Kunnakudi Balamuralikrisha @ Austin, April 10, 2010

[Enna_Solven]

Kunnakudi Balamuralikrisha - Vocal
S.D. Sridhar - Violin
Suriya Subramanian - Mridhangam (our local artist)

At University of Texas, Austin, ART Auditorium, Sunday 04/10/2010
Duration: 2 hours

It was not well advertised and the crowd turnout other than UT students was about 10. It was a disappointment for such a good artist.

1. Valaci Vacci - Navaragamalika
2. Deva Deva - Mayamalavagowlai (swaram @ jata rupa)
3. Enduku Nirdaya - Harikambhoji
4. Shankari Shamkuru - Saveri (R NS @ syama krishna)
5. Nagumomu - Abheri (brief alapana, but well done)
6. Sobilu Saptaswara - Jaganmohini (swarams @ dhara Rk)
7. Kalyani main - Etavunara (neraval at Seetha Gowri) followed by thani
8. Idathu Padam - Khamas
9. Thillana Gi ta du ni ki - Dhanasri

Harikambhoji and Kalyani were the highlights for me. Kalyani neraval had lots of laya based singing. I found that part hard to understand.

He sang Khamas and Harikambhoji in the same concert. I was struck by how close they sounded yet how he maintained the difference. Is it true that Chembai avoided Harikambhoji because of this closeness?

[harimau]

Kunnakudi Balamuralikrisha - Vocal
S.D. Sridhar - Violin
Suriya Subramanian - Mridhangam (our local artist)

It was not well advertised and the crowd turnout other than UT students was about 10. It was a disappointment for such a good artist.

In modern marketing parlance, the singer lacks a USP. He needs a crowd-puller along the lines of the Blind Monkey song. Then the great unwashed masses would turn out in silk sarees and colorful jibbas.

[sreecons]

[rajeshnat]

enna_solven
I was wondering why no one has yet reviewed this artist in his us tour. I am assuming you must have got a semmangudi'sh touch in this concert

[semmu86]

It was not well advertised and the crowd turnout other than UT students was about 10. It was a disappointment for such a good artist.

Just as Palghat Mani Iyer was once reported to have said " A musician needs to have some "anAvasyams" ( in harimau's words , those USP songs) to take him/her to the zenith of popularity" ..

What a great foresight from the master .. Rajesh , his concerts do have that Semmangudi'sh touch , from whatever little i have heard of him .. Another promising artiste from PSN's disciples' army..

[Enna_Solven]

I have just one CD by him that I got during my last Chennai visit. I liked it and so wanted to go and listen to him in person.

His Enduku Nirdaya reminded me of Ramnad Krishnan, very emotive.

[fuddyduddy]

Well, True music will prevail...
And am happy that BMK is one artiste who I know personally and does not involve himself in the 'anavasyams'. And also wont resort to that to get his fame. For his age, I think he already has considerable fame through his purity in his music.. And the respect he has for his lineage will do the rest for him!
I have seen so many political instances acting against him and I have been proudly admiring him for just standing up to traditional 'carnatic' music. He reminds me of 'Howard Roarke' in the classic Ayn Rand 'Fountainhead'. Which to me is 'success' already at this young age, for being able to put up with all back-ground noises and continuing to just 'sing' for the pleasure of singing!

[t2kr]

agreed, very talented up & coming artist- he's just 25!

heard his natakurranji RTP in cleveland- it was very good.

[arasi]

I heard him a couple of times last season and liked his singing very much. Out of the two, the concert I heard in MFA was my pick. He is no nonsense and sings with bhAvam.