JB Sruthi Sagar & JB Keerthana for Sampoornam Foundation - 8 Dec 2016

[Vocalist]

JB Sruthi Sagar & JB Keerthana (flute & vocal)
L Ramakrishna (violin)
Sumesh Narayanan (mridangam)
Nerkunam Sankar (khanjira)

Dec 8th, 4:30pm

Shri Kantho (slokam)
Brihaspathe - Atana - Adi (2 kalai) - MD (o,S)
Vaa Muruga - Begada - Rupakam - R. Spencer Venugopal (r)
Sandhehamu - Kalyani - Adi (tisra nadai) - T (R,N,s)
Vidajaladhura - Janaranjani - Adi - T
Ita Dokkade - Harikambhoji - Adi - Annamacharya (R,S,T)
Ara Amudhe Arashe - Ragamalika - Adi - Thayumanavar
Asai Mugam - Jonpuri - Adi - Subramania Bharathiyar

In my opinion, this dynamic flautist vocalist sibling duo will fill the void left 25+years ago when the DKP & DKJ combo was no more. They follow that same bani so faithfully, and like DKP/DKJ, have such a beautiful sense of camraderie, appreciation of each other's music, and love for one another. The majority of the webcast at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B5uBzyYxV4 speaks for itself.

The opening Navagraha krithi of Dikshitar was a bit too heavy to start this concert for me. The siblings handled kalpanaswaras at the pallavi line in both speeds. Keerthana's short raga outline in Begada was impressive; this led into the rendition of a DKJ staple in the same raga. Each of the characteristic sangathis of DKJ was performed well during the composition by the duo.

Sruthisagar next took up an alapana in Kalyani containing many characteristics of the DKP/DKJ school which had everyone's heads shaking in bliss. The aesthetics were beautiful during his alapana. Another "heavy" composition was chosen after the alapana though which took a toll on Keerthana's voice with sruthi lapses and vocal struggles in the higher octaves. This was increasingly evident through the nereval (at the words "Vandhe Guru" in the charanam) and the swaras that followed. While I don't think that composition was the right choice at all in this list even as a DKP staple, the negatives of the concert reached an end at this point.

An unbelievably speedy but impressive rendition of Thyagaraja's composition in Janaranjani lifted spirits again prior to the flute starting the main in Harikambhoji. Sruthisagar, with his skilful sparkling sancharas, had me totally mesmerised during his alapana again. It reminded me of DKJ sir's rendition of the raga plus more. It explains why DKP's granddaughter (Nithyasree Mahadevan) once noted that this raga is considered by her family as their wealth. Sruthisagar at one point indicated for his sister to take over with a vocal alapana before the violinist played a solo alapana too - I liked the last couple of minutes best out of his violin solo.

Keerthana's voice was back in form as she took up Annamayya's "Ita Dokade". Her brighas, the way she handled the composition, and the uncanny similarity between her voice and DKP had me picturing Pattamma ma'am singing the whole time. Swaras were appropriately taken at "Kaliki Yashodhaku" with one sibling reminding of the best of DKP and the other reminding me of the best of DKJ. An enjoyable thani avarthanam followed.

The excitement in the air grew with Keerthana singing Aaraa Amudhe starting off in Senchurutti. Wow, how much it seemed as if I heard DKP singing live. The nadai change into Sindhubhairavi was a bit abrupt but so what - I felt through Sruthisagar's playing I was still able to hear the depth of DKJ's voice, particularly when DKJ sir would render compositions in that raga.

The concert was concluded with an evergreen gem of Bharathiyar often sung by (and sung just the way I remember) DKJ sir. As said in the speech at the end of the concert, this was an appropriate choice in view of the composer-poet's upcoming birthday anniversary.

What a bright future these two have! What sweet pure music they presented without any silly unnecessary gimmicks. I cant wait to attend their concert in person later this year!

[sankark]

Sandhehamu - Kalyani - Adi (tisra nadai) - T (R,N,s)

For someone that usually tunes out for kalyAni AlApanais, I actually listened to this kalyAni elaboration by JBS on flute. It is v good.