MUSIC

'3 Play' on a musical journey

by Mahes Perera

Make your tracks on a Friday evening to the California Grill, Galadari Hotel and soak in the vibes of '3 Play' who are on a musical journey to compliment the cuisine journey offered by this fine dining restaurants. '3 Play' is led by the popular Shiraaz Nooramith whose bass drum, stick technique and cymbals have a special sound and style that echoes "Shiraaz." He's happy that the other members of the Trio are the experienced pianist Tamara Ruberu and bassist Denver Barnes who moved into the professional scene recently.

In a spool back Shiraaz reveals that his interest in playing the drums kicked off when he was just 10 years old. His father got him a set of drums and a keyboard and he is proud of the fact that he is a self taught drummer.

"I used to watch other drummers in action and my biggest influences in drumming were Hassen Musafer and Aruna Siriwardhana and on the global scene I gathered more on style and wrist work from Steve Gadd, Billy Cobham and Dave Weckl. It has been an exhilarating journey for me since I got my little drum set when I was ten and believe me it was all a forward drive playing with so many bands during what senior drummers would call my formative years."

And the band you started playing with professionally?

I was 17 years and the band was Sheri and the Sunshine Band. Remember Sheridan Kuruppu? He was then playing in Negombo along with Hilary Christie and Clifford de Andrews. Gosh where did I go next? "I joined the band Charade with Hussain Jiffry, Kamal Perera and Adrian de Silva. There was 'Serendib', Noeline and Galaxy and then with Arabesque in Switzerland. Switzerland was good. You learn to be punctual and disciplined on stage or otherwise. On my return I joined singer Marie de Rosairyo's band with Dr. Farazard Nazeem, and Lucky Manikavasagar. I had some interesting years with Pro Arrangement led by Russell Fernando, with pianist Cecit Rodrigo, Harshel Rodrigo and also with saxophonist Rodney Van Heer and I still play with him at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. With '3 Play' we play a wide repertoire of music simply because Tamara is an accomplished pianist and she knows practically every song in the book and whatever rhythm that is required." Naturally, since Tammy Ruberu has a Licentiate from Trinity College, London having also won a special award in piano. Although she learnt in the classical idiom, she was trained to play any tune, if the occasion demands it.

"Chart hits, other pop songs and evergreens pose no problem for me. I have a passion for rock and my favourite groups are Green Bay. Deep Purple and Police. As a solo pianist, I play at the Hilton Colombo and the Cinnamon Grand, my wide repetoire stands me in good stead. I teach as well, at the Yamaha School and I'm proud to say that the Sri Lankan students are extremely talented with the few facilities unlike say in Singapore where I was a music teacher for some time. We had some interesting moments playing at the Hilton Colombo as Trio with bassist Alston Joachim and now at the California Grill with Shiraaz it's an extended experience.

Bassist Denver Barnes enjoys playing in today's music scene and he is thankful to his Dad, Romano for launching him. He draws his influences from Lary Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Jaco Pastorius, Melvin David and Abraham Laboriel. He moved into professional playing with Hersched Rodrigo, pianist, who heard him at Derek Wickramanayake's house and he began playing regularly with Herschel at the California Grill, Curve and Qbaa, but unfortunately Hershel returned to the States last year. Now at the California Grill he's enjoying himself playing for the cosmopolitan guests who make the weekly date at the fine diving restaurant.

Classical Guitar Workshop and Concert by Aakash Saha

The India Cultural Centre, Colombo in association with Amarnath Guitar Akademi, Colombo and Asian Guitar Federation is organizing classical guitar workshops and Concerts by Aakash Saha, Bachelor of Music from Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, USA from June 7 to 11 at Colombo and Kandy.

The Asian Guitar Federation is a growing network that connects music organisations with the aim of enabling music education, performance opportunities, festivals and competitions for the development of classical guitar in Asia. Sri Lanka is an active member-nation of AGF, having already hosted maestros from US, Thailand and India.

Aakash Saha is a virtuoso classical guitarist, chamber musician, composer and pedagogue from India. He has trained directly under legendary classical guitarist Denis Azabagic (Bosnia-USA). He completed his Bachelor's of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Azabagic's studio at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University. He has participated in Twents Guitar Festival (The Netherlands), Koblenz Guitar Festival (Germany) and Tampere Guitar Festival (Finland). He is one of the founder and director of Calcutta Classical Guitar Society and driving force behind the Indian Guitar Federation and Asian Guitar federation.

Contact No 0773475609.

[WORKSHOPS]

June 8 --- Classical guitar workshop at Indian Cultural Centre – 10 a.m.
June 9 --- Classical guitar workshop at Indian Cultural Centre – 10 a.m.

[CONCERTS]

June 7th --- Classical guitar concert at Overseas School of Colombo, Battaramula at 9.30am (for students and teachers of OSC)
June 10, Classical guitar concert at Russian Cultural Centre, Colombo 7 at 7.00 pm
June 11, Classical guitar concert at Chandananda Buddhist College, Asgiri Vihara Mawatha, Kandy at 6.30 pm

For registrations and information email to [email protected]