand.

A standing ovation and really great feedback from people who really loved the show.

Had wonderful makingtracks nite with Ballake Sissoko. Go see!

Ballake Sissoko rocks!

Amazing concert at the sage Gateshead. .even met the legend. .made my year 

Rich Mix concert c'etait magnifique!!

a delight

Thank you for another stunning concert that was extremely well received by our audience.

Fabulous

I loved it, thank you.

Really enjoyed your concert in Bristol on Tuesday... Love your music!

SOOOOOOOOOOO beautiful!

STOP PRESS: Babani Kone joins the tour with Ballake Sissoko!

The fabulous Babani Kone, one od the top female singers in Mali today, will be joining the upcoming Making Tracks tour with Ballake Sissoko as a special guest! 

What the audience says: Benjamim Taubkin & Adriano Adewale

They were just wonderful musicians, the most glorious concert (and workshop!)

A truly extraordinary demonstration of the art of musical improvisation at the highest level - what they did was simply astonishing!

Just listened to Benjamim Taubkin and Adriano Adewale perform @wiltshiremusic. Was lovely, felt as though I had been lifted & taken away. 

A wonderful, wonderful concert last night.

The improvisation between Adriano and Benjamim was extraordinary and the concert absolutely fantastic.

Amazing gig in Gateshead last night - don't miss this! Thanks Benjamin and Adriano Adewale - great to meet you.

Mesmerizing live!!...

Just had the most wonderful evening @theapexvenue with Benjamin Taubkin & Adriano Adewale.

Wonderful musica from Benjamin Taubkin here. Was great to hear him play at @sage_gateshead last night...

Loved it! Music to get lost in...

Sensacional!

Great show!

Lovely intimate concert with great musicians.

A must see show.

Q&A with Benjamim Taubkin & Adriano Adewale

Q. What was it that brought you together as a duo?

BT: When I did a solo concert in 2009 at the Vortex, Monica Vasconcelos  - a Brazilian singer living in London - suggested that Adriano could come and sit in. We did some songs and it went great. Then in 2010 , Luiza Morandi, my producer, also living in London at that time, proposed another session: just one afternoon, recording at the Vortex. It went so well, that we decided to launch as a record.

AA: The music happened very naturally and it has been each time is both a surprise and a reassurance of the magical mix of the duo.

Q. Your music seems to subtly deconstruct popular Brazilian music and build it into something new. What is the thinking behind the compositions?

BT: I think we are both immersed in the Brazilian Music and traditions. So I believe we both feel very comfortable to let the inspiration and the moment to guide us. And of course, some new and unexpected things come out of it.

AA: The human connection, the similarities in the musical palate, but also the life story of each of us. How we come to be as we are. It all goes to the music, and to the moment. Always the moment!!

Q. Do you improvise when you play together?

AA: Everything is improvised. There is no ideas that we put together to depart from. It is always a new story, a trusting exercise and a state of opened mind which opens the channel for the music to happen.

BT: It’s 100% improvised. Sometimes we go for some known songs. But they just appear – it’s not planned. So the way we may end up playing can be also a surprise to us.

Season4 promo clip just released!

Here is our brand new promo video featuring some great music from our artists touring the Making Tracks trail this season: Adrinao Adewale & benjamim Taubkin, Ballake Sissoko Quartet, Mokoomba and Debashish Bhattacharya:

Making Tracks Season4: Line-up announced!

Following an exceptional season3, the most successful to date, Making Tracks are delighted to announce the artists for season4, which will run from Sept 2013 to May 2014. Once again four great ensembles will criss-cross the country playing in 11 of the finest venues – a unique opportunity for audiences and musicians, placing exhilarating global sounds in a local context. Coming to a venue near you: 

ADRIANO ADEWALE & BENJAMIM TAUBKIN (Brazil/UK)

From subtle to sumptuous on piano & percussion 

ON TOUR 26 Sept - 10 Oct 2013

More info

 


BALLAKÉ SISSOKO: At Peace (Mali)
Classical soundscapes of African beauty
ON TOUR: 20 Nov – 1 Dec 2013
More info

MOKOOMBA (Zimbabwe)
Rising stars from Zimbabwe: Electrifying, intoxicating, irresistible!
ON TOUR: 30 Mar - 12 Apr 2014
More info

DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA (India)
Global Adventures on a Slide Guitar
ON TOUR: 7-18 May 2014
More info

Making Tracks is programmed & produced by KAPA Productions funded by Arts Council England.
www.makingtrackslive.org.uk

Participating venues include: 

The Apex (Bury St Edmunds), Colston Hall (Bristol), The Junction (Cambridge), Lighthouse (Poole), mac (Birmingham), NCEM (York), Pontardawe Arts Centre (Swansea),  Rich Mix (London), The Sage Gateshead, The Stables (Milton Keynes), Wiltshire Music Centre (Bradford-on-Avon)