This is the first of a three part series that Lokvani is covering of the Conference. The first of the series brings to you the Carnatic Segment.

Where can Indian music infused with Jazz, an all female ensemble of veena, venu and violin, the relationship between music and mathematics and an ensemble of percussion instruments  all come together ?

This amazing repertoire comes alive in the Carnatic Segment of the Learn Quest Music Conference from April 10 to 12th at Regis College. The musicians behind these events showcase the classical style with individual expression, creative thinking and collaboration – a heady mix of the traditional and the contemporary that is bound to inspire and make music come alive during the event.

The music conference enters its 4th successful year and hits all the right notes thanks to the patrons, supporters and music aficionados in the Boston area. Attendees to this event will remember its rich music, the countless performances, workshops and musicians it produces, and the incredible music events it orchestrates.

Here is a sample of what the conference offers in the Carnatic segment:

VidyA:  The fusion of jazz and the classical music traditions of southern and northern India dates back more than 45 years. In 1962, Indian music legend Ravi Shankar recorded the album “Improvisations” with saxophonist-flutist Bud Shank. At Learn quest you will see it come alive again with VidyA, an adventurous new group that merges the virtuosity of Jazz with the melodic and rhythmic nuance of South Indian classical (Carnatic) music. Led by critically-acclaimed saxophonist, Prasant Radhakrishnan along with David Ewell (bass) and Sameer Gupta (Drums), VidyA has emerged with a soulful, penetrating sound that pushes the labels of "fusion" or "world music." San Francisco Chronicle, dubs it as ‘ragas and American blues folded into a single moment.”These three artists have an almost telepathic interplay, incorporating the forward motion of both Indian Classical and jazz rhythms while elaborating Carnatic ragas infused with melodic richness. The group weaves in and out of the two genres while all the time merging them into one. VidyA translates the language of Carnatic music into the idiom of Jazz.

 HEARTBEAT ENSEMBLE is a professional musical ensemble performing Indian Classical Music, with lot of percussion accent with many dynamic performers, enchanting instruments and reverberating rhythms.  Dr.’Ghatam’ Karthick takes charge of composing, while other artistes work within themselves, incorporating impressive imaginations and inventive performing styles to bring a new dimension to the contemporary style of art. Heartbeat is very much inclined in projecting art without compromise in traditional values of Indian rhythm diversity.

Vocalist T.M.Krishna is one of the leading artists in the field of Carnatic Music. He has been performing for over 18 years and today, he is one of the youngest singer to occupy the top slot in every major music festival. He has been on tours to South Africa, North America, South East Asia, Australia and the Middle East numerous times. He has received numerous awards and titles from many leading organizations. He has released many music albums from leading audio companies like Magna sound, H.M.V., Inreco, Amudham (U.S.A.) and Charsur.

Pancha Vadya Kutchery – All Female Carnatic Violin-Veena-Flute Ensemble lead by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi daughter and disciple of the great maestro Padma Bhushan Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman. The sixth generation in the Lalgudi dynasty, Vijayalakshmi grew up in an atmosphere of reverberating rich music early signs of her musical inclination was apparent.  She is a leading exponent of the Lalgudi style, which is characterized by boundless innovation while strictly adhering the tradition and eloquently capturing the mood and essence of any composition.   Vijayalakshmi also has the credit of leading a music ensemble of the Violin, the Venu or flute and the Veena in over 50 concerts all over India.

Flautist Sikkil Mala Chandrasekhar continues in the tradition of her famous gurus, the Sikkil Sisters ( Kunjumani & Neela ).  In playing style, Mala combines the strongest aspects of both Kunjumani’s clear classic lines with Neela’s flair and expensiveness.  From the Gurus Sikkil Sisters Mala learnt the unique Sikkil style, rendering the Thuthukkara technique, perfection in kriti rendition, and balancing lakshana and lakshya aspects of ragas and most importantly, understanding audience psychology.

Mala has performed concerts throughout India and abroad (USA, Singapore, Middle East, Europe, London and Mauritius and has won many awards and titles from prestigious organization. She is a recipient of the prestigious Kalamamani award and title from the Tamil Nadu government and is a Atop (The highest level) artist of All India Radio.

Jayashri Jayaraj started her intensive training in vocal and veena music at a very tender age under the tutelage of Vainika Vidwan Late A. Anantharama Iyer and his sister Late A. Champakavalli who continued the Dikshitar Parampara they imbibed from their father Brahmasri Ananthakrishna Iyer, a direct disciple of Ambi Dikshitar, the great grand nephew of Muthuswamy Dikshitar. Jayashri and her husband Jayaraj are also being guided in their musical quest by esteemed Carnatic Music Exponent, Sangeetha Acharya, Vidwan Shri Chingleput Ranganathan. Jaysri is a passionate Vainika who believe that Veena holds a revered place in Carnatic Music and has dedicated herself towards preserving and propagating the "Gayaki" style of playing the Veena. 

Carnatica brothers - Music is the pleasure of the human soul experiences from counting without being aware that it is counting. - Gottfried Leibniz.

 The Carnatica brothers will explore the relationship between math and music at this conference with their in-depth knowledge and virtuosity. Grandsons of the legendary Gottuvadyam Narayana Iyengar, Shashikiran and Ganesh are cousins who sing as the vocal duo Carnatica brothers. The Carnatica brothers stormed the Carnatic music world at the age of two as child prodigies and have since emerged as front-ranking musicians. They have performed extensively in India and in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and UAE. They now have a vast experience of over 3500 concerts, lecture demonstrations, jugalbandhis and fusion concerts. They have garnered critical acclaim and popularity with their emotive style of singing and their strict adherence to classicism.


For more information log onto www.learnquest.org

|