Flute JA Jayanth

Carnatic Musicians
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Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

Surprised to find no folder on Jayanth, who, if he is not there already, is likely to be the leading flutist for the next few decades.

For those of you unfamiliar with him, he is the grandson of the late Vidwan TS Sankaran. He has been fed on the best flute music from a very young age, consuming endless hours of listening to Flute Mali recordings. Being a child prodigy, he gave his first public performance at the age of 7, and has been accompanied by the best during his formative years, including Shri UK Sivaraman, Shri Vellore Ramabadhran, Shri M Chandrashekhar, etc. After balancing very well, his music life and school and college life, he has dedicated himself to the Carnatic flute. He has been winning the Best Instrumentalist award from the Music Academy year after year.

Jayanth has honed his skills through his grandfather’s close guidance, as well as trying to continue the flute tradition in the Mali way, his initial and everlasting attachment. He has spent considerable effort in developing his own fingering and breathing techinques. The flutes he uses are thick-walled and heavier. Most current flutists tend to prefer thin walled flutes (like the hindustani bansuris) because they are easier to blow. Thicker flutes offer more resistance and are therefore harder to blow and maintain consistency of notes between octaves. However, the added required effort produces a much richer tone, especially in the lower octave.

For starters, hear his kAnaDa alApna, where his creativity, sensitivity, and tonal brilliance are in full flow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X0MMyheS8I

For a lighter piece, here is a wonderfully executed chinnanchiru kiLiyE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY0e3z1vraQ

Here is his rendering of a Hindustani rAgA, dIpALi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEIGQ320gE0

uday_shankar
Posts: 1467
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:37

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by uday_shankar »

Nice start vayoo flute and I agree with your assessment that he's the leading light of Carnatic flute, and with his enormous fingers perhaps bhansuri too in the years to come.

I hope rasikas can add their insights into Jayanth. My own views may be too (favorably) biased :).

Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

uday_shankar wrote: 30 Apr 2018, 11:33 I agree with your assessment that he's the leading light of Carnatic flute, and with his enormous fingers perhaps bhansuri too in the years to come.
Yes, physical endowments certainly help but more important is the ability to capture the idiom of a particular music style. Jayanth's handling of Hindustani based ragas such as sindhu bhairavi and kapi are quite exquisite, so perhaps there is good reason to be optimistic about his potential as a Hindustani bhansuri player. What would be really wonderful is if a gifted musician can masterfully blend the two music systems in a performance. The usual "jugalbandhis" leave a lot to be desired and often is no more than a showcase of technical ability, using the same worn out ragas that have some commonality between the two systems.

Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

Here is a wonderful rendition of Sindhu Bhairavi:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfQVxvkg9es

SrinathK
Posts: 2477
Joined: 13 Jan 2013, 16:10

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by SrinathK »

I remember his performance at IITM with his grandfather T S Sankaran where I heard him for the first time - I was intoxicated on the melody they produced - the richness of his tone stood out. IIRC the main was Nagumomu and the Ahir Bhairav post main on the bansuri was amazing.

Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

One of Jayanth's best performances of the season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcUGppU ... ybk0h00410

You can see why some consider him the top Carnatic flautist currently.

rajeshnat
Posts: 9906
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 08:04

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by rajeshnat »

Nice interview from Pramod with Flute artist Jayanth. Lot of great points in general about flute.
https://indianexpress.com/article/citie ... e-7101796/

Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

rajeshnat wrote: 02 Jan 2021, 18:40 Nice interview from Pramod with Flute artist Jayanth. Lot of great points in general about flute.
https://indianexpress.com/article/citie ... e-7101796/
What a wonderful interview. Very insightful into the techniques of flute playing. Thanks for sharing this.

Nick H
Posts: 9379
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Nick H »

Fascinating insight into Jayanth, his music, and the huge amount of dedicated hard work that he has put into it. Probably still puts into it, and always will. We can see in the interview that he is not one to let himself or his music stand still.

Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

Congratulations to Jayanth, who is getting married today - Jan 25.

Nick H
Posts: 9379
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 02:03

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Nick H »

That's happy news! Congratulations indeed :)

Sachi_R
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Joined: 31 Jan 2017, 20:20

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Sachi_R »

Heard the Margazhi concert of Jayanth with Vittal Rangan and Sai Giridhar.
Excellent presentation of Muruga songs.

Congrats and best wishes to the young flautist on his wedding

Vayoo Flute
Posts: 104
Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 00:53

Re: Flute JA Jayanth

Post by Vayoo Flute »

We recently arranged a house concert for Jayant. I have uploaded it on my Best of Carnatic Flute ytb channel. The link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUMCmiBnzfA

Please note that the concert is completely mic-less, so you can here the natural tones of all the instruments. It is also the first time ever that his wife Priyamvada is accompanying him on the violin.

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