 Privé means private!
by Nilma Dole
If you ever wanted a private and
happening place to chill out with a bunch of friends on a Saturday
night, then Privé Colombo is the right place for you. The cool location
to unwind and have a good time.
 The interiors of the plush hotspot is more than enticing and it is a
special place to chill with your date as well. They allow some to book
the place exclusively but it depends on the event.
Offering an atmosphere of relaxation, Privé Colombo also knows how to
rock it in style, partying it right.
“We offer the cheapest rates for drinks and make it affordable for
everyone to have a good time” said DJ Ross, the resident DJ at the
hotspot. Along with him, DJ Upul also works the console until the wee
hours of early morn. Entrance is free so that everyone can make it a
night to remember.
Privé Colombo is owned by Anuruddha and Pavithra who made patrons
visit CR&FC more than just for Rugby matches and Jazz Sunday.
They spruced the old club house to give it a distinct style and
flavour to enrich the standard of partying in Sri Lanka. Offering more
than lifestyles of the rich and the famous, the crowd frequenting Privé
Colombo are a diverse mix of old school individuals and your average
teeny bopper. “We play mostly R&B, Hip Hop and House and we readily
blend the rhythms to suit the mood of the crowd” says DJ Ross, one of
the most respected and renowned D.M.C certified DJs Sri Lanka has ever
produced.
 A whole new experience is on offer at Privé Colombo with their event
theme nights to spice up your weekends with a whole load of zest. “We
are more than willing to tie up with other DJs to give a right royal
time for all the movers and shakers in Colombo and hope everyone opens
their eyes to Privé” noted DJ Ross.
As for the future, DJ Naushad is tipped to take the console on the
23rd of this month and many more local events are on boards. “We are
planning to bring from a renowned DJ from Belgium and also have a hot
lady DJ all the way from London courtesy Ministry of Sound” said DJ Ross
with a smile. So take it from here and have a blast at Privé Colombo!
And now a gospel CD from Derrick
by Mahes Perera
Surf your tube and you are bound
to view clips of the balladeer Derrick Junkeer singing selections from
his latest CD. “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Derrick is no stranger to Sri
Lankans, he has been in action on our stages ever so often in the past
years at Christmas time or otherwise much to the delight of his fans
young and old. From the sentimental ballads of Englebert Humperdinck and
his peers, Derrick has moved to recording an album of gospel songs which
should find a place on your CD shelf.
 “The reason why I produced this latest CD was to fulfil the wishes of
my senior fans here in Melbourne and also those in Sri Lanka. I
dedicated the album to my mother who always wanted me to perform gospel
songs, so I selected some of her favourites and also some of the
favourites of my senior fans. Although I was not able to record an album
in her lifetime I am happy that I was able to fulfil her wish and I’m
sure she must be smiling down on me from her home in heaven”, expressed
Derrick when he telephoned us from Melbourne.
Derrick’s selections on this gospel CD include Amazing Grace, How
Great Thou Art, You Raise Me Up, Be Not Afraid, Peace in the Valley, I
Believe, Crying in the Chapel, Just A Closer Walk With Thee to name a
few.
Now in Melbourne, Derrick continues his solo music career performing
at various venues with Keith Podger of the Seekers fame who had world
number one hits, and at many private functions.
Incidentally for the information of music lovers Keith Podger too has
Sri Lankan connections since they say his parents were originally from
Sri Lanka. Derrick also goes out of his way to produce albums for the
young up and coming artistes giving them advice on musical direction and
promotion.
For the past 30 years Sri Lankan born Derrick Junkeer has been
entertaining music lovers with his solo performances.
Now a host on Channel 31 on the Sri Lanka Morning Show in Melbourne,
Derrick has also made appearances on Good Morning Australia with Bert
Newton on Channel 10. In Melbourne Today with Ernie and Denise on
Channel 9, at Home with John Mangos on Channel 7, Midday Show with Ray
Martin on Channel 9, are some of his many TV appearances.
Ever since his debut on New Faces with Bert Newton, Derrick found
success as an entertainer in Australia on his own steam and has found a
large fan base who enjoy his powerful vocal chords. Let’s hope he will
wing his way to Sri Lanka soon!
Eshan and Nupathi - congratulations!
by Mahes Perera
‘Sri Lankan Life’ a new live
programme series telecast on Rupavahini Corporation turned out to be a
popular laudable talent searching programme that resulted in keen
competition. Eshan Denipitiya, just 14 years, played piano along with
Nupathi Nilambara who was on Sri Lankan traditional drums and Latin
percussion, and together they carried off the prize for the Best Duo in
the Instrumental Category.
 It was an open competition for all age groups and more than 1000
skilled and qualified musicians islandwide competed in playing a
diversity of instruments of various combinations. But it was the young
pianist Eshan and percussionist Nupathi who stole the show and very
rightly too. And boy! Weren’t they overjoyed.
Son of the famous multi-instrumentalist composer and arranger Mahesh
Denipitiya, Eshan was the youngest competitor and his small fingers
moved with perfect fingering techniques which was amazing. His partner
Nupathi is a more mature and professional percussionist and their
musical blend astounded the judges.
Eshan highlighted the beauty of our traditional folk songs (Jana Gee)
and Vannams of the Uda rata and Pahatha rata fusioned with Western
classical pieces of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. Nupathi on the other
hand blended beautifully into the compositions with his compelling
artistry on the drums highlighting the many complex rhythms.
The set they performed at the finals was based on the Bambara Kepilla
the music for which they used the prayers and chants for safety (Bambara
Yadinna). Eshan’s expression on the piano of the “Flight of the Bumble
Bee” with a drum solo by Nupathi in the time signatures of 11/8 produced
the typical Bambara sounds and Nupathi ended the piece with the Bambara
Walalla which saw him spinning around the stage in perfect precision. It
was tremendous.
There were other pieces too which reflected the remarkable artistry
of the duo. Nanda Malini’s song ‘Tharuda Nidane Maha Re’ was given a
Latin arrangement, while a blues composition in the Chick Corea idiom
was fusioned with the Ukusa Vannama and Ragadhari rhythm.
Also the movie theme ‘Sinidhu Sudu Mudu Talawe’ from ‘Sath Samudra’
saw Eshan playing it on the piano supported by heavy percussion in
changing time signatures and unbelievable dynamics from Nupathi.
‘Sri Lankan Life’ was an ideal vehicle to showcase the hitherto
shadowed musical talent of our youth. Eshan Denipitiya is still a
student at St. Peter’s College and he has done the school proud by
winning many competitions. He is now the pianist for his school’s choir
and also the organist for St. Theresa’s Church Junior Choir and Gospel
Singers Choir.
Nupathi Nilambara is a past student of Ananda College with wide
interests not only in music but in academic activities.
He studied the drums under Ravibandhu Vidyapathy and hails from a
traditional dance family, his grandfather being K. S. Fernando the
well-known low country dance and drums guru. Nupathi is also a member of
the popular percussion band Nadro. We hope the duo will be centre stage
in the future to mesmerize our audiences. |
