Entertainment

Thirty two year celebration in music

Off to Oman next month November is the Calypso, folk band Sri Lankians led by the guitar vocalist Sarath Samarawickrama to play at the Al Sawadi Beach Hotel. The group who left behind them the 'Meegamu Malu' fame days will be celebrating, according to Sarath, 32 years as performers in the music scene. The band comprises besides Sarath, his wife Visakha the female singer/percussionist, Milroy Perera - congas/vocals, Sri Nade Silva - congas/percussion and vocals. Depending on the occasion Sarath auguments his group with Dharshana Mawalage - bass/vocals, Peter Rozairo and Derrick de Silva.

With their catchy repertoire of calypsos, Latin and folk songs Sri Lankians have successfully entertained and endeared to themselves many local guests and tourists in the city hotels as well as leading hotels down South, and in the Negombo circuit. Their popularity has taken them to New Delhi, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Mumbai (twice over), Bangalore, Calcutta and westwards to London, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria, Hungary and Poland. Their songs are familiar Sinhala folk songs given that irresistible calypso beat and also the well-known English calypso songs. "We sing in eighteen languages - English, Sinhala, Hindi, Goan, Tamil, Italian, Japanese to name a few. Our first disc by Gem Tone contained four songs and with Gypsy Enterprises we released a cassette titled "Sri Lankians at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi." We will be out of the island on a six month contract at the Al Sawadi Beach Hotel and hope to record another disc when we return," voices Sarath.

MP

C & C's special music vibes

by Mahes PERERA

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It's a success story for Chandani ever since she commenced her music career with Debbie as a teenager managed by Earle Arnolda and they were performing regularly at Trans Asia. With the passage of time Chandani's vocal stylings and repertoire widened taking in not only English pop but also Sinhala and Hindi.

As it always happens the desire to branch out on your own becomes attractive and Chandani decided to form her own band which soon gained popularity.

Today her band C & C which she formed with her keyboardist husband Chaminda is going places playing for many dances, functions and are featured regularly every week at Hilton Colombo, Cinnamon Grand, Trans Asia and R+B.

"At present we are seven in the band. With me we have three female singers - Theres Jacqueline my daughter and Anne Nathan well known in the music industry.

As for the othersJacqueline Hettiarachchi - vocals, Supun Fernando - bass, Heashan Silva - drums and Channa Vanderbona - guitar. We cater to a wide spectrum of audience and our music ranges from contemporary pop, country, semi rock, blues, reggae and retro music. We have noticed that at most successful dances the dancers lap up the music of ABBA, Boney M, Bee Gees, Bob Marley, UB 40, Madonna, Doobie Brothers medleys are even more popular and this we do, much to the enthusiasm of the dancers. Of course there are our bailas and our original Sri Lankan hit songs plus the popular Sri Lankan songs," says Chandani who insists C & C is a 100% live band with no programming of music, and this has been their forte in the music scene.

Incredible flamenco performance

by Mahes PERERA

Tablao the incredible flamenco dance performance presented by the Spanish Consulate in Colombo to commemorate the Spanish National Day was a mind blowing experience for the capacity packed audience at the Bishop's College Auditorium recently. If you thought flamenco dancing was by only a ravishing beauty dressed in red with ruffles at the hemline and clasping castanets that kept the rhythm of the beat of guitars - that picture was rudely torn away from your mind by Increpacion Danza who focused on the Spanish traditional techniques with a choreography that contained precision timing, passionate beauty and contemporary dance structures. The female dancers Ruth, Vanessa and Helga expressed their happiness on the hospitality extended towards them by the Sri Lankans and were intrigued by the dance forms of Kandyan dancing. So far removed from flamenco dance steps yet the similarities were in the energy the dancer has to expend.

The precision timing of the tap dance steps executed with that air of arrogance has always thrilled audiences all over the world and on the Bishop's College stage the highlight of the performance was the 'matador dance' with the male dancer in an irresistible costume complete with a matador's jacket decorated with pieces of glass that reflected the lights and tiny bulbs that were lit up when the music reached the crescendo. As for the girl dancer in a dress of red with hoops that carried slices of timber to give out the sound of castanets, she was a remarkable foil to the male dancer. It was stunning.

The haunting vocals were by Alba Guerrero and the original music played by guitarist Autonio Martinez.

Priyadarshini Jayawardena the Honorary Consul for Spain Colombo has to be congratulated for getting the show down to Colombo even though it meant a lot of hard work for her. Also to all the sponsors who helped her in this endeavour. They will be happy to know that the dancers, musicians and the directors were extremely happy with the facilities extended towards them - a good boarded stage, lights and sound and facilities for filming all of which were not available to them in New Delhi and Kathmandu.

DJing in Dubai is a different ball game

By Mahes PERERA

Back home for a short holiday is DJ Rukie now no stranger to the club scene in Dubai. Other DJ's in Sri Lanka will know him as T. Rukshan Jumath. He's been more than ten years behind the console dishing out grooves and at present is the resident DJ at Harry's Place, Renaissance Dubai Hotel and has been so far the past six years. "I've dished out my music at Chequers (Intercontinental - Dubai) Venom (Singapore), Hand Rock Cafe - (Hyatt KL Malaysia) and Harry's Place (Renaissance - Dubai). DJing at a Night club and at a Pub is a totally different ball game where requests and crowded judgement plays a key role.

In Sri Lanka the DJ scene is totally different compared to other countries. In Sri Lanka people think that DJing is all about mixing and knowing how to use the equipment. In Dubai its different.

People from different age limits, nationality's and countries come for music. So its all about playing the right song at the right time and quite naturally experience plays a key role.

When asked what other profession he would like to be in, DJ Rukie answered that he would like to pursue a career in public relations and customer care, because it gives him the opportunity to meet people and to understand them. DJing makes Rukie happy in life as he enjoys catering to the music appreciation of both the young and the old.

Rukmani remembered

The 30th Commemoration day of Rukmani Devi will be held at 3.00 p.m. October 28 at the Sausiripaya Auditorium, Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The ceremony will be presided over by Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhana, Minister of Culture and National Heritage and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Minister of Mass Media and Information. An autobiography published by Rukmani Devi in 1956 and the Sarasavi Publication, Yugayaka Swarna Geethaya (The Golden Song of An Era), a pictorial compiled by Senior Journalist A.D. Ranjith Kumara will be launched.

A musical evening will also be held on that day at the Tower Hall Foundation in which Prof. Sanath Nandasiri, Damayanthi Jayasuriya, Damitha Abeyratne, Ravindra Randeniya, Luxman Wijesekera, Ishak Beg and Kanchana Fernando will participate.

The evening will end with the screening of the documentary Rupa Chaya depicting the life of Rukmani Devi produced by Dr. Tissa Abeysekera of the Government Film Unit.