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Now a Gypsies Collection

by Mahes Perera

His innovative ideas and creativity in performances have made Sunil Perera a 'stand out' musician in both the Sinhala and Western music scene. Over the years, he has steered his band the Gypsies on the success route, hurdling over grey areas with skilful ease. And now to make his fans happy he has released the Gypsies Collection, a limited edition.

Titled 'I Don't Know Why' borrowed from the latest successful CD, the Collection consists of the Gypsies Platinum 'The Beginning', the Signore CD, Gypsies Gold 'Dance with the Gypsies' and I Don't Know Why'. Produced by Torana Music Box, the Gypsies Collection of five CDs is a must on your shelf, for not only for your immediate listening pleasure, but also for posterity.

The Gypsies returned from Los Angeles last week after performing at a private function, an anniversary celebration of the Company owned by the business magnate Chandra Mohan. The guest singer was Desmond de Silva. The Gypsies are gearing to fly off to Singapore to perform at a concert organised by the Sri Lankan Association.

Scintillating performance

The young Latin jazz Rhythmic Prophecies turned on the heat at the Barefoot Gallery and showed that they possessed the uncommon ability to evoke character and emotion in the expression of their music, at their performance on Saturday, February 18.

Latin jazz leans heavily on intricate beats, a give and take exchange and the members displayed their dexterity which showed their commitment to explore world beats to add excitement to the tunes.

Although they played just four pieces that day, with the vocals taken by the percussionist Reinaldo de Jesus Corchado a Puertorican by birth, one could imagine how extensive their repertoire would have been on the second night of their performance.

Their interplay was great, quite naturally since they have come out from jazz schools and have played and toured with leading names in the jazz scene. The group's final piece with the Sri Lankan percussionist Piyasara Shilpadipathi and two other drummers was fiery, the fingered passages moving swiftly on exchanges that built up to a high.

The pianist Zaccai Curtis was very accomplished with a great deal of fluidity and facility which proved his musicianship and creativity, whether lyrical or otherwise. The bassist Luques Curtis was an ideal foil to the others. So too the drummer Richie Barshay, who kept the intricate and fascinating Latin beat in full control along with the exciting percussionist Renaldo.

In three years from now, it would be interesting to hear their expansion with the Latin jazz idiom. M.P.

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