The singer SANGEETA BANDYOPADHYAY, coming from Northern India, daughter of the renown tabla player Sankha Chatterjee, arrives at the third record with the Felmay label, after Shruti (2003, which contains two romantic ragas) and Bhakti (2005, devoted to bhajan devotional chants).
In this new work, called Puja, she offers two ragas in khayal style; the first is a late afternoon raga, Raga Puriya Dhanashree, inspired by the sunset and rendered through a singing which expresses joy and happiness; the second, Raga Lalita, is an evening raga, with some romantic overtones, taken at an incredible speed, which concretely proves SANGEETA's perfect vocal technique. Closing the programme we find an example of bhajan, a lyrical text of great emotional impact, which intends to portray the power and the greatness of Rama.
The artistic ability with which SANGEETA, accompanied here by Murad Ali on sarangi and Sabir Khan on tabla, performs the pieces is beyond any description. Virtuoso display and emotion perfectly blend in her, giving life to works of rare beauty. This is not by chance, since SANGEETA, having some extraordinary natural gifts (her voice covers three octaves), has studied in three different gharanas (musical schools), learning by some real maestros such as Chinmoy Lahiri (inventor of a peculiar interpretational khayal style), Sri Kamal Bandyopadhyay and Ustad Munawar Ali Khan of Patiala gharana, son of the legendary singer Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.
All these elements allows her to creatively adapt herself both to slow and fast tempos, developing thin and intricate lines, operating swift rhythmical variations. Her talent and her studies have made of SANGEETA one of the most celebrated singers of the new generation in India and an international career. In Europe and in the USA she has performed in various classical and indo-jazz group and played with many famous musicians such as William Parker, Peter Michael Hammel, Jocelyn B. Smith, Judy Niemack, Ramesh Weeratunga, Jean Francois Prins.
Sangeeta Bandyopadhyay vocal
Murad Ali sarangi
Sabir Khan tabla
PAOLO BONFANTI & MARTINO COPPO - You Were Right
from the CD "Pracina Stomp"
