Kunnakudi BalamuraliKrisha - Shruthilaya concert on May 9th

[fuddyduddy]

A powerful concert by KBMK last Sunday in the Queens area. Particularly liked the Varali and Devagandhari(s).

1. Neranammithi - Kaanada varnam.
2. Pahi pahi bala ganapathe - Hamsadwani
3. Endaro mahanubhavulu - Sri
4. Vinaradhana - Devagandhari
5. Kamakshi - Varali
6. Shirasaagarashayana - Devagandhari (request from audience - he apologized for singing Devagandhari again)
7. Seethamma - Vasantha
8. Jagadeeshwari - Mohanam
9. Maaye - Tarangini
10. Arabhi Maanam - Raagamalikai
11. Vagaladhi - Behaag
12. Thillana - Surutti

He mentioned in between that due to 'Mothers Day' he will sing a majority of Devi songs... His voice was in perfect form. His telugu pronunciation and diction was very good (as mentioned by a number of Telugu audience). The person who felicitated him (Mrs. Balachander) was talking about how he is the most modest amongst the young musicians and how she had attended all his concerts last Dec in Chennai..

(Wish I could give more technical details but will try to do so for his next 2 concerts, May 22nd CMANA-NJ and May 29th at Pomona).

[ShrutiLaya]

It was a great concert. I'm rather surprised that KBMK's US tour isn't generating more reports and reviews! I understood from the artists that this was the 17th concert. They only have two more weekends in the US and then they will return home.

- Sreenadh

[arasi]

Fuddyduddy and Shrutilaya,
Thank you for the reviews. Yes, would be nice if there are more reviews about good performers like him.
I heard that Balamurali sang in both the rAgams a senior rasikA had requested just before the concert. Made a happy Mothers Day gift for her!

[kssr]

Young KBMK is a highly talented singer. Have heard him sometime back in Bangalore. We wish him all the best.
More importantly, I could not wait to write this as this would be my 100th mail in this forum-wanted to complete my century fast! Also to feel humble after 'arasi''s post ,who is approaching the 7500 run mark!!

[VK RAMAN]

Congrats for the first century!

[arasi]

kssr,
Actually, I'm the one who should feel humbled--for being a big mouth

[cienu]

More importantly, I could not wait to write this as this would be my 100th mail in this forum-wanted to complete my century fast! Also to feel humble after 'arasi''s post ,who is approaching the 7500 run mark!!

Was tempted to check how many posts I had made after I read the above.
The score was 1001

[arasi]

Cienu,
That's some number! Yes, keep posting--particularly about the music in your family. You know how much we all appreciate vignettes from you and bits of information which bring to us your musical family's history with accuracy.

[ksrimech]

Tendulkar : Run Machine :: Arasi : Post Machine

I'm the worst poster. I have only 718 posts though I was the first one to register in the old forum.

[arasi]

Krishna,
See, commenting about the post machine increases the number of your posts. You are not only the oldest poster but also an 'elder' among us elders when it comes to vishayam (substance)--especially in vaishNavite literature and music.
By the way, being called a machine isn't that bad if I'm in the company of one of cricket's greats, eh?

[barrakooka]

KBMK sang a nice dharmavathi followed by bhajan seya radha at san jose. As a listener who can just identify a few ragams by their bhavam, his dharmavathi sounded so good. Though his throat was in very very bad shape during the concert, he managed to sing very well. Infact, he drank nearly 10-12 coffees during the whole concert (maybe to keep his throat warm). After attending the concert, he was talking to someone outside and his voice literally did not come out as he was finding it hard to speak, I wonder how he managed to sing well there. Wanted to hear a long concert of his, but his bad throat along with Sri Trichur Ramachandran's concert as the next one, made it a normal-length concert (well it was 2.30 hrs i guess). But then Sri Trichur Ramachandran's concert was too brilliant.

[kssr]

Tendulkar : Run Machine :: Arasi : Post Machine
P

Why not "Post Master" !!!

About sore throat singing, the worst (or is it the best) that I have heard is that of Madurai Somu. I had gone to his house in Madurai ,as a young boy accompanying my uncle to invite Sri.Somu to perform in their sabha in Karaikudi. He just could not speak. Totally blocked but then that same evening's concert was such a grand affair- gruff voice as usual but not blocked in any way. Great musicians are of a totally different creed!!

[sramaswamy]

Infact, he drank nearly 10-12 coffees during the whole concert (maybe to keep his throat warm).

Must have been water. Coffee will dehydrate you.

[mahakavi]

...yes. If it was from a flask it could be hot/warm water to keep the throat muscles relaxed.

[barrakooka]

It was not from a flask, but rather in foam cups, as and when he finished a cup, organizers were bringing in another cup. So there was atleast 1 person who was frequently walking to the stage (ofcourse from the back of the stage) handing over and collecting cups. Infact he did have a flask and was using it for the first half of the concert. So I rightaway decided it should be coffee given that I'm also fond of coffee . Whatever the drink may be, it seems to have helped his throat and showed he took pains to sing well. Also he just sang 2 thukkadas before finishing the concert (1 was Arabhi maanam in arachi&anadha bhairavi, and the other one on Murugan I think, as it had words like mayil etc.).

[ksrimech]

especially in vaishNavite literature and music.

May be the first still not sure. :envy: Definitely not the second one. I have been verbally assaulted up before for just saying I learnt CMfrom Dr SR and Gurucharan's Mother. So I will not claim anything.

[arasi]

Come on, Krishna! If anything, your knowledge would make others envious, though to be envious is not a good thing! About your learning from Dr. SR and Gurucharan's mother, surely, one should be impressed rather than treat you with nastiness

[ksrimech]

Arasi - Dont bother about it. Things are not going to change. The joke is I learnt my most favorite varnam (SrI rAga) from SRJ mAmA. It was the only one. I still cherish it as the ultimate. I don't care what others think. 8)

[arasi]

That's the spirit! Being a stray learner myself, I cherish the ones I learnt from a few greats too!

[ksrimech]

Arasi-My inspiration for learning and singing was and is Dr SR. He used to say "Umaya tavuttu yaru vENum nAlum pADalAm" (Any one other than a "mute" person can sing!). I think he used to say that because there would be not use teaching a dumb person. Otherwise Dr SR would have also taught music to such a person.