14 January,2018 12:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Kusumita Das
Two years ago, a Welsh folk band, Burum, had travelled to India where they collaborated with three Indian musicians to play in music festivals in Goa, Kolkata and Bengaluru. Burum's repertoire of Welsh traditional music, re-imagined for a modern jazz tune married Indian classical tunes to create a sound hitherto unheard. Khamira means 'to ferment' while Burum means yeast, in Welsh.
The titles, thereby, echo the same ethos. While Burum is made of Tomos Williams, Dave Jones, Aidan Thorne and Mark O'Connor, the India trio comprises Aditya Balani, Suhail Yusuf Khan and Vishal Nagar. The band is now poised for their first performance in Mumbai, that will see them dole out a blend of Welsh-folk, jazz, rock and Indian classical. The gig is part of the UK-India Year of Culture, in association with the British Council and the Wales Art Association.
It's Khan's sarangi pitted against Williams' trumpet, Nagar's tabla joins O'Connor's drum beats, while Balani's guitar solos are supported by Jones's keyboard and Thorne's bass. Speaking to us in an email interview from Wales, Williams, also the band's spokesperson, says, "We are very excited to play our first gig in Mumbai. Our music is a fusion of cultures, certainly. There have been many 'fusion' projects over the years that use Indian classical music in a jazz instrumentation or a folk context. But, we use all these influences while remaining focused on the melodies and also allow ourselves more improvisation." What adds an edge to their music is the grunge funk feel of Miles Davis's 70s band and influences from the Pat Metheny Group. "The way we use Welsh folk melodies as the starting point for many of our songs, helps create a unique and original sound," Williams adds.
There will also be an interactive session, where the band will talk about how they blend disparate sounds seamlessly. They will share insights on the instruments and influences at play. Audience members would therefore be able to interact with the musicians and witness their process of collaboration, rather than just watch the finished product. Their signature tracks include Pan O'wn y Gwanwyn (Song of Spring), a duet between Balani's guitar and Williams's trumpet and Basant, which features Khan's sarangi and vocals and Nagar's tabla and voice, with elements of Burum woven in.
Last year, Khamira showcased at the Seoul Music Week, and then went on a nine-date tour of Wales, that culminated in a sold out concert at the Hay Festival. This year, their journey seems to have gathered pace. "Besides this January tour, we are also releasing our CD here. We hope to continue touring and playing. There's also a strong possibility of touring South Korea in the latter half of the year," Williams says.
When: January 18, 9 pm onwards
Where: G5A Foundation, Laxmi Mills Compound, E. Moses Road, Mahalakshmi
Call: 23514732
Entry: Rs 1,500
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