Transcending borders: East meets west in an ethereal mélange of tunes

Saxophone, tabla, mystic poetry combine in a delightful performance.

ISLAMABAD:

Fusion concerts are rapidly gaining a strong foothold in the music scene, under the garb of creating harmony and appeal among a mixed audience. Experimental in nature, they offer the semblance of an exotic experience to the casual listener, and are a lingering solace to the connoisseur, a win-win situation.

In a similar spirit, Friday’s “You and Me” instrumental extravaganza at Kuch Khaas attracted a sizable audience, with more diplomats than locals in attendance.

Featuring Canadian saxophonist Gerry Sholomenko and tabla player Irfan Khan of the Delhi Gharana, the session was a retreat into the proverbial land of mixed rhythm.

Clad in a coral-blue kurta shalwar, Sholomenko seemed at ease as he started the show with a melodious tune on the flute, before delving into the baritone nuances of the saxophone. His rendition of “To be a woman” was particularly soulful, emanating an understated, elegant aura.

Khan, who accompanied him on the tabla, performed a Kafi amid the back-to-back improvisational classical pieces. The duo has been mastering and playing the genre for about two and a half years now.

They were later joined by the Punjabi folk singer Qurban Niazi who, making a guest appearance, performed select verses from the poetry of the mystic poet Khwaja Ghulam Farid. In his renditions, Niazi seemed to have toned down his usual, high-pitched and dramatic style to a softer version of itself.

Having performed with various Western jazz bands, Sholomenko has been playing the saxophone for over four decades now, starting at the age of 17. Since then, there has been no looking back for the musician, who has diversified his experience by delving into other instruments such as alto, tenor and clarinet also.

Khan, who originally belongs to Sialkot and is currently based in Rawalpindi, has been playing tabla for the last 19 years. He has accompanied a plethora of eminent artists such as Ustad Fateh Ali, Ustad Allah Rakha, Ustad Mehfooz Khokhar, Hamid Ali, Ghulam Abbas, Pervez Mehdi, Asad Qizalbash and other folk and ghazal singers from across the country in their performances.

“I think such performances are carving a whole new generation of fusion listeners who can tell a good composition when they hear it. I’ve always been fond of jazz, but it’s a pity that I don’t know anything about the classical performers. On the whole, this is an enriching experience,” said Samreen Shah, an audience member.

The concert was organised by the Institute of Preservation of Arts and Culture.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th, 2014.