24 CARAT BRASS – Pancham Mania
This time it was not Tilak Smarak Mandir but Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha, Pune as a venue for Panchammagic’s second Instrumental show named “24CARAT BRASS, Pancham Mania” and didn’t make even a fractional difference to the usual gathering of knowledgeable audience who came all the way to Kothrud Area for a fantastic Brass experience.
Compeering was shared by Ashutosh Soman along with Ankush this time with a small interview of Manoharida explaining how acoustic instruments sound different than electronic ones now a days and also explaining what are the brass instruments for the knowledge of crowd present.
Stage had a wonderful backdrop of replica of very well designed ticket graphic in black and gold with Panchammagic and 24 carat brass written with lovely picture graphic of Panchamda.
The show had special theme of use of Brass instruments in Pancham’s songs and we, at Panchammagic had this long drawn wish to do a show on brass instruments, which is an integral part of Pancham’s music. People had a never before experience as how the actual acoustic brass sounds in Live and how it must have sounded in actual take of Pancham where the instruments were at least double in numbers. One has to really see to believe the magic of brass. Only then one can think as what must be going into writing such a detail score for brass in a particular number. Pancham is the only MD who has used maximum brass very effectively in Hindi film music.
Programme had variety of musicians who had played with Pancham. Chief arrangements were of course handled by great Manoharida. Under his Battens were Bosco and Joseph on Trumpets and Blasco and Manns were on Trombones. Trumpets as everyone is quite aware off but Trombone can be seen played by Shammi Kapoor on screen in Aaja Aaja from Teesri Manzil. These are acoustic brass instruments. Pancham has used even Tuba, which has big horn and is like a wrap around shoulder instrument which one only used to get to see in Defence bands in Military or Navy. Pancham used to hire a player from Navy Band to get Tuba for his music, which has a low bass sound and is used many times like Shaan Title, Teesri Manzil or in background scores. It gives a very enhancement to accompanying brass. Brass also contains Soprano, Tennor Sax etc. which were played in our show by Shyamraj, a veteran player of brass and key flute as well. Nitin Shankar and his entire team such as Abhijit Koli, Babu Pillai, Sachin Dhamankar, Neelesh Jadhav handled the rhythms to utmost perfection. His team was wonderful on instruments like Dholak, Tumba, Duff, Octopad, Congo, Bongo, and other side rhythms were handled by Pancham’s veteran Homi Mulla and Kancha on Madal.
Superb strings had Jayanti Goshar and Narendra Salaskar on Electric guitar and Manish Kulkarni who is also a Toney Vaaz’s student on Bass guitar. Vijay Dayal was on Spanish guitar. Ever popular and regular of Panchamda, Pradeepto Sengupta was on Mandolin who enthralled audience with his solo melodies.
Show opened with a real 24 carat brass, Doston Se Pyar Kiya from SHAAN which had fantastic brass arrangements by Manoharida actually too. The sound was really amazing and it was treat to see Joseph, Blasco, Bosco and Manns playing the brass to perfection.
1st number only got people to their feet and every one had a fair idea of whats going to happen in next 3 hours..!!
Show further had numbers like Doston se Pyar Kiya, Chand Mera Dil, Pyar Karnewale, Gulabi Aankhein, Aanewala Pal, Piya Tu Ab To Aaja, Aaja Aaja Main Hoon, Roop Tera Mastana, Gata Rahe Mera Dil by Manoharida as sax solos. Shyamraj had his share of solos like Duniya Mein Logon Ko, Tum Kya Jano Mohobbat Kya Hai, etc. Electric guitar solos were Saamne Ye Kaun Aaya, Jahan Teri Ye Nazar Hai. Jayanti Goashar had SHOLAY title music on string part.
Being Sachin Dev Burman’s birth Centenary year and occasion of his death anniversary which falls on 31st Oct. we had included Meet Na Mila Re from Abhimaan which Shyamkant Paranjpe played and he was very fluent with his Accordian. He also accompanied for Roop Tera Mastana and Gata Rahe Mera Dil. These melodies were specially selected as tribute to S D Burman. Pradeepto Sengupta’s Mandolin rendition for S D Burman’s Hotonpe Aisi Baat from Jewel Thief was simply marvelous with Nitin Shankar and his team played all the exact percussions in the song and specially the Koda or end part of that beautiful number. The co-ordination of all musicians was just fabulous. They all deserve the special mention for playing this difficult composition. Vijay Jadhav had programmed his octopad so well for the sound of Tabla Tarang in this number that one could really start searching for tabla tarang on stage which wasn’t there..!! Sound of Chanda also was done on drums sounding like authentic Chanda…!! Hats off to Nitinda for accepting this challenging song for instrumental and carrying it till end with never ending calls of “Once More” from the audience.!!!
Joseph was also much appreciated for his perfect trumpet notes rendered in Aanewala Pal and in intro music of Hum Kissise Kum Naheen competition, Pyar Karne Wale, Gulabi Aankhein. Nitin Shankar was enthusiastic as ever was at his best with solo pieces in Competition song, Shaan title and Jewel thief. His hands on percussion are magic, may be being a deciple of Late Marutirao Keer. Nitin was fantastic through out for general rhythms of all the numbers played with accurate actual pickups and variations in those particular numbers.
Manish Kulkarni’s bass guitar was letting out the perfect enhancing notes of Ye Vaada Raha, The train, Shaan title, Jawaani Diwani, etc. where as Pradeepto’s mandolin mesmerized people with Ab ke Sawan Mein Jee Dare, Tu Tu Hain Wohi, Do Lafjon Ki Hai, Hoton Pe Aisi Baat Main, Mil Gaya Hum Ko Saathi solos….he was full of style and got tremendous applause. Jayanti & Narendra also were absolute delight to watch with their modern gadgetry of guitars on Shaan, Jawani Diwani, Sholay, Hum Kissise Kum Naheen, Pukaar etc.
Foursome of brass team was the main attraction of the show and had a gala time of Once Mores and terrific rounds of applause for each and every number played in the show such as Shaan, Sholay, Hum Kissise Kum Naheen, Jawani Diwani, Pukaar, Apna Desh, Carvaan, The Train, Golmaal, etc.
Although the show started half an hour late than scheduled time due to long time taken for sound balancing for 20 musicians, Chakor Sound from Mumbai gave their best too for technical assistance.
Panchammagic also had opportunity to thank their core members by handing a flower by hands of Manoharida as piece of appreciation for hard work put in by them throughout to present such shows to the audience. This also gave a break of 10 minutes to all musicians who were playing continuous with such tiring complicated scores.
And last but not least, our special thanks to greatest artiste Manohari Singh for his Herculean task to handle such show with lots of discipline and his ability to play non stop, instrument like saxophone at the age of 74..!! I had privilege to take him in my car to and fro Pune and had a gala time listening to original Pancham melodies in almost all which he had his playing either sax or flute or even a whistle…!!! Through out the journey on my music system in car.
These were two unforgettable days in my life, which gave me immense pleasure just like audience in Y B Chavan auditorium on 28th October 2005.
SANDEEP KULKARNI
Panchammagic.org
