DARBAR SOUTH ASIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2008 4-6 April 2008 Phoenix, Newarke Street, Leicester, LE1 5TE Tickets: Festival Pass from only £90 Ssession prices from £13 and £18 Box office: 0116 255 4854 www.darbar.org.uk

The Darbar South Asian Music Festival 2008 (April 4th to 6th) includes established artists like the multi-talented Pandit Nayan Ghosh on Tabla and Sitar, Surbahar maestro Irshad Khan and Uday Bhawalkar representing the ancient tradition of Dhrupad. The festival promises three days - 25 hours of music, morning, afternoon and evening concerts, dozens of artists and over 20 musical traditions.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Tarun Jasani - Sarod

Transport yourself on a journey to Persia and South Asia with the sounds of the ancient Sarod and the Tabla. Tarun Jasani, on Sarod, a powerful, yet melancholic instrument and Gurdain Rayatt on Tabla are just two of the growing number of UK based artists enthralling audiences around the country.

Rakesh Chaurasia - Flute

Like his legendary uncle, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Rakesh commands the Bansari flute with strength, dexterity and serenity. While his roots are firmly classical, he's also blended the sounds of the hollow bamboo with melodies of jazz, film music and Spanish guitar. He is accompanied by Yogesh Samsi, a Tabla player whose reputation is built on his consummate artistry of this versatile percussion instrument.

Session 2: 3.00pm

Audience with Shashwati Mandal Paul - Exploring the Heritage of Tappa Vocal

Tappa encapsulates high energy, swinging rhythms and quick turns of melodies. The origins of this high octane vocal style go back to the ancient songs of the camel drivers of Punjab and Sind.

Sanjay Subrahmanyan - Carnatic Vocal

An afternoon fiesta of carnatic sounds led by Sanjay Subrahmanyan,a powerful and energetic singer who blends classical compositions with a rich array of new ideas. S. Varadharajan plays the violin with grace, fluidity and pace. Dynamic and complex rhythms are provided by R. N. Prakash on Ghatam - or clay pot - and Neyveli Venkatesh on Mridangam.

Session 3: 7.00pm

Irshad Khan - Surbahar

"To watch Irshad play is like watching a man go through a mystical experience," was one reviewers comments after being spell bound by the sonorous sounds of the Surbahar. Irshad's music is spontaneous,vibrant & sensual and you scarcely need to be an expert in Indian Music to appreciate the brilliant flights of fingers moving across what is often described as the bass sitar. Beside him is Shrikanth Mishra, a rich talent at Pakhawaj, who has accompanied many contemporary Dhrupad masters.

Pandit Nayan Ghosh - Tabla

Acclaimed as one of India's finest Tabla players, Pandit Nayan Ghosh is notorious for rarely practising. Nevertheless his innate artistry, rich repertoire and tonal brilliance comes shining through his storehouse of Tabla rhythms. Accompanying him in this unmissable Tabla solo is Dilshad Khan playing the eloquent Sarangi.

There are 30 minute breaks between items and about 2 hours for lunch.

Saturday 05 April 2008

Session 4: 10.00am

S. Varadharajan - Carnatic Violin

Fast, dynamic, complex weaving carnatic melodies and rhythms to light up Saturday morning. S. Varadharajan on violin leads this ensemble with RN Prakash on the Ghatam or clay pot and Neyveli Venkatesh on Mridangam. Together they take you on an improvised journey that will have you tapping your feet long after the performance.

Debojyoti Bose - Sarod

The Sarod in the hands of Debojyoti Bose, younger brother of Tabla maestro Pandit Kumar Bose, moves listeners through an endless variety of moods and energy levels. His compositions display agility, and an explorative mind that moves across different musical schools with melodic snippets collected from far and near. He is accompanied by the ever-excellent, Shabaz Hussain.

Session 5: 3.00pm

Audience with Bikram Ghosh and members of Sunev on creating cross cultural music

Cross-cultural music has been around for generations. Today it is sometimes called fusion. Bikram Ghosh - a master of percussion with Tabla, Hand Sonic, Tamborine and more - talks about his own experiences of bringing different musical traditions on the same stage. Sunev featuring Bikram Ghosh on Tabla, Djamel Benyelles on Electronic Rai Violin, Jesse Bannister on Saxaphone and Pete Locket on Drumand Dharbuka. Sunev is a Chakardar creation.

Sunev is the harmonious synthesis of four great artistic traditions: Jazz, Indian, Western and Arabic. The music is compellingly beautiful and infinitely creative. Four great artists come together for this creative venture that weaves musical melodies across space and time.

Session 6: 7.00pm

Bhupinder Singh Chaggar - Tabla Solo

Schooled in one the famous Benares gharana, Leeds based Bhupinder Chaggar's Tabla repertoire reaches beyond his classical training. He's mixed Tabla playing with Flemenco, Western percussion, soul and hip-hop. Tonight, he plays solo with Sarangi exponent Dilshad Khan.

Kaushiki Chakrabarty - Vocal

"Kaushiki Chakrabarty is one of the very few classical vocalists who will make a mark in the 21st century…." An assessment made by Bhimsen Joshi, one of India's greatest classical vocalists of the modern era. It is said that at the age of two she could carry a phrase perfectly. Her fourth release "Pure" bagged her a BBC World Music Award in 2005. Daughter of revered vocalist Ajoy Chakrabarty, Kaushiki's performance is one not to be missed from a star in the making.

Accompanied by Sanju Sahai on Tabla and Ajay Joglekar on harmonium.

There are 30 minute breaks between items and about 2 hours for lunch.

Sunday 06 April 2008

Session 7: 10.00am

Kaviraj Singh - Santoor

A rising UK musicial talent, son of eminent musician Dharambir Singh, he has a talent for playing Santoor, Tabla and singing. The Santoor, which Kaviraj plays this morning, is the Indian version of hammered dulcimer, the delicate, shimmering sounds of which conjure up visions of Kashmir and foothills of the Himalayas. A wonderful way to welcome in Sunday morning. Upneet Singh, an up-and-coming musician, accompanies him on Tabla.

Session 8: 3.00pm

Pandit Nayan Ghosh - Sitar

For those of you who saw Pandit Nayan Ghosh playing Tabla solo, here is your chance to see him with his other chosen instrument the Sitar. His playing reflects artistic brilliance, rich repertoire and a fluid sparkle that only the most accomplished of musicians reach. UK-based Sanju Sahai, from the Benares gharana, provides the excellent rhythm on Tabla.

Session 8: 3.00pm

Audience with Nayan Ghosh - Discover the Heritage of Tabla

Pandit Nayan Ghosh talks about his rich musical upbringing in a family steeped in artistry, how he took up both Sitar and Tabla and the heritage of Tabla and Indian percussion.

Uday Bhawalkar - Dhrupad vocal

Dhrupad: ancient, spiritual, austere and sublime is believed to be the oldest surviving form of North Indian classical vocal music, dating back to the 15th century. Uday Bhawalkar is one of the finest exponents of this genre. He is accompanied by Shrikanth Mishra on Pakhawaj.

Session 9: 7.00pm

Shashwati Mandal Paul - Tappa Vocal

A not to be missed opportunity to hear Tappa - a lighter form of high energy, brisk, rhythmical classical music that has its origins in the folk songs of the camel drivers of Punjab and Sind. Hear Shashwati Mandal Paul, a renowned exponent of Tappa, give a virtuoso performance few others could carry off. She is accompanied by Ajay Joglekar on Harmonium and Shahbaz Hussain on Tabla.

Purbayan Chatterjee - Sitar

Listening to Purbayan Chatterjee one would think that this a musician who has been at the top of his profession for many years, such is the level of maturity and technical competence in his playing. In a very short time this young maestro has established himself as an artist of great invention who is poised to take the Sitar to new heights. Accompanying him on Tabla is Yogesh Samsi, one of the foremost players of our generation.

There are 30 minute breaks between items and about 2 hours for lunch.