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Indian classical music and dance will be in focus at this years Chicago Music Festival
At the 12th annual Chicago World Music Festival one of the most reputed music festivals in the United States Indian music aficionados will have some reason to cheer. The week-long festival opens with a four-day India Calling series on September 21,which will have Grammy winning tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and sitarist Niladari Kumar perform together on the first day. I have never played in this festival before and it is an honour to play alongside a splendid artiste like Zakir sahab. It is always a learning experience with him,both on and off the stage. I have been told that the audience in Chicago is very receptive to Indian classical music. I am sure they will enjoy our jugalbandi, says Kumar who is already in the US.
The popular festival has attracted over half-a-million concertgoers and has presented more than 500 artists and ensembles from over 75 countries since it began in 1999. The festival returns this year with over 80 artistes who will be performing at 30 venues across Chicago.
While maestros like Hussain,Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar have already participated at this festival earlier,this is the first time that there is a dedicated section for Indian music at the consortium. It has been arranged by the Ministry of Tourism,Government of India and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.
The second day at the festival will showcase a Kuchipudi performance by Shobha Natrajan,followed by Mythili Prakash Ensembles Bharatnatayam performance. The evening at the Claudia Cassidy Theater will come alive with the sound of trinkets at the performance of Natya Lila that will feature Kathak exponent Kiran Chauhan,Odissi dancer Sonali Mishra and Bharatnatyam dancer Pranita Jain.
The third day will begin with vedic chants by some Hindu priests,followed by a performance by flautist Pandit Ronu Majumdar. He will be playing at the festival along with violinist Vidwan Mysore Manjunath,tabla player Ramdas Palsule and mridangam player Vidwan Arjun Kumar. It is nice when pure classical forms find a platform at world class festivals like this. It is a misconception that the audience only appreciates classical music when it is fused with western forms. Manjunath ji and I wil together fuse Hindustani classical and Carnatic classical. I am sure it is going to be splendid, says Majumdar who is leaving for the US on September 7.
But the highlight of the festival might just be the tribute concert to Baba Alauddin Khan and his son Ustad Ali Akbar Khan by sarod maestro Asish Khan and his son Alam Khan. The duo will perform at Chicago Cultural Center. They are both brilliant musicians and belong to the illustrious Maihar gharana,which is what will set them apart, says Palsule.
The festival also brings together a slew of performers from all over the world,including drummer Khaira Arby from Mali and Razia Said,who will present a blend of African music and R&B from Madagascar,besides Romanian gypsy music expert Mahala Rai Banda.
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