“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul” said Plato.

In the world of Hindi film music, the names of Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi hold a special and unique place among a pantheon of incredible artistes and performers. Rafi Saab’s voice has spirituality, purity of tone, an indescribable sweetness, romance, love and longing all at once. Ashaji’s vocals exude naughtiness, joie de vivre and sensuality coated with innocence at whim. SUGAR….. And SPICE! Engaging, complementary, versatile, and VOLATILE!

SUGAR AND SPICE is an exciting evening of music exploring and enjoying the songs rendered by these legendary singers. This event is being presented by Kashish and all proceeds will benefit the LearnQuest Academy of Music whose aim is to encourage and provide education in Indian Classical music. Please check out www.learnquest.org. For more details.

Mark your calendars for March 24th at 7:30 PM to enjoy this event at 125 Prospect Street, Framingham, MA. Tickets can be purchased at. http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/cal.php?stage=1&event_id=9018. Kashish is a group of like-minded music enthusiasts who enjoy working together and bringing interesting musical ideas to the New England area.

Here are selected excerpts from an interview with some of the team members that include singers Shirish Nimgaonkar, Sankar Gangaikondan, Sudha Subbaraman and Meena  Sundaram. Instrumentalists: Ishan Capila (Guitar) and Mark Thirman (Keyboards). Emcee is Kumkum Pareek Malik, Sound by Shri Jawed Wahid and Production by Sujit Potdar. Karaoke tracks will be used as well. Dr.Pradeep Shukla, President of LearnQuest Academy of Music will be the honored guest performer.

Sankar Gangaikondan  is a very versatile vocalist who has performed extensively in US and internationally. Sankar sings compositions that range from fast numbers to Classical raga based songs. He has performed with many Bands in the past including Rasika, BAND-AID, Ninaithaley Innikum to name a few.  Professionally, Sankar is the owner of a consulting company that provides strategic IT and compliance solutions to the Life Sciences industry.

He says, “I was never formally trained in music, but the training I got by just listening to my dad singing the evergreen songs of Mohammad Rafi was immense. I got to appreciate and understand all the intricate nuances in Rafi sahib’s songs. He eventually got into my psyche, so deeply engrained that I could never accept that anyone could ever be as a great as Rafi sahib. Yes, you can call me a hardcore Rafi fan! The tonal quality in his voice, the ease with which he could reach the lower and higher octaves, the emotions he brought into songs are unmatchable. The day Rafi sahib died, my dad and I cried inconsolably. I was quite young to completely understand, but I cried because my dad cried! Now, after so many years, to have an opportunity to sing in tribute to this great man, I considered myself very privileged.

If you ask me which female singer could match Rafi's versatility, it would definitely be Asha. She is a legend in her own right.   From the O.P. Nayyar numbers to R.D. Burman, Rafi-Asha duets are immortal. To bring together a show under the banner of "Sugar and Spice" is really one of its kind. I am really looking forward to perform with the great talents we have in this team."

Ishan Capila wil be playing the guitar for this event. He says, “Music has always been a part of my life. As a child I was exposed to Indian Classical music (vocal and instrumental) as well as Western Classical music. My parents and grandmother were a major driving force behind the range of music I listened to. In school and college, my musical focus was on classic rock and playing covers. After coming to the US,  I played bass and rhythm guitar with the band “Karma” and we recorded and performed a number of original compositions. The music of the band "Shakti" was a major influence in my music”.

When asked about the unique title of this event, this is what he had to say: “Sugar and spice is an apt title as it conjures up a mix of sweet melodies as well as the lively, upbeat music that is very much epitomized by the songs of Asha and Rafi. Their vocal prowess allows them to move across a range of music with tremendous ease and leaves the listener with some unforgettable musical memories."

He comments on music education especially for children, “Music should be an essential part of the education for kids. Learning about music and learning how to play an instrument is something that will stay with you for an entire lifetime. Music allows one a different form of expression and it can be both relaxing and rewarding. It teaches important principles of focus and dedicated practice and this is applicable to other facets of life as well. “
Jawed Wahid is hosting this concert and is also managing sound for this concert. He is on the Board at LearnQuest Academy of Music. He comments, “It is great to see that music of all forms is thriving in the Boston area. At Learnquest we teach our students classical music, and this training serves as a critical base for the lighter forms of music such as Bollywood film songs. The era of Bollywood music that is being presented in the Sugar and Spice concert is described by many to be the Golden Age, as songs were composed on raga based melodies and lyrics are true poetry.  These songs have become a part of our soul. We at Learnquest are truly grateful that the Sugar and Spice concert is using music to raise funds in support of music.”

Pradeep Shukla, Founder/Director of LearnQuest Academy of Music will be the guest artist in this event. I requested him to say a few words. “I am happy and grateful to the Kashish team including Shirish Nimgaonkar,  Meena Sundaram and Kumkum Pareek Malik, who have organized this concert of Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsale songs as a fundraiser for LearnQuest. I have been a big fan of old film songs, especially Rafi songs. Before I got interested in classical music I grew up listening to film songs of the 50's and 60's. Some of those classic melodies are etched in our minds forever. I wish the Kashish team great success in their upcoming concert “Sugar and Spice”.”

Friends, this is Meena Sundaram and I am very excited to be part of this wonderful group of performers as part of Sugar and Spice. I am a Cardiologist and a student of music, currently learning Hindustani vocal music from Shri Warren Senders. I have been singing in the New England area with many groups and teams and love being involved in creative musical projects.

I have loved Asha Bhosle’s songs for as long as I can remember.  Her relaxed, powerful and irreverent singing style is a way to escape some of the societal norms that controls our behavior. In that sense, she is able to create a reality and a persona that dwells in the realms of the songs she presents. She always puts something of her own self into her songs and I always try to locate that little segment almost like a treasure-hunt. As she has said in many interviews, she took great pains to establish an identity of her own, away from the shadow of her much-better known sister. Somehow, I relate to the unconventionality that she has navigated in her career, in her life and in her famous relationships. She is the masala, the theekhapan, the spice!

Rafi Saab to me is sweetness, one wants to just hear his voice, it washes away all worries, relaxes my mind and connects me with my inner self. The spirituality in his voice is no less than that experienced in a place of worship! He is pure, pristine sugar both in his tone and his essence.
I am so proud to be part of this event with such talented performers and honored to be associated with LearnQuest Academy of Music and it’s dedicated team. Please check out www.learnquest.org for information regarding their upcoming classical music festival!

Please join us on March 24th to learn more about these wonderful singers, listen to some of their wonderful songs and support  all of us at “ Sugar and Spice”. We can assure you this will be an evening to remember. Tickets are limited, so please purchase your tickets right away at .http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/cal.php?stage=1&event_id=9018. See you at the Hall!!!

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