Let’s do Bharata Jazzyam with Funky Guru
It’s time for a dance after some sincere thoughts on love and music. Come on Mido! Let’s do Bharata Jazzyam. OOPS! does that sound alien to you? Probably. BharataNatiyam is one of the many traditional dances (natiyam) of India. But what does a new ager got to do with an aeon old dance form? Simple: give new thinking, give life. Remember what Einstein said, “Humanity is going to need a substantially new way of thinking if it is to survive.” (heya! Einstein never thought of Bharatanatiyam, Jazzyam or any dance for that matter. I quote him out of context.)
BharataJazzyam is one of the 8 tracks in Yatri, by Prem Joshua. The track name and the music are a play upon(call it new thinking) on the word and dance form Bharatanatiyam. (Hold on Classic puritans! dont shed your tears now nor rage in anger. The worst is to come. Save your energy.) The 4.55 minute, jazz rendered track is a collage of jazz sax, drums with classical vocals and Sitar. The best part of the music is that it is still deeply rooted in classic spirit when Sitar takes up stage and very modern when Sax assumes the lead.
Yatra, which in Sanskrit means spiritual journey, is a very significant stage for any spiritual aspirant in India. And the one who is goes for a Yatra is Yatri. This music album goes well with this theme in new age context. Together with tracks that require silent listening, you also find tracks that tempts for a dance. One of which we discussed earlier. Now the second: Funky Guru (guru: spiritual master). Mido, doesn’t the name create a sense of laughter? Yes, the music does the same. It’s time now for the puritans! Let loose your saved energy… shed tears or rage in anger…. for Funky Guru dubs the age old mantra “Guru Brahma, guru vishnu, guru devo maheshwara” in a funky style. Intolerable for classic lovers, very adorable for new thinkers!
Joshua is not the first to make this kind of attempt. There are countless albums and cine tracks that attempt to remake Indian classics. Then what makes Joshua’s special? It is that Joshua never kills the soul of classics, howsoever modern, he renders them. It is like you want to look good in your photography: you do all make-ups and keep up with trends. But you may never distort your appearance so much that nobody identifies you. After all, you never want to get ‘lost’ in your new costume, rather, ‘found’ charming in it. Joshua does the same. He keeps the classic spirit alive in his album, makes it ‘charming’ in new costume.
Back to Funky Guru, the track created an imagery of a guru who holds Sitar like a Guitar (how rhyming!) and dances his way on a yatra, partly graceful, partly mad (your imageries are welcome.) I’m ready for a dance with this Funky Guru, the music is on and a guitar, too. Catch you later, Mido!
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POSTED IN: New Age, Prem Joshua, World
5 opinions for Let’s do Bharata Jazzyam with Funky Guru
Stella
Jul 24, 2007 at 6:29 am
Brilliant work. U have so nicely blended this article. Am expecting this sort of writings from u dear. I can smell the fragrance, can feel the pleasure and silence of the album through ur writings. I loved reading it.
Shruthi
Jul 24, 2007 at 7:33 am
Hey u r outstanding man. I wonder on your writings. I can say this article is simply superb.
Marphy
Jul 24, 2007 at 8:15 am
Excellent! Great work. U have very well described about the tracks in short. Am much impressed with this post and can see Stella, too, much satisfied with it. Keep maintaining the pace of ur writings.
Stephen Rhaguram
Jul 28, 2007 at 7:57 am
Prem Joshua, himself a Yatri (traveler) beyond musical traditions, creates an inspired collection of songs reflecting his deep love affair with India.
The album’s easygoing, exotic, jazzy vibe reveals a natural openness to the wisdom gained from the simple pleasure of travel, and the friends and experiences gained along the way (Joshua’s 20 years of travel through India.)
Inspired by bus rides through Bali, a guru’s teachings, Indian fables or a dancer’s subtle expression, these songs swing effortlessly between East and West.
!!!!!!! Shankar i can see the blog gaining up heat with yr writings! The post unties the essence of YATRI while the grabbing the readers interest.
J BESHORE
Jul 30, 2007 at 3:18 am
As a die-hard fan of Prem Joshua, I enjoyed his quotes which were presented lucidly. I have even met him once in Pune in an OSHO camp, during my INDIA visit.
In America I should really die hard to find die-hard fan of Prem Joshua, manish ji et al. Since I have enjoyed the treasure of music while visiting India, I value it much. Here, when people are obsessed with rocks, albums and pops, they do not know about new age, for they cannot come out of their mental age boundaries.
KEEP ON GIVING VALUE TO MUSIC.
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