Entertainment

A nite of retro and catchy beats

by Mahes Perera

Back on track to entertain groovers is the well-known KNH Project - Kapila, Naushad and Harith.

Their legendary expertise in mixing the grooves and keeping the dancers on the floor at the Blue Elephant Disco till the early hours of dawn is now history.

By popular demand and with the festive season round the corner, the good news is that KNH are regrouping themselves to entertain groovers at different night spots. The first of such events will be on November 10 at the H2O Night Club. So make sure you are there to enjoy the trios remixing of retro tracks with modern catchy beats in that original style of theirs that turned out to be a winner.

KNH Project released their first remix CD 'Years of Deejaying' in 1999 and then followed it up with another success story in their e-mix for Shaggy's tour of Sri Lanka in 2000 with an exiting mix of Sri Lanka drums for the hit single 'It Wasn't Me'. Now KNH are working on their third CD containing three Sri Lankan songs remixed to hip-hop beats. And that's going to be something.

When asked about the KNH comeback DJ Kapila said: "This was an idea of mine, I wanted to do something different, a project different from other Deejays in Sri Lanka, to encourage them to have an identity of their own and that's how KNH came about."

To Naushad the event "is not merely looping a beat in the CD console but it is a lot of skill and work mixing the music behind the console." Harith who intends following drum classes recalls memories of the successful Millenium Party the trio organized at the North Lawn." What a night that was! It was for all those who had to work during the dawn of the millenium."

When the trio are not together behind the console, they are busy with their day time jobs. Like Kapila is the Asst Food and Beverage Manager and Harith a Restaurant Manager at the Hilton Colombo.

As for Naushad he runs his own 'Jungle Juice Bar and Movie and Music Store' and is the resident DJ at the Singer Night Spot. So don't skip a beat - make the date on November 10 at the H2O Night Club - and like the scouts be prepared for a dynamic late, late show!

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Bizet's Pearl Fishers to be staged in Sri Lanka

Classical musical lovers are in for a treat soon.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board, the French Embassy in Sri Lanka and the Indian Neemrana Music Foundation will stage George Bizet's colourful opera The Pearl Fishers at the BMICH on January 9 and 11, 2008.

The opera was staged in Mumbai and New Delhi two years ago and Mohan Tissanayagam well known in classical music circles in Sri Lanka who had seen these performances urged that the opera be staged in Sri Lanka the country of origin and thus it will become a reality next year.

Pearl Fishers will be produced by Francis Wacziang, directed by Patricia Panton and the orchestra will be conducted by Benjamin Levy assisted by Ajit Abeysekera. The Sri Lankan choir will be conducted by Menaka de Fonseka Sahabandu while the Indian Choir will be conducted by Gabriella Boda Rechner.

The choreography is by Santosh Nair and sets are by Senaka de Silva.The cast which represent all three countries will number over 120. The soloists will include the Indian soprano Aude Priya Engel, the tenor is the Korean Matteo Leo, Phillippe Desandre will sing bass and the baritone voice is that of Vikrant Subramaniam.George Bizet's The Pearl Fishers is set among the fishing folk on an island off the coast of Ceylon.

It is a torrid love story between the tribal chief Zurga, his companion Nadir and the Priestess Leila. The opera is in three acts blending passion, hatred, jealousy, friendship and desire.

According to the Programmes Co-ordinator from the Neemrana Music Foundation Antoine Redon the opera is "set to dazzle the audience." The Director General of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board S. Kalaiselvam is confident that such an event will be a boost to Sri Lankan tourism as it is bound to attract audiences from all participating countries.

M.P.

Electronic Music Concert

The Goethe Institut Sri Lanka in collaboration with Barefoot Gallery will present "Lychee Lassi" - on Friday, November 9 at 7.00 p.m. at the Barefoot Gallery.

The group comprises Beat Halberschmidt - Bass, Dirk Heinz Berger - Guitar, Roland Knauf - Drums, Graf Schlippenbach, Vincent Hieronymus Benedikt Alban - Turntables.Lychee Lassi made a name for themselves with their debut 'Speed' EP and was named record of the month by TIP magazine.

Lychee Lassi has gone on to play gigs all over Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the UK at clubs and open-airs. Nerdy digital arts festivals and even at truly crusty neo-hippie raves. They have felt at home supporting the likes of Angle Reed. Seed, the H-Blocks and everything from puppets to break dancers.

It is impossible to pigeonhole the unique sound of Lychee Lassi. Much of their musical heritage derives from an eccentric pallet hip hop, funk, jazz being the most obvious influence but there are deeper other worldly sound palimpsests that elude description.

Sunday chill out

Chill out on a Sunday morning to the nice 'n easy sounds of the music of Yohan and Honorine and to the sumptuous offerings from Latitude's International Sunday Brunch with your family.

With the view of the beautifully landscaped gardens and the poolside nestling just beyond, what better way to loll your Sunday away than at Tajs' Latitude. An action kitchen offers you a wide range of dishes from handmade pizza's to freshly tossed pastas, a variety of seafood, roasts, shawarmas and desserts complete with a chocolate fountain.

In the words, of the song nothing could be finer than to be at the Latitude... Unwind at the poolside with the family with your Sunday dress down outfit by taking a cool dip in the refreshing waters and getting spoilt by Trans Asia's sporty team who have lots of activities lined up for your children.

When you are happily tired out then enjoy the piping hot buffet all set to be tucked into. The Summerfields has a variety of salads to chose from, Chinese dishes, roasts and pastas.

Not forgetting the scrumptious sweets that have to be tasted. Top it all by enjoying the music of Derrick Wickramanayake and Pathum Fernando - guitars and Bonnie Paul - vocals.