Jairaj and Jaishree Veena Duet at BGS 23-12-2009 3.45 to 5.4

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 24 Dec 2009, 23:28

Mannarkoil J Balaji Mridangam; Srirangam Ravikrishnan -Ghatam

It was an excellent concert by the duo consisting of the following items.

1) Sahana -Varnam
2) Mahaganapathim-Naata-C.Ekam
3) Sogasuga Mridanga Talamu-Sriranjani-Rupakam
4) Sriguruguha -Devakriya-Rupakam
5) Ekambranatham-Poorvikalyani-Adi
6) Shyamalambike-Thilang-Adi

Special mention needs to be made for Sriranjani "Sogasuga" Kriti wherein the duo presented swaras at Sogasuga, Mridanga and at Talamu with different mathematical combinations and also 3 Mukthayee swaras for all the three eduppus which was widely appreciated.

The Poorvikalyani took the centre stage with Jairaj doing a relaxed raga alapana and the thanam that followed featured Bahudari, Hamirkalyani, bageshri, Sri).

Niraval was done at Om Kaara roopam Shivam with a final mukthayee korvai.

The audience turnout was really encouraging and i could see Arasi Madam really enjoying the show and also i could see Kamalamba for sometime and i saw Mr.Hari from Bangalore (s_hari).

I thought one of them will write about this concert. Instead of a mridangist writing this review i thought it would be better if any rasikas wrote as i saw three of them at least or they thought since i was the mridangam player i will surely write and so i did for these excellent artistes who deserve all praise for their dedicated work, sincere efforts and meticulous planning.

The sound system was excellent in Brahma Gana Sabha with excellent artiste feedback.

Ravikrishnan on the ghatam was unobstrusive to the proceedings and did a decent job during tani avartanam.

Mannarkoil J Balaji

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 25 Dec 2009, 06:50

Lovely review Balaji

Having seen you on stage I am sure the rasikas would have already assumed that the review was on its way from the scene of action

I am sure your accompanimemt too would have been wonderful

J&J are top notch veena artists and I hope to attend one of their concerts this season.

mridhangam · Post by **mridhangam** » 25 Dec 2009, 07:31

Members read the review in Dinamani today at the following location :

http://epaper.dinamani.com/newsview.asp ... hive=false

J.Balaji

kamalamba · Post by **kamalamba** » 25 Dec 2009, 08:20

Balaji sir, thanks for starting this thread.

What a nice concert this was.

Sriranjani, in particular was out of the world, with the swarams and the nice kanakkus leading up to sogasuga, mridanga, and thalamu. Nattai was compact and enjoyable as well. The ragam in poorvikalyani and in particular the thanam was well presented.

Apologies to J and J, I could not stay till the end, since my father (Gobilalitha who was also at the concert), at his age was uncomfortable sitting too long, but was very enthusiastic about attending the concert of fellow rasikas.

Balaji sir, I also meant to catch up with you before or after the concert, but will do so in a future concert.

Rajani · Post by **Rajani** » 25 Dec 2009, 09:29

Thanks Sri Balaji, for that lovely review and for thoughtfully providing the link to the newspaper article.

I was there at the concert too, and found it to be superb. The Sriranjani and the Tanam were thrilling indeed.

veenajj · Post by **veenajj** » 25 Dec 2009, 10:20

Balaji, thank you for the writeup, and thanks to all the rasikas for attending the concert.

With respect to Balaji's accompaniment, we would like to add a few words from a performer's perspective. Balaji's passion on stage is very infectious. His style of playing is soft yet competitive. His anticipation often results in more "on-stage" improvisations. Balaji's Thani too was very classy.

Jeyaraaj & Jaysri