Entertainment / People

Hip hop to the fore

by Mahes Perera

The music loving youth call her the queen of Sri Lankan hip hop and very rightly too. Ashanthi's debut album Sandawathuren is fodder for the hip hop fans. It does not only cater to young groovers but reaches out to the adults with a realism that cannot be ignored.

The tracks spell fusion, laced with hip hop, catchy R 'n' B which makes the album a stand out, different from the run-of-the-mill rhythms; we have been used to. In a youth music scene dominated by males, Ashanthi with this album has succeeded in grabbing the spotlight and taking it away from them to prove that there's a lot of talent in girls and, if properly groomed with dedication and commitment, it can result in sure-fire-success.

The album Sandawathuren contains delightful fourteen tracks with the title track setting the mood and pace. Ashanthi's introduction "Ashanthi, I'm about to blow your mind, so sit back 'n hold tight..." is apt for what is to follow. She is in this solo album joined by Bathiya and Santush in two selections - Kanduleli and Mindhadha Awudhin who were the producers of the CD. In Denayana Hamuwa, Bertram Charles fits in easily in the vocals.

The track What's Going On with Randhir is a catchy hip hop one and so too Muwagin / Get It Crunked with the young and talented rapper Redrum. Ashanthi's strong point we guess is ballads and she excels in Oba Ven Vi.

There's Aale in fast tempo and very creative. In fact all the tracks prove that Ashanthi is highly talented - voice wise and lyric wise. And as she claims in the liner notes her talent was nurtured by her parents, Marianne David and also Sharmini Wettimuny of her alma mater Ladies College.

Sandawathuren the solo album of Ashanthi's is really something.

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 Eric Truffaz Quartet in performance

The internationally acclaimed French trumpeter Eric Truffaz will be in concert at the British School Auditorium Elvitigala Mawatha, on January 27. He will perform with his Quartet comprising Malcolm Braff - piano, Christophe Chambet - bass and Marc Ebetta - drums.

Truffuz' music is an amalgam of electro - acoustic fusion, combustible dance rhythms and jazz tonalities which has created a new concept in jazz. His music is contemporary incorporating drum 'n' bass and hip hop rhythms.

From the age of 16 when he heard Miles Davis' Kinda Blue, he was greatly inspired and determined himself to learn more. So he set off to be a student of Switzerland's Geneva Conservatoire.

His jazz fusion artistry won him the 1991 Prix Special in France - a coveted jazz award in that country. He made the first of his three appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1991.

He toured Europe, Russia and Brazil and in 2000 he signed with Blue Note to record the album The Mask, which was a straight ahead jazz album with Miles Davis similarities. The concert is presented by the Alliance Francaise.

M.P.

Body Building and Beauty Show

The innovative event the Body Building and Beauty Show which was held at the Holiday Inn last September will be telecast on Derana TV today (January 21) at 11.00 a.m. The event presented by The Fitness Kingdom consisted three main events followed by eye catching dance acts and musical items.

The winners in the Queen contest were Trilby Amaraweera of the Kotte Branch and Sulochana Pinto also of the Kotte Branch.

The first runner up was Rosel Madhushika of Holiday Inn.

In the Man Hunt the winners were Sameera Liyanaarachchi of the Mount Lavinia branch, Roshan Chamind Perera of Colombo 10 branch, the first runner-up. Gihan Siriwardena of the Kottawa branch was the second runner-up.