Sandip Burman
Sunday, September 18th, 2005
Last night a few of us went to see Sandip Burman play tablas at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. The concert was one of the better concerts of any kind I’ve seen in years. Part of it is because it was just plain good, part of it is because I play drums now and appreciate what it means to perform, let alone to perform well.
I first saw Sandip play with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in their live concert DVD and knew he was good but that in no way prepared me for quite how good. Oh my what a player he is. This was fusion: Indian complexity accompanied by a ghatam (Indian ceramic jug drum), a violin and a sax and in the end, it was jazz but rooted in classical Indian rhythms.
Sandip hands moved so fast they were blurred most of the time and with no flash it was hard to freeze them. Thank god for a fast lens. His smile and wonderfully upbeat attitude and support of the other players was inspirational.
If you have a chance to see him in any venue I highly recommend it, whether you know anything about Indian music or not.
Sandip looked directly at each of the other players as they were about to solo or when he wanted them to take off on an improvisational riff. His obvious support and comraderie in this group was inspirational. Here he’s looking at the ghatam player.
Here he’s looking at the sax player.
We came out of the concert with our minds blown. It was a great concert, it was a fantastic look at complex Indian tabla playing done by a master, and it was a view of what makes a great musical group work. Sandip led without overpowering and he was obviously the main attraction but always put the other musicians out front to let them shine (they were excellent as well). His audience connection was sincere and it worked, the entire place was with him and we went for a fantastic ride. Not sure if tabla is in my future but I know I’m going to be seeing a lot more of Sandip Burman.
What an excellent set of concert photos, Richard. You’ve done a wonderful job of capturing the style and spirit of Sandip Burman. I’m envious that got to see this extraordinary musician in performance. I hope to as well someday.
I wish I could have been there. I love the moments you have captured with your camera. I am sure it was amazing!
Now THAT’s team spirit.
I really enjoy your blog. Always something unexpected and fascinating that I would never have otherwise encountered. As necessary as poetry. And I mean that in a good way!
Gary: thanks, I’m very pleasesd with them and I’ve emailed Sandip letting him know I’ll gladly send him a CD of full res images for his web site. I have about 50 good keepers of the concert.
Mamen: you’d have loved it. You already have a lot of experience with Indian music but maybe a bit less with this fusion stuff. This was traditional mixed with jazz. Simply amazing and perfectly pulled off.
Jola: you’re right, the team spirit of a well rehearsed and tight and supportive group is great to witness and a charismatic yet humble leader (Sandip is both) can help glue that together.
Glad this site provides you with something unusual from time to time. One of the benefits of age (I’m old for a blogger), varied interests (I have too many for one person), and a bit of ego (I enjoy sharing my life with other people). Stay tuned, there was a Kathakali dancer at the event last night as well and I got amazing pictures of her.
Richard, have you seen tabla master Zakir Hussain perform? I read a little about him in the new Kronos Quartet CD, You’ve Stolen My Heart: Songs from R.D. Burman’s Bollywood. Hussain plays on that CD. He’s the son of legendary tabla player Alla Rakha.
http://www.momentrecords.com/zakir.html
Gary, amazingly, I watched the DVD Concert for George last night and there he was, playing tabla with Anoushka Shankar. I wasn’t sure that was him but I’m pretty sure it was. Never seen him perform (except for that DVD which I love) but I’d love to. John Marshall, my drum teacher and a tabla student has I’m sure.
Nice shots, Richard. The exposure looks just right. Not always easy to achieve in concert conditions. Well done.
Wow! I organized the concert of Sandip and Maya, and I have to say you’ve really got the event pegged. I’m still having people stop me on the street to tell me how beautiful, spiritual, mindboggling and world class the dancing and playing were. All the performers were uplifting and I can’t wait to create another event like this one.