Fusion concert: A musical journey into diverse lands

Local and German artists whip up some food for soul.

ISLAMABAD:

Piano rhythms intertwined with tabla beats enthralled a diverse audience at the German embassy on Thursday. The fusion band “From Berlin to Lahore”, combines the best of both worlds.

The band comprises Ashraf Sharif Khan, a sitar player from Lahore, Christopher Reuter, a pianist and composer and Thomas Rudiger, a percussionist from Berlin.

Meanwhile, the table player, Shahbaz Hussain, had been invited from Lahore to attend the event. While introducing the band members, Reuter said he was excited to be performing in the country. “From the moment I met Ashraf at a music festival in Berlin some years ago, I knew we would collaborate for a project. We wrote music and produced an album,” he added.

The opening performance weaved the sounds of tabla, sitar, drums and piano. The instrument players started off on Berlin rhythm, slowly transitioning into a more desi beat as the tabla and sitar influences were amplified on each note.

The performers kept the aura alive with stimulating music. PHOTO: MYRA IQBAL/ EXPRESS

The medley flowed smoothly, punctuated with little anecdotes by Reuter. “Before meeting Ashraf, I had no idea that Pakistani music has separate correctives of music and different technical style of doing things. Hence the confusion when we got together,” he joked as Ashraf smilingly strummed the sitar strings.

Many in the audience could be seen swaying their heads gently. “This is something along the lines of when Eddie Vedder collaborated with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan,” Saira, an audience members, said.

Indu Mitha, renowned classical dancer requested Hussain to perform a solo to which Ashraf joked, “Tonight it’s all about team work.” However Hussain had his moment to shine as he performed a solo to a cheering and clapping audience.

Reuter whose infectious enthusiasm complete with a bouncy piano performance ended the night with a German folk tune for the German audience to sing along. The band has also performed in Karachi and Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2013.