Percussion pundit Sivamani, jazz legend Louiz Banks, & ‘zitar’ prodigy Niladri Kumar fuse genius with joy at Times Ahmedabad Festival
The captivating tunes of ‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ — one of Gandhiji’s favourite bhajans — zapped the large audience at Times Ahmedabad Festival’s Asia Electrik performance on Sunday evening at the Vastrapur Amphitheatre. Asia Electrik — comprising world percussion pundit Sivamani, ‘zitar’ prodigy Niladri Kumar, and jazz king Louiz Banks — rocked the city with fresh fusion that was infused with the sensibility of jazz, bhajans, and garba beats. The gorgeous backdrop of Ahmedabad’s signature Sidi Saiyad Ni Jali added magnificence to the magical performance of the trio.
The entry of musicians prompted zealous cries from the audience. Sivamani was dressed in red, Kumar in full-white Jabhalengha suit, and Banks shone in black. The Asia Electrik trio hypnotized the large crowds with fast-beat fusion jazz. Hearts reverberated with excitement as the programme progressed with zany and zestful sounds.
One of the many high-points of the show came when the band recalled Jimi Hendrix’s rousing rhythms. Sivamani often moved towards the crowds while playing solo compositions and every time he neared the audience, excited fans greeted him deafening cries. The crowds were overjoyed and the shouts of “wah wah” filled the amphitheatre when Sivamani played tritaal and typical Garba beats in seamless fusion with mainstream rock music.
Sivamani was at his experimental best as he invited a 14-year-old boy to play on an empty steel box with him. Later, he surprised the audience as he played rare music beating sticks on a maroon-coloured travel suitcase. He turned this bag into a tabla and played typical Garba beats on it.
Sivamani’s captivating boldness, surprise moves of Niladri’s zitar, and the exquisite notes of Banks’s keyboards touched the soul of audiences with rich ‘generation next’ music.
