Bombay Jayashri Vocal
Embar Kannan Violin
Manoj Shiva Mridangam
BS Purushothaman Ganjira
1 KannadA raga Adi tala varnam - Inta tamasa - Lalgudi Jayaraman
2 Shobillu Saptaswara - Jaganmohini - Swaras at "Saptaswara"
3 CherarAvadEmirA - Reetigowlai - N, S at Anupallavi
4 Main - NinnuvinAga mari - Poorvikalyani - R, N, S (Shyama Sastri Kriti)
5 AzhagA AzhagA - Suddha danyasi
6 RTP - ChArukesi Ragam & Tanam, Adi 2 kalai pallavi (Azhaga Yadhava Madhava Aaruyire Aala vA) - Ragamalika swaras in Varamu, HamsanAdam, BahudAri
7 Ethanai Koti Inbam - DurgA?
8 Tillana - Peelu - Lalgudi Jayaraman (VaNa Mayil Erum)
First concert of Jayashri this season (among just a total of 6 concerts). The curtains went up on the dot at 6.30pm and the team started on time and presented a lovely, memorable concert that lasted till 9:05pm. I just have a few days in Chennai this season and I'm happy I chose this concert to attend today. I was quite apprehensive given that this is an Open Air Auditorium with not-so-great acoustics but I was surely impressed with most of what came my way this evening. I have observed from past experience that BJ is an artiste who can prove to be a hit or miss. On some days, you get exotic fare and on others, it becomes a bit of repetitions from her CD recordings. I'm thankful it was the former today!
Overall, the viruviruppu in Jayashri's presentation style has definitely gone a few notches up. And as YGP remarked in her short speech (exactly 1.25min) after the tani - it was pure classical fare. Her raga alapanas were exquisite, well-paced with very interesting sangatis and patterns. Even in the swara prastharams, I could see that BJ was really coming out of the shell and trying out a little bit of kanakku type gimmicky patterns and what a joy it was to see her do that with Embar Kannan's amazing repartees.
The start with the Kannada raga varnam was a pleasant surprise. Her voice was in fine form and it was a joy to listen to this relatively rare piece. What a happy ragam KannadA is! There was a tentative raga sketch as she started Jagan mohini but within a minute, she started Shobillu which was a neat presentation with the swaras at "sapthaswara" coming out very well. When she started Reetigowlai alapana, I was slightly disappointed as I had just heard it yesterday at another concert but the alapana was quite imaginative and I loved Embar's interpretation too. After the popular CherarAvade, I was expecting a fast filler but was surprised when she set out on a full-fledged awesome Poorvi Kalyani alapana. What amazing brigas, control and modulation of voice at the sthayis, it was a very aesthetically sound rendition. The choice of Kriti again threw a bit of a surprise. I was expecting the popular 'Meenakshi' or a Tamil 'Karanam Kettu Vaadi' but happy to see that she chose to present S.S's kriti with beautifully structured neraval and swarams. Now, we really needed a filler before the RTP. There came Azhaga Azhaga which is again not so-often-heard from her. So yes, a whiff of fresh air there too. Charukesi was such a perfect choice for the pensive open air atmosphere and here, she was at her best. Violin returns received thunderous applause at several places in the alapana. Loved her selection of few but beautiful ragams for the swaras. I wouldn't say the tani was awesome but it was very neatly executed by Manoj Shiva and BSP. Manoj Shiva is really a team guy and he gels so well with this team!
Embar has always been in a league of his own and he leaves me mesmerized very effortlessly. Love his art and dedication. Everything that he did today felt and sounded fabulous.
Poorvikalyani and the RTP were definitely the star items in the menu for me. Because of fewer pieces in the concert, she had enough time to plan for 3 expansive raga alapanas and 2 neraval placements. Overall an excellent concert for 2 hrs 35 minutes. And as always, no referring to notes or sipping hot milk / water just like Sanjay (this always gets brownie points from me)
Those who have been avoiding BJ's concerts saying she's not as "CLASSICAL", time to think again!