The Great American Songbook :

A different sparkling event

by Mahes Perera

It was an evening of really good contemporary music, based on the English usage of the word, not the pop culture usage. The music was challenging and singer/saxophonist Gananath Dasanayaka picked up the gauntlet and proved his versatility as a musician.

The evening was his presentation of The Great American Songbook with his band En Route, in aid of Music Project Charity.

He cut his teeth on swing music a la Frank Sinatra and as he once said "Swing is a religion" for him. He got into the mood of the evening with his opener, Almost Like Being in Love and set the tone for what was to follow. That the capacity-packed audience lapped up every word, every phrase of his delivery was never in doubt.

It led us to believe that people like music not because of the style, not because it is old fashioned, but because it is music that is honest and speaks to them. And that Gananath did - worked his way through into their hearts. There were other favourites too. Somebody Loves You, I Wish You Love and Get Me To the Church On Time.

I must pause here to turn the spotlight on two of his friends, Dr. Kovainda de Seram who emulated Dean Martin in his singing of the songs, 'An Evening in Roma' and Volare,' and Piman Wimalaratne whose silent mode skits while the music was on, produced enjoyable appreciation from the audience. Gananath's backing band gave him the right support and expertise needed for the songs.

On keyboards were Debbi Arnolda and Dilip Seneviratne, guitar work was handled by Ramesh Nonis, while Niroshan de Silva worked out the complexities of the swing tunes with his snare and cymbals, and Maxie Pietersz kept the rhythm in control plucking his "my creation" double bass.

With a changing backdrop of scenes from America including Manhattan, Las Vegas, New York, Gananath went into Ole Man River, a tricky arrangement of Day In Day Out, the Jimmy Van Heusen - Sammy Cahn composition My Kind of Town which Frank Sinatra recorded with his son Sinatra Jnr, the popular Beyond the Sea, Mack the Knife which saw Pimal Wimalaratne dressed to the nines strutting the stage in a skit of his own making.

That was not all. Route 66, Strangers in the Night which turned out to be a rage, the dicey arrangement of New York New York that hit the top of the list and Gananath rounded his performance with Bye Bye Blackbird and invited the audience to "make his bed and light the light, he'll arrive home tonight... black bird bye bye".

Before I sign off singing the refrain I must mention that this time I sure missed 'Mrs Frank Sinatras' (Mrs. Gananath Dasanayake's) compering which had a creativity and individuality laced with humour. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the next time.