Abhishek Raghuram/H M Smitha/Vijay Natesan/Bharadwaj- Margesheershothsava, Surabharathi, Bangalore - 5th Jan, 2017

[dipukaruthedam]

01. sarasijAkshi - nAyaki
02. dEva dEva kalayAmi - mAyAmAlavagowla (S)
swaras at jAtaroopa
03. kandu kandu - sahAna (A, S)
swaras at kandu kandu
04. gAnamUrte - gAnamUrti (A)
05. nagumOmu ganaleni - Abheri (N)
neraval at jagamEle paramAtma
06. sATileni guruguha - pUrvikalyani (A, N, S, T)
neraval and swaras at kOTi manmatha
07. brova vamma - nIlAmbari
08. bhaja bhaja mAnasa - sindhubhairavi (O)
09. patiki hAra tire - suraTi
10. pavamAna

Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes

It was an excellent concert as expected from Abhishek. The first two items were quick "starters" with sound system adjustments happening in between. For the second song, Abhishek even asked the sound engineer to reverse the feedback speakers towards audience and turn a pair of audience speakers towards the artists. Thankfully, this was reverted at the end of second song

Then the main course started with a very nice sahAna, both raga alapana and swaras were very nice. The highlight for me was the gAnamUrti, with an excellent, detailed alapana and beautiful rendition. The 2 detailed songs till now didn't include neraval (and this is something that I look forward in concerts, and Abhishek is one of those artists who can give wonderful neravals). This was compensated with an awesome neraval for the nagumOmu ganaleni that followed which was superb as a whole as well. The main was pUrvikalyani, another excellent rendition and superb neraval and swaras with very nicely woven patterns. The "desserts" (post main) were also good, and were given the typical Abhishek treatment..

H M Smitha was quite good and supported Abhishek very well and some of her alapana returns were very nice. I especially enjoyed the Sahana and pUrvikalyani. Vijay Natesan was supporting nicely and played with lot of vigour and anticipation. With Bharadwaj, the thani was presented nicely. For me, a minor issue was the morsing play during violin returns. It was louder than required (for me) and felt that it was not fully in sync with the violin many times. But it was good during the thani.

~Dipu

Note: This is not a review, but notes on my personal experience, I may be factually/technically wrong

[hnbhagavan]

Where was this held?Did not see any announcements.

[dipukaruthedam]

Where was this held?Did not see any announcements.

Surabharathi, 9th C Main Rd, HRBR Layout 1st Block, HRBR Layout, Banswadi, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043

Details appeared in "Upcoming concerts in Bangalore" FB group and is also updated at K P Jayan's site as well.

[Ranganator]

How come there was no RTP? The given time elicits one.

[HarishankarK]

Must have really gone overboard with the PK alapana and neraval/swaras, sparing no time for RTP.

Remember is long, tiresome PK alapana here in Sydney. Too many hollow sangatis with vocal gymnastics. Any physical gymnastics also. Wonder why I remember that bad concert so vividly.

[dipukaruthedam]

That was not the case here, i felt that the time was fairly distributed across first few songs. He spent approx 25 min for sahAna, 25 min for gAamUrti, 20 min for Abheri and around 40 min for purvIkalyAni (without thani).

[dipukaruthedam]

The recorded version appears to be coming in Sankara TV. see https://www.facebook.com/groups/7733303 ... 457194485/