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| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Brian's back in town by Mahes Perera
Making a guest appearance with Derek and Wild Fire at Clancy's is bassist/vocalist Brian Feltman who is in town from Canada, where he is very much into music handling all the musical events that are staged by the Sri Lanka Associations. He leads the band that comprises Raja Jalaldeen - guitar/vocals, Tony de Silva - keyboards/vocals, Ajantha Dodampegamage, Tony Samaranayake and Clarence Corera drums. Brian will be one of the many musicians participating in the 'Reach Out' concert organised by keyboardist Diliup Gabadamudalige to collect funds for the tsunami victims. 'Randy Pieris another ex Jetliner like myself, will also be organising a show at the Sydney Olympic Stadium for the tsunami victims and this show will be held on February 19. Musicians scheduled to perform so far are Sunil, Sohan, Ronnie Leitch, A.E. Manoharan and Sudu of Ultimate will lead Randy's band," Brian tells us when we met up for a pow wow recently. One time member of the Jerliners, Brian was a member of the band from '73,-'82. "The band then comprised Mignonne, Dylan Lye, Tony Samaranayake, Hassen Musafer and myself and we had some exciting moments, playing at the Taj, Bombay a stint in Hawaii for three months, flew to Hong Kong for a contract at the Talk of the Town, Hotel Excelsior, came back to Sri Lanka to play at the Cats Eye and then to the Regent Hong Kong in '79. Three years after I left, the band came back to Sri Lanka" continues Brian. Soon after college, the vibes dragged Brian into the music scene. He led a five piece outfit called Gaylord Revival and found success in the then competitive industry. Along with drummer Upali Fernando and pianist Suriya Kumar he worked a trio scene at Inter Continental Supper Club and later joined Upecca 4 along with musicians Stuart Mayo, Mohan Sabaratnam, Ravi Corea and vocalist Judy de Silva, to play at the Little Hut, Mount Lavinia. Music we guess will never die in Brian, who started off his career playing more of rhythm guitar before he decided to switch to bass, influenced by the global great Stanley Clarke. At his visitations at night spots in Colombo, he noticed major developments since he migrated in '88. Any comments to make about our scene? "Todays' musicians are better off than when we were around at that age. They have benefitted through the availability of music videos, training videos and of course the TV. Their costumes, their routines have progressed especially those who go abroad and perform - they have to learn and learn fast. They've got modern sound instruments and equipment which are in vogue and that is good. I listened to most of the groups and I'm happy with the progress and wish them all success." When Brian goes back to Canada he will go into rehearsals for a forthcoming Sri Lankan event organised by the familiar figures Upali Abayasekera, Ranjit Wickremasinghe and Nirantha of Tri-Co. Musicians 'Reach Out' to tsunami victims Diliup Gabadamudalige, the well-known composer/keyboardist/pr-oducer/performer and winner of many awards will be presenting a special two and a half hour show with leading names in today's music scene, as well as with new talent from the younger generation of musicians. The show rightfully titled 'Reach Out' will raise funds to re-build the tsunami victims, and will be held in association with the Colombo Plaza Hotel on Friday, January 28 at 7.00 p.m. The host of singers lending their voices for the cause, include Bathiya and Santhush a leading vocal duo, Sohan Weerasinghe Maxi Rozairo, Noeline Honter, Sunil and his brother Piyal, Corinne Almeida, Yasmin de Silva, Derek Wickramanayake, Damien Wikramatilleke, Wathsala Gunatillaka, Clifford Richards who will also be the compere of the show. Brian Feltman ex-Jetliner member who is in Sri Lanka on holiday, Shaun Perera and Grescha Schuilling, the young duo who sang "We're Calling the World", are also billed to perform. Presidential Award winner Nirosha Virajini, Athula and Samitha, Eswarkumar, Ravindra and Meegamarachchi the singing army captain will entertain the audience with their Sri Lankan hits. From the younger generation of musicians those who have readily come forward to support the cause are Charles Mark, Iraj and the Illnoize Crew, Centigrudz, Swastika, Burnout and Crash. "The funds raised from this show will be deposited in an account in the Public Trustees Office. Families whose homes were destroyed or damaged will be identified personally", says Diliup. Now that the musicians have readily rallied round it is left to the music lover to 'Reach Out' to this worthy cause on Friday, January 28 and make it a success for the musicians. Srinath's 'Muppet Zoo' at Elphinstone
The stories in this Muppet collection centres on This production is assisted by Wijesinghe Kankanamge and Premakumara Dassanayake. Music is by Tharupathi Munasinghe. Flower workshop in aid of Tsunami victims Flower arranging is a wonderful art and the Lanka Flower Arrangers' Association will hold a Flower Show and Flower Workshop for two days commencing Sunday, January 30, at the Global Towers Hotel, Marine Drive, Colombo 6. The proceeds from this Flower Show and Flower Workshop will be utilised to help the tsunami victims of our country. The workshop will be conducted by the acclaimed Marilyn Nourse, twice gold medal winner of the UK National Association of Flower Arrangers' Society, and winner of the Chelsea Flower Show. A much sought after teacher of this technique, Ms. Nourse is a senior judge with the National Flower Arrangers' Societies as well as an Area Demonstrator. She is a treat to watch and revels in teaching her students the art of the wide using variety of exotic flowers and leaves in Sri Lanka in the most fascinating and wondrous arrangements. She is here on the invitation of the Chairman of the LAIFFA Gowrie Mahenthiran. Two shows and workshops will be held in Colombo and Kandy. Nimal Mendis composes Tsunami Song by Ivan Corea in London Following the destruction and horror of the tsumani that struck Sri Lanka Nimal Mendis has composed a new song. It is based on the unprecedented sadness that the entire island of Sri Lanka is experiencing. The song will be translated into Sinhala and Tamil. Nimal Mendis seeks sponsorship for a recording of this song by an organisation. All proceeds will be sent to the President's Fund directly. Nimal Mendis is one of Sri Lanka's outstanding singer and lyricist who 'made it big' in the west in the 1960s and 1970s. He was 'discovered' by Radio Ceylon - the radio station really ruled the airwaves in the 1960s and Mendis was an 'original find' by Radio Ceylon -which ensured his song 'Kandyan Express' became a national hit. Radio Ceylon plugged all his songs in the 1960s and 1970s making him a popular artiste in South Asia. Nimal Mendis who now resids in in France, had 22 songs recorded in Britain in the sixties and appeared on the popular TV show 'Top of the Pops' in 1968 with my own song 'Feel like a Clown,' with his singing partner Sandra Edema they were known as Ranee and Raj. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The Popular actor Srinath Maddumage who has produced highly acclaimed
Muppet programs like Rusara Vindana, Kele Kade, Sudu Pancha, Hichchi
Pinchi (Ran Pancha) and Panchai Pinchei through various TV channels will
bring you a special Muppet program 'Muppet Zoo and other Stories' on
January 27 at 8.30 and 11.00 a.m. at the Elphinstone Theatre.
themes, such as
'Protection of the Environment', 'Unity' and 'Harmony'. Srinath's Muppet's
are a blend of new technology and local traditions and are especially
focused for schoolchildren. Some of the items in the collection have won
awards at the Asian Muppet Festival held at Seoul, Korea in 1998.
