Artistes to pay tribute to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in Pune
Published: Tuesday, Feb 1, 2011, 11:36 IST
By Pallavi Kharade | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA


The who’s who from the music industry and performing arts will come together in the city to pay homage to the late doyen of Kirana Gharana, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

The programme, ‘Swarshraddhanjali’ will be held on Gharkul Lawns, Patwardhan Baug, on February 3. The interesting aspect about this event is that it will be held for 12 hours at a stretch, from 8 am to 8 pm.

Among those slated to pay tribute to Panditji are his son, Shrinivas Joshi, table artiste Suresh Talwalkar, vocalist and Panditji’s disciple Anand Bhate, vocalists Devaki Pandit, Shounak Abhisheki, Aarti Ankalikar, Shubha Mudgal, Rashid Khan, Rahul Deshpande, Ajay Pohankar, Uday Bhavalkar, Kaivalya Kumar Gurav and Sarod artiste Amaan Ali Khan.

Noted harmonium player Pramod Marathe said, “The programme has been organised to pay musical homage to the late Pandit Bhimsen Joshi on behalf of all artistes and Rasik Punekars.”
The tribute will begin with Kathak performance by Sheetal Kolwalkar and Kaveri Agashe.

Later, Sucheta Bhide Chapekar and Arundhati Patwardhan will perform Bharatanatyam.

Among other artistes who will perform on the occasion are Raghunandan Panshikar, senior vocalist Padma Talwalkar and many others belonging to different Gharanas of Indian classical
music.

The programme will be anchored by actor Rahul Solapurkar, long-time Sawai Gandharva music festival compere, Anand Deshmukh, along with Milind Kulkarni.

http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/repor ... ne_1501615

Zakir and friends in concert

Megha Mahindru, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, February 03, 2011
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The earliest memory that tabla maestro Zakir Hussain has of his father, Ustad Allah Rakha, is as a four-year-old, who tagged along with him on multiple tours across the world. “I remember, I would break into a smile every time he took to the stage and started playing,” he recalls. “Later, when I


grew up, I saw him on stage— old with shaky hands. But as soon as he started playing I was filled with these happy bubbles that I had no control over. The years didn’t matter. That’s when I prayed that at his age, if I continue to love what I’m doing with the same passion, I would be a blessed man,” he adds.
After a hectic month of playing wedding planner for his daughter Anisha, Hussain is all set to perform at the eleventh barsi of his father at the annual concert in the city, which was put together in a little over a week “It was the coming together of the music fraternity. They took care of everything and made it so easy for me to put it together,” he feels.

This year, the concert will also pay tribute to Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, who recently passed away. “Suresh Wadkar asked if I wanted to do it, and from there on, he just took full charge of the concert,” adds the Ustad.

Hussain started training under the musical aegis of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi when he was barely six. “The music fraternity suffered a great loss with his passing. Last year, we lost the sarod exponent Ali Akbar Khan. It’s sad that we are losing our great musicians so rapidly. But the barsi concert is not about mourning, rather it’s about celebrating the legacy they’ve left behind.”

Sure enough, the mood of the concert can be anticipated by its line-up, which includes a Rajasthani wedding band, which even played at his daughter’s wedding. “It’s far from the Bollywood mimicry. These artistes are folk musicians who play western classical instruments like the trombone and clarinet,” he explains.

The stellar line-up for the concert also includes jazz artiste Ranjit Barot, who recently performed at Davos, Niladri Kumar and Sukhwinder Singh. While kanjira exponent V Selvaganesh will bring the beats of the dhamak to the city, a visually challenged Tanzanian singer with a Sanskrit name is Hussain’s favourite pick. “Ananya is a throat singer. He sings in two or three different notes simultaneously. It’s amazing the kind of melodies he can create,” he adds. The day-long concert will also feature a Brazilian percussionist, who is adept at reproducing sound of nature with his instruments. “If you close your eyes and hear him, you’ll be transported to the rainforest I promise,” concludes Hussain.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Zakir-and ... 57995.aspx

A tribute to Pt Bhimsen Joshi by Lata
IANS, Jan 26, 2011, 02.31pm IST

Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar remembers being treated like a daughter by late singing legend Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, who used to call her "Bharat Ratna" after she won the prestigious honour in 2001.

"After I got the award he (Bhimsen Joshi) never called me Lata. He addressed me as 'Bharat Ratna'. When I'd visit him, he would announce my arrival with 'Aa Bharat Ratna aale. Prepare something good for her to eat'," Lata reminisced after Joshi's death Monday.

Joshi, who was awarded the country's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna in 2008, died at Pune's Sahyadri Hospital following old age-related ailments. He was 88.

Lata shared not just a professional, but personal affinity with him too.

"I'd say a whole era of classical music ended with Bhimsenji. I knew Bhimsenji from the time when he was not that famous," recalled Lata, adding details about her first meeting with him.

"As just another young classical singer he was introduced to me by sound-recordist Minoo Katrak. Minooji told me, 'Bahut achcha gaata hai ladka. Tum usske liye kuch karo'. Luckily Shankar-Jaikishan called Bhimsenji to sing for a film called 'Basant Bahar', and they invited me to listen to Bhimsenji singing. I sat enraptured all through the recording," she added.

It is at this point that Lata and Joshi's bonding began, and it was strengthened by his love for her father, Hindustani classical vocalist Dinanath Mangeshkar's singing prowess.

"After the historic recording with Shankar-Jaikishan, I met Bhimsenji in Kolkata where I had gone for a show. One morning at 4 a.m. there was loud knocking on the door of my hotel room. We were frightened. When we asked who it was the familiar warm voice said, 'Main Bhimsen hoon (I am Bhimsen)'.

"I asked him what brought him to my door so early. He had heard my father sing, and he wanted to share his joy at hearing my father's song with me. That morning in Kolkata, Bhimsenji sang one of my father's songs. I was spellbound. Bhimsenji turned out to be very familiar with my father's music. It bonded us for life."

Even after Joshi became famous, he kept in touch with Lata and never failed to give her a warm welcome at his Pune home.

"Whenever I was in Pune, it was mandatory for me to visit him. He loved me like a daughter. I am very close to the family, specially to his eldest son. My home in Pune is very close to his. In minutes I'd drop in at his place. I was a frequent visitor to his place and I'm part of their grief now," she added.

Since Lata, now 81, was more into singing for Bollywood, and Joshi was immersed in classical singing, the two seldom got a chance to collaborate. But they sang together for a bhajan album "Ram Shyam Gun Gaan". Lata admits she was quite nervous about it, but says Joshi put her at ease.

Now she recalls him for his sheer dedication to music and respect for his guru, Sawai Gandharva.

"The one thing that I noticed about Bhimsenji was his passion for singing and music. He was totally single-minded in his devotion to music. And he only talked about music.

"For some time now Bhimsenji was ill and unable to sing properly. But even during illness when he couldn't sit up properly, he used to prop himself up and sing. He continued to host an annual music festival in honour of his guru Sawai Gandharva for many years every winter. Bhimsenji never forgot to honour his Guruji. I think that's lovely."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ente ... 366251.cms