Tribute in song to Vijaya
by Mahes Perera
  Lucky Deva, the popular singer
and composer has released a song as a tribute to Vijaya Kumaratunga
whose twenty second death anniversary fell on February 16. The song
titled Sinamawe Sihina Kumaraya (Dream Prince of Cinema) was composed by
Lucky in response to a request by Tissa Nagodavithana.
“I had a popular feedback from many music lovers and cinema fans when
I composed the song dedicated to Malini Fonseka, Maliniye which was
included in my latest CD, so I thought one cannot leave out Vijaya
Kumaratunga who was a leading film star as well as a good singer. Cinema
artistes Roy de Silva, Channa Perera, Roshan Ranawana supported us in
the singing, also Tissa Nagodavithana who was a sincere friend of Vijaya.
I invited Anjaline Goonatilleke to join us and she readily accepted
my request. My band comprising Disnaka, Kamal, Lakmal and Shiraaz we
were happy with the results”, comments Lucky Deva.
What was the inspiration you drew on to compose the song?
  “I composed the song based on Vijaya Kumaratunga’s maiden film
Hanthane Kathawa and took the idea through to his last film of climbing
Kalwariye Kanda (Kristhu Charithaya). The song also reflects the
metaphorical thought that tears remain on the ‘silver screen’ in memory
of him.”
A ‘silver screen’ icon Vijaya Kumaratunga for more than 20 years
before his tragic death won many popular actor awards and ironically was
awarded a posthumous award for his performance in Kedapathaka Chaaya.
They say that he acted in 100 films and twenty of them were screened
after his death.
Concert by Cliff in 2011?
Who knows, if all goes well Sir
Cliff Richard who expressed the fact that he would love to come back to
Sri Lanka for another show may be here to enthral his fans in 2011. So
says Damayantha Kuruppu who met up with him in Singapore.
Cliff Richard and the Shadows were in transit to proceed to Perth for
the start of their Australian tour consisting of six shows. After
Australia the group will proceed to New Zealand and then to South
Africa. Cliff confirmed that this will be the last reunion and these
concerts were put together to celebrate 50 years of music for the
Shadows.
This year Cliff Richard will be performing a special concert with an
orchestra led by John Miles at London’s Royal Albert Hall. To keep
further the Cliff Richard music interest alive he is planning a new
series of shows in 2011 in Europe and will visit Asia in July 2011.
Cliff Richard and the Shadows have so far done 36 shows entertaining
more than 600,000 fans mostly in UK. The DVD of the concert Cliff and
Shadows reunion has been No. 1 in the DVD music charts since its release
to date.
(M.P.)
Get ready for SISU!
 The word ‘SISU’ is a Finnish
term loosely translated into English as strength of will, determination,
perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. With this
in mind, the Scandanavian band SISU joined forces in 1993 to become of
the best percussion bands of all time. According to renowned composer,
trumpeter and avant-garde performance artist Rolf Wallin, “SISU is a
prime example of the young generation of musicians who, unlike their
elders, actually believe that the history of western music doesn’t stop
at Debussy.”
SISU is definitely a band you wanna see live! To their most loyal
fans, the group’s attitude leaves nothing to question as they pour their
sensational rhythms with toe-tapping beats to tempt your soul. The SISU
maestros are Tomas Nilsson who is artistically in charge of the ensemble
with more than 15 years worth of experience from the Norwegian and
international music scene.
Bjorn Skansen has been a member of SISU since 1999. He is educated
from Conservatorium van Amsterdam and The Norwegian Academy of Music.
Bjorn S’bye is educated from the Norwegian Academy of Music (1994-98)
and became a member of SISU in 1997.
Gaining recognition as one of Scandinavia’s most prominent
contemporary music ensembles, SISU represents contemporary music of the
highest quality, written for SISU by both Norwegian and international
composers.
SISU is recognized for unique musical aesthetics, developed through
an open and exploratory attitude towards every musical challenge. SISU’s
approach exhibits an unquestionable joy of performing whether it is
classic contemporary music or works with pop culture references. Their
repertoire shows an impressive width and over the last few years, SISU
have performed commissioned works by renowned Norwegian and
international composers.
 The initial vantage point for SISU is contemporary music. However,
the percussion ensemble has challenged musical styles throughout their
career. SISU is a flexible ensemble both in terms of musical expression
and composition. SISU has performed at many prestigious events touring
extensively to spread the joy of their sound. The ensemble has
officially represented Norway on many occasions abroad, and has received
several national cultural grants.
In 2001, SISU received The Norwegian Society of Composers’ honourable
prize for performing musicians in Sri Lanka, SISU will take the stage at
the Lionel Wendt on Saturday February 27, and will be having two more
public concerts in Kandy and Nuwara Eliya on March 1 and 2. Also, they
will conduct school concerts for 10-16 year olds in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya
and Colombo where the Colombo school show will be at Navarangahala on
March 4.
SISU is definitely a band you wanna see live! To their most loyal
fans, the group’s attitude leaves nothing to question as they pour their
sensational rhythms with toe-tapping beats to tempt your soul.
-ND
Foot tappin’- head noddin’ music code
by Mahes Perera
It goes without saying that
music draws everyone together so share the beauty of it with a band of
musicians who over the years have fine tuned their artistry and made
their impact on their followers. It happens on one Friday in the month
as it did last Friday evening at the poolside of the Cinnamon Lakeside.
Titled Jazz at Dusk the evening features two bands - the Trans Jazz
Quartet and the Revel Crake & Co.
 The members of the two bands, we are sure, when they are not sitting
behind a desk are working out harmonies and riffs for their respective
instruments. So what you get of an evening at Jazz at Dusk, is a series
of uncluttered simple but always musically textured tunes containing
that universally accepted Jazz code “foot tapping/head nodding” factor.
Which means that you are bound to stay until the last note is sounded
for the evening, happy in the thought that both bands played and sang
many of your favourites in Jazz and obliged you with your requests.
Maybe you are curious like some others are as to the personnel of the
groups. Trans Jazz Quartet comprises musicians who know how to put their
act together. Shiraaz Nooramith with his intricate skin and stick
language keeps the outfit in clinch with his sensitive drumming and
whenever needed is the thrust that pushes the music to toe-tapping
heights.
Then there is the highflying sax sounds of Gavin Senn whose
versatility extends to playing the tenor sax, baritone sax, the soprano
sax and if that is not enough his vocals will keep you with him.
The bassist is none other than the incomparable Alston Joachim whose
pulsating fretwork has always been a show stopper giving happiness to
many. The pianist in this outfit is the much acclaimed Dilukshi Sirimane
who is responsible for most of the arrangements. Her smooth vocals are
an attraction all her own, and if your favourites are Una Mayana or
Taking a Chance on Love or Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, then make
the date with the Trans Jazz Quartet and chase your Friday night blues
away.
Revel Crake & Co is equally proficient in their artistry. Revel Crake
the guitarist is none other than the talented son of the illustrious
Gerry Grake who was a musical icon in the early years in Sri Lanka.
Revel has also inherited his father’s penchant for singing and his
tour de force are ballads from the Jazz books and from Broadway shows.
Ray Gomes the bassist stands tall in his interpretations of the bass
lines of a tune and contributes to the vocal aspect of the band with his
wide repertoire.
Christopher Prins the drummer excels in swing tempo which was the
ideal vehicle for the band’s repertoire that Friday evening. The guest
singer added a different kind of charm to the sounds that evening which
included swing Jazz, Jazz funk and Latin. Ideal on a Friday evening. |
