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| Sunday, 11 September 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Happenings / People Black magic by Mahes Perera
Unusual name for a band you are bound to agree. Black the colour is a fashion statement. In another sense the word expresses an emotion that is moody. But the band Black is far from it. I mean moody. Their music exudes happiness and in just a year's time this six piece outfit has achieved popularity with ease. You can catch their exciting music on Saturdays at The Mix, Taj Samudra. Ranil Amirthiah, sans the bandana you see in the picture, is a simple down to earth guy. You'll never guess that there's so much music in him. Leading his band of six guys gives him soul satisfaction. But the name Black how did that come about? "One year when we were playing for the 31st night we were a three piece band then. Somebody in the audience came up to me and wanted to know what the name of the band was. Actually we were playing nameless. I didn't know how to answer him. I was wearing a black shirt that evening so I shot off the word black and it stayed!" reveals a smiling Ranil. "We are now a 'request band' and my vision is to be the best 'request band' in town for I believe we are there behind the mike, because of the people in front of us, listening and appreciating." The band Black is a group of friends, neighbours to one another, who grew up to be friends. There's Ranil the vocalist and acoustic guitarist, Ashan de Silva plays lead guitar, while Evo Ferdinands plays lead guitar and sings too. In fact he emulates Frank Sinatra and that's rare in today's scene. The keyboardist is Kavinda Rodrigo. The rhythm section is completed by Namal Hettiarachchi - bass and vocals and Indika Adikhari sits on the drum stool. Black has two formal gigs in the offing - the CIMA Dance on October 8 and the Law-Medical Dance on December 18. They played at the Long Bar during the Nuwara Eliya season this year, and proudly claim that all of them are teetotallers which is a major plus for them. The group has also been featured at many weddings and private functions. With a repertoire that stretches from pop, rock, rock 'n roll, cha cha, oldies to baila, Black is gearing themselves for the festive season. "My father always told me to be versatile, in fact he was a big influence in my life. A violinist himself we were seven in the family and our evenings comprised home entertainment - you know how it is. It was good. When I started off, my group was a three piece band. We called ourselves Rashmi, now we are a six piece band and to us music is a passion, a hobby that is soul satisfying," says Ranil. On that note we parted. WOMAD - once in a lifetime
WOMAD Sri Lanka Festival of Drums will be one of the highlights of this year's tourism calendar. Celebrating the island's 2,500 year-long association with drums, the festival will showcase fourteen different groups and artistes from twelve different countries including Billy Cobham (USA), Trilok Gurtu (India), the Dhol Foundation (UK and India) and the Drummers of Burundi. The Festival will be on from September 21-25. According to the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, Udaya Nanayakkara, the festival is designed to become an annual event and will put Sri Lanka on the map among world music lovers internationally. "A festival of this kind has the potential to attract music lovers from around the globe and once here, I am sure they will relish the opportunity to stay on and take advantage of all that Sri Lanka has to offer," he said. The renowned classical Kandyan drummer and choreographer Ravibandu Vidyapathy will co-ordinate and direct performances of the percussion and dance of Sri Lanka. The programme of WOMAD will be as follows: Wednesday, September 21 - 7.30 p.m. at Bishops College Auditorium the performances will be by Ravibandu Vidyapathy, the Chemirani Zarb Trio - from Iran and Yelemba D'Abidjan of Cote d'Ivoire. Thursday September 22 - 7.00 p.m. at the Gallery, Beira Lake, Colombo. A music talk workshop will be conducted by the Chemirani Zarb Trio, the Japanese percussionist, composer and teacher Joji Hirota and the Bays from the United Kingdom. In Kandy on Thursday there will be an acoustic performance by The Dhol Foundation of the United Kingdom, the Yelemba D'Abidjan of Cote d'Ivoire and Ravibandu Vidyapathy. The much looked forward to Latin Session will take place at Bishop's College Auditorium on Thursday 22. Featured at the concert will be Toto La Mamposina from Columbia and the salsa Cuban band Asere. From 9 p.m. at the Gallery Beira Lake there will be a club session with DJs. Friday September 23 - Performances will be held at Negombo by the Drummers of Burundi, the Joji Hirota and Taiko Drummers of Japan and United Kingdom and by Ravibandu Vidyapathy. At Bishop's College Auditorium from 7.30 p.m. onwards the masters Trilok Gurtu from India, Billy Cobham from the States and Chemirani Zarb Trio from Iran will be in action. Billy Cobham will conduct a workshop on Saturday September 24 at the Gallery Beira Lake from 7.00 p.m. While at the Galle Face Green on Saturday 24 from 6 p.m. onwards and on Sunday September 25 all the drummers will be featured, with a grand finale from 11.15 p.m. led by Trilok Gurtu. MP |
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