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| Sunday, 22 June 2003 |
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Cool and expressive Making an impact with his creative, and sophisticated guitar artistry is young Primal Liyanage, a musician from the new generation who is eager to widen his artistry by playing with more experienced musicians. Now a regular member with Blind Faith, led by Geoffrey Fernando you can catch his performances at Clancy's on Fridays and Saturdays with the band. A sensitive musician, whose influences were drawn from the blues, Primal is happy to tell you that his music involvement went back to his active school days at St. Joseph's College, Colombo, singing pop songs for the many concerts organised by the college. He was a member of the group Wings and he was then just seventeen years. When he moved out after O' Levels in 1996 he joined the dance band Cherish led by Bandu Perera. But the restless spirit in him, the desire to be different saw him join the group the folk group Flame in 1998. "Rienzie Pereira with Naushad and Siraj were playing at the Taj and since I enjoyed singing folk, I joined them and my real music career began with this band. The music of Simon and Garfunkel, Don McLean, Everly Brothers, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Eagles and Kris Kristoffersen harmonising and singing the songs made us all happy. At home when I was young I was used to listening to my Mum's music - like Jim Reeves and Don Williams, so I somewhat graduated! I read music and I still play with Flame on Sundays at Molly's" Primal opens up whilst settling himself comfortably on the divan. A guitarist who is determined to go abroad and have a formal education in music Primal is happy he has no definite boundaries to his music. He has gained the experience of playing besides blues, folk and country, the intricacies of jazz and rock which has "enhanced his plectarism, his variety in rhythms and shades of expression. "When Wild Fire was formed in 2000 with Derek Wickramanayake I was one of the members and I must confess that we changed the music scene which was then dull. People began to respect our music and the band became quite popular. Today the new guitar groups are following alternative rock. That is good but it's a pity they don't listen enough. If you can't feel the blues, you'll find it difficult to express yourself in a disciplined manner. Head banging is not a big deal - it's just a trend. A knowledge of the basics is necessary if you want to progress. Even all the big names in the rock scene know their basics. I listen to a lot of the basics because that gives me the creative ability in my improvisations and knowledge of harmony. I've played with 'Rattlesnake' and enjoyed playing with the experienced bassist Tilak Dias," comments the young guitarist. Primal draws his influences from galaxy of big names - Robin Ford, Eric Clapton, George Benson, Joe Pass, B. B. King, Frank Cambale, Joe Aldario and Paul Gilbert. He is proud of the fact that so far his guitar artistry is self taught. So the next time you are thirsting for a cool vocalist and guitarist then catch Primal's rock and funk chords, blues wail, and smooth folk at Clancy's and Molly's. |
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