Smt. Bombay Jayashri @Gayana Samaj, Bangalore, on 30/01/2011

[squims]

Vocal: Smt. Bombay Jayashri
Violin: Sri. Embar S Kannan
Mridangam: Sri. Patri Satishkumar
Kanjari: Sri. Anirudh Athreya

1.Sri Maha ganapathim ravatumam[S] - Gowla - Mishra Chapu - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
2. Raghuveera Ranadheera - Huseni - Rupakam - Tyagaraja
3. Baagayanayya[R S] - Chandrajyothi - Adi - Tyagaraja
4. Hiranmayeem[R N S] - Lalitha - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
Neraval and Swaram @sangIta vAdya vinOdini
5. Sarasasaamadaana - Kapi Narayani - Adi - Tyagaraja
6. Swara raagasudhaarasa[R N S] - Shankarabharanam - Adi(2 kalai) - Tyagaraja
Neraval @rajata girISuDu nagajaku delpu swarArNava marmamulu, Swarams @swara rAga sudhA rasa
7. Smaranyonde saalade - Malayamarutam - Adi - Purandaradasa
8. RTP - Andolika, Chandrakauns [Raagamalika swarams in Revathi, ?, Charukeshi] - Chatushra jaathi Jhampa (Mishra gati) followed by Thani
Pallavi line - jAnakI manOhara raghukula raghukula bhooSaNa, duhkha harana kamala carana nannu brOvu
9. Aalokaye baalakrishnam - Charukeshi - Adi - Narayana Teertha
10. Tillana - Pahadi - Mishra Chapu - Lalgudi Jayaraman
11. Sarvamangala maangalye (Mangalam) - Yaman Kalyani


Jayashri is one of those artists who is blessed with a divine voice. For someone with such a gift, she could have taken it easy since just about anything she sings would sound good anyway. But she strives to to give better music, with depth, in every concert of hers I listen to. She pushes herself in the right direction. This concert was one of the best I've heard from her in the past few months. Though she started out fine, it was in Chandrajyothi that Jayashri really found her groove. The aalaapanai was crystal clear. Both Jayashri and Kannan played off each other very well. Baagayanayya is one of my favourite krithis and the artistes did it complete justice.
The aalaapanai for Lalitha might have lasted just over a minute or so. A bit disappointing. The krithi rendition was fine, but somehow I felt something was a bit lacking. A slightly slower tempo might have helped I guess. Neraval and swaram were decent. Overall, a good piece nonetheless.
After the breezy Sarasasaamadaana, came the absolute gem of this concert, the Shankarabharanam. It was filled with soukhyam. Jayashri and Kannan both outdid themselves in the aalaapanai. I could go on and on about how each phrase of the raagam was embellished by both these artistes. I can't remember the last time I was this happy after listening to Shankarabharanam. The krithi was lovely too. The neraval was satisfactory. The swarams were exemplary. [P.S. No thani followed this. The maamaas and maamis who had decided it was going to be thani next, and gotten up and were ready by the doors to exit were a bit lost as to what to do next.]
As expected, the RTP followed. I know I'm going to sound like a gushy fanboy here, but really, both the raagams (Aandolika and Chandrakauns) were handled with such aplomb. It was an immense joy to listen to both the vocal and the violin. The Aandolika was a treat especially. The pallavi in chatushra jhampa (mishra gati) was commendable. Jayashri is perfect when it comes to singing raagamalika swarams and makes it seem like a walk in the park. The transitions between all the raagams were aesthetically done. Patri Satishkumar who had been playing with the utmost softness(with remarkable anticipation) till then, took full control of the stage with the thani. Both Satishkumar and Anirudh Athreya performed excellently. Due to the complexity of the taalam (instead of the usual aadi, rupakam etc.), it was really entertaining. While not using some insanely unimaginable kanakku, the thani was kept crisp, efficient and was extremely energitic. I particularly enjoyed the brief tishram phrases and the lovely korvai.
The tukkuda section was short and sweet. The usual Lalgudi tillana concluded the concert.
Here's hoping that Jayashri keeps giving performances of this calibre for many more years to come!

[gardabha_gana]

I enjoyed the concert too. Unlike my earlier concert of hers, http://rasikas.org/forums/viewtopic.php? ... 4&p=184235 - I had no issues with raga identification. I even got chandrajyothi and chandrakauns in the alapana I felt that lalitha should have had an alapana (no compaints though - one does not get to hear CJ much with alapana). I liked the SB alapana and the return more so. However, Swararaga sudha was faster than some other renditions that I have heard. The RTP was really nice and in a not-so-comon-talam-to-me. Andolika (which a neighbor of mine identified) and CK were handled very nicely. I liked this concert more than the MFA one. Man the hall was full - I had to sit in the pathway.

I wish she does start with some varam of her guru, LGJ sir. I would love to hear the bowli or the neelambari one - If she or someone who knows her reads this board

Eagerly waiting for Sanjay the master with Nagai the great!

[rshankar]

I felt that lalitha should have had an alapana (no compaints though - one does not get to hear CJ much with alapana)

Was this wrong then?

4. Hiranmayeem[R N S] - Lalitha - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar

[squims]

The aalaapanai for Lalitha might have lasted just over a minute or so. A bit disappointing.

I was confused whether to put the 'R' in the song list or not. Decided to include it in the end, but post this detail in the review.

[srikant1987]

squims, You could have called it a "sketch" in the list.

Anyway, I have come across exactly two attempts at manOdharma in lalitA and both of them were very scalar and terrible.

To me, hiraNmayIm is such a beautiful and complete krti. When rendered properly, it can bring out the full weight of lalitA on its own.

[squims]

I have a recording of TMK singing Hiranmayeem in his usual chauka kaalam. Works wonderfully for this kriti/ragam.

[thenpaanan]

squims, You could have called it a "sketch" in the list.

Anyway, I have come across exactly two attempts at manOdharma in lalitA and both of them were very scalar and terrible.

To me, hiraNmayIm is such a beautiful and complete krti. When rendered properly, it can bring out the full weight of lalitA on its own.

Nonetheless, all my attempts at trying alapana in lalitA (swarams seem a little easier) have come to nought. I always come away deeply unsatisfied even when I am satisfied with my treatment of hiraNmayIm (which is also not often) which indicates to me that I have not absorbed the ragam. It is the same with the related ragam Paras of SrI Sukra bhagavantam. Both these ragas seem elusive to me. Singing just the kritis as taught seems just like reciting, not making music. But as you point out there are no examples out there to learn from.

-Then Paanan

[sridhar_ranga]

Happened to be in Madurai around New years time a month ago, and listened to an excellent alapana of lalita by the carnatica brothers at the sadguru samajam. Could it have been scalar? may be...am not knowledgeable enough to recognize the nuances I guess - but it felt excellent; raga mostly by Sasikiran, nice reply by NC Madhav, followed by hiranmayim lakshmim finished off with a few very energetic swara rounds by Ganesh. If only the samajam had better acoustics, the experience would have been even more ecstatic.