World music moves to a higher octave
Before I was informed of its definition, my first reminisces of seeing “world music” performed live occurred way back in March 1984 when Shakti — the band fronted by guitarist John McLaughlin — played at Cooperage Football Grounds in south Mumbai, featuring the likes of Zakir Husain on tabla and L Shankar on violin. ( Incidentally, he played a fusion night, courtesy organiser InSync at Mumbai’s Shanmukhananda Hall on November 9 with Mike Albert, a guitarist whose claim to fame was a brief stint with American hard rock band Megadeth.)
My next live journey into this new genre happened four years later when, as a staple of the UK- based Real World Records ( RWR), Senegalese singer Youssou N’ Dour performed as part of the 1988 Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, playing before an audience of 72,000 with Tracy Chapman as the opening act.
No doubt, N’ Dour’s presence had a lot to do with the artiste that followed him next on stage, none other than one- time vocalist of Genesis, Peter Gabriel, who founded RWR. In fact, the record label celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, having connected the Western musical world with stunning voices from the rest of the globe. Examples are rampant, including the explosive qawwali of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan — who I saw per- form live in Mumbai in 1996 — or the sounds of Afro Celt Sound System, or the harmonies of Blind Boys Of Alabama. There were the Jazz India promoted Jazz Yatra festivals that often featured a unique blend of jazz combined with Indian instrumentation, a festival that I first attended in Mumbai — if I remember the year correctly — in 1992.
But, as the product head of record label Saregama’s international music division in 1995, not only did I have access to the RWR roster for release purposes, but also a label known as Narada and its sub- label, Higher Octave. With it was another revelling music journey, this time into ambient, or new age, sounds from around the world through artistes such as German guitarist Ottmar Liebert, American Indian themed Sacred Spirit, and the Welsh initiated Adiemus, to name a few.
The world music connection did not occur overnight, but was a growing movement that gained popularity in the ’ 60s. Much credit also to the continuing international successes of leading Indian classical music exponents such as sitar player Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan on sarod. European and American musicians, as I have stated in a previous column, became enchanted by the interrelationship between mysticism, spirituality and music, through the emergence of Indian music and its exponents, either through visits by international musicians into India or with Indian musicians travelling abroad. Initially the Indian musicians catered to an Indian diaspora before diversifying their fan following to include the West.
The initial boost of the world music genre was provided by the genesis of the WOMAD ( World Of Music, Arts, and Dance) international festival, which was co- founded in 1980 by musician Peter Gabriel. Since 1982, WOMAD festivals have travelled all over the world, including Adelaide ( Australia), Taranaki ( New Zealand), Extremadura ( Spain), Sicily ( Italy), the Canary Islands and, in 2010, Abu Dhabi in UAE.
While Gabriel has been to India before, one is not aware whether he would consider making India as a base for his rotating musical festival in future. However, until that happens, if at all, take a look at the Masters Of World Music event that com- mences on November 19 in New Delhi, following which it moves to Hyderabad, Pune, and Bengaluru, ending in Mumbai on December 10. Initiated by menswear apparel brand Blackberrys, the intent of involving themselves in music is “to contribute in the conservation and promotion of exceptional musical talent across the globe while also nurturing Indian talent”.
And, so it is with the presence of Indian artistes — such as Barmer Boys, Catharsis, Highway 61, Shoonya Rajeev Raja — covering, among others, the genres of Carnatic, jazz, Rajasthani folk and traditional Bengali sounds as part of this festival.
Two of the leading international musicians participating in the Master Of World Music are Malian musicians Fatoumata Diawara, who was born on the Ivory Coast and is presently based in France, and Vieux Farka Toure, son of Grammywinning legend, the late Ali Farka Touré, whose music transcends blues, folk, soul, reggae and rock.
Surely, a musician whose music will be, conservatively stated, a revelation in bringing world music back into India. The writer has been part of the media and entertainment business for
over 23 years. He still continues to pursue his
hobby, and earns an income out of it!— The
writer has been part of the media and entertainment business for
over 23 years. He still continues to pursue his hobby, and earns an
income out of it!