LES DANGEREUSES

This is an innovative collaboration between Juliet Roberts, Shubha Mudgal and Kandia Kouyate, artists from UK, India and Mali. The project will help develop cultural links between the artists of the countries involved as well as create awareness of the different genres of music prevalent in those countries. It involves the creation of new music and will have a long life of its own – through performances and recordings - as well as provide a fascinating springboard for others to build on.

In India the tradition of “THUMRI” had its origins in the expression of love for the deity KRISHNA when it was linked with mime of KATHAK dance and storytellers. This evolved into a form of expression of love between human beings but with spiritual undertones. This style reached its height in the courts and the intimate “music rooms” of the wealthy and eventually developed into a stage entertainment art form with links to the high class courtesan tradition. The singers were great entertainers, storytellers and musicians and the lyrics full of beautiful poetry often in praise of their patrons. The music is full of improvisation.

MALI has a similar genre in the form of the Manding court tradition of praise historians or griots. The music often has a bluesy feel about it with lyrics that offer a blend of history as well as topical messages, betrayal, conflict and love. There is close communication between the singer and audience.

While JAZZ comes out of the deeply emotional experiences of people displaced from their roots, it has great intensity and an ambience not too far from the other two styles with the intimate atmosphere of the jazz club, songs of love, separation, praise, with a strong bias in story telling.

This is a world-class production providing a platform for three world class musicians and their accompanists to share their experience and work with each others different styles with the public in concert.

The Artists

There can be no one better than JULIET ROBERTS to portray the deep emotions of jazz. One of the most powerful voices in contemporary British music, Juliet Roberts has the great ability to embellish the words of a song with her own character and command over music. Jazz is often said to come nearest to Indian music when in comes to improvisation and the intimate nature of the performance - an ambience in which Juliet Roberts excels.

SHUBHA MUDGAL is classically trained and is bestowed with a powerful and resonant voice with an equally powerful stage presence. A versatile singer she made her name with her involvement in the Bollywood industry and then by targeting younger audiences with her innovative work with contemporary music with her experiments taking her to perform with the likes of Nikki Yeoh in London and in India (described by the British Council as one of the most exciting events they had arranged)

KANDIA KOUYATE is one of Mali's most enigmatic singers whose album BIRIKO (Stern’s) has been called one of the most important recordings of traditional African music in the new millennium. She is a real ngara - a real historian of exemplary character with a huge personality. Her music is full of improvisation and comes from a court tradition that is even today performed for her patrons and in intimate gatherings. Her importance in the context of world music is undisputed.

UK TOUR DATES