Musicmatters Festival 2013:

Sunday observer Print media partner:

An eclectic musical make-over

By Aruradha Kodagoda

The Musicmatters Festival 2013, will be held in a few days. It is expected to be 'the music festival', of the year and would feature artistes from around the world, including New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, US, Australia with a combination of Sri Lankan artistes.

Isuru Kumarasinghe

Eshantha Peiris

This is the second time that the festival will be held. The festival is expected to be a night to remember, with the combination of fancy Jazz, blues, psychedelic rock, electronic dance music and Sri Lankan ritual folk music and many more genres of music.The 2013 Festival opens with a piano recital presented by Eshantha Peiris. The repertoire includes modernist piano compositions which have been influenced by traditional rhythms from around the world.

This year's Musicmatters presents four groups of students, aged six to thirteen, playing a variety of music including old jazz standards, funk music and some of their own compositions.

The Game of Patience will create improvised music, combining elements of free jazz, electronic music and improvisations.

The group features Yong Yandsen (Malaysia) on saxophone, Brian O'Reilly (US/Singapore) on contrabass with electronics and Darren Moore (Australia/Singapore) on drums and percussion.

The music of drummer, Sumudi Suraweera and American saxophonist Derek Beckvold twists and turns with sensitivity and aggression.

Moulded together through the dialogue of improvisation and the combined knowledge of a diverse range of musical traditions from around the world, what results is a unique and exciting collaboration.

The Brahminy Kites draws upon a diverse spectrum of musical forms and influences, ranging from Alternative Contemporary American folk music, folk music from North India, Eastern European Gypsy music, folk music from the Arab World and Western Contemporary endeavors in Sonic Art and Composition.

Sumudi Suraweera

Tyson Smith

The artistes are Isaac Smith (Banjo), Radiesha Daluwatte (vocals), John White (viola), Isuru Kumarasinghe (electronics), Uvindu Perera (double bass), Sarani Perera (percussion)

Baliphonics presents the music of the Low-Country bali ritual tradition of Sri Lanka in a sublime collaboration with contemporary jazz and improvisation. The artistes are, Susantha Rupathilaka (voice), Prasantha Rupathilaka (voice), Eshantha Peiris (piano), Isaac Smith (double bass), Sumudi Suraweera (drums)

It is said that human behaviour strangely entangles with sound in an emotional and informative way, driving one into vivid states, perceptions and living styles.

Sound colours humans according to the way it shapes.

Mix Master Blong is an experimental improvisational exploration into textural, psychedelic, drone music experience for vivid colours! The artistes are, Isuru Kumarasinghe (keyboards and electronics), Sarani Perera (guitar), Uvindu Perera (electric bass), Harshan Gallage (drums)

Tyson Smith, an exceptional guitarist/singer/songwriter, originally hails from New Zealand's South Island though his last decade of musical meanderings has taken him to the Caribbean, Central America, USA, Southeast Asia and Europe.

He performs as guitarist with a range of high profile New Zealand artists in both jazz and popular music and also plays banjo in his sister's music group "Mundi".

Sri Lanka's own two-bit, spazz step, 'Go wave outfit' promises you hip hop beats that will entrall you, killing the sole of every shoe it will, twist, turn, slide and step in unprecedented harmony, dancing their way into hip hop ecstasy!

The artistes are, MC Toc Toc Baya, MC Jumps White, Isaac Smith (samples, percussion and auxiliary), Uvindu Perera (electric bass), Harshan Gallage (drums et al.)

The official print media partner of the show is Sunday Observer. If you have time, do head down to the Park Street Mews Colombo on July 13 and it's guaranteed that you won't be disappointed.

Unless of course, you are expecting a pop concert! Enjoy the festival.