Kala Ramnath - Kala

Kala Ramnath
Kala
Sense World Music SWMCD 038, 2005



TRACK LISTINGS
1. Raga Jogkauns - Gat, Vilambit Ektal 28:29
2. Raga Jogkauns - Gat, Madhyalay Ada Chautal 10:33
3. Raga Jogkauns - Tarana, Drut Ektal 6:13
4. Raga Bhatiyar - Gat, Madhyalay Tintal 15:14
5. Raga Bhatiyar - Gat, Drut Ektal 5:07


Young Maestro KALA RAMNATH, the contemporary torch bearer of the Mewati Gharana, stands today amongst the most outstanding instrumental musicians in the North Indian classical genre. Born into a family of musical talent, Kala began playing the violin at the tender age of three under the tutelage of her grandfather Vidwan Narayan Iyer. Simultaneously she received training from her aunt Dr. N. Rajam. For the past eleven years she has put herself under the training of Mewati vocal maestro, Pandit Jasraj. This has brought a rare vocal emotionalism to her art.Kala's violin playing is characterized by an immaculate bowing and fingering technique, command over all aspects of laya, richness and clarity in sur. All this innate artistry and technical brilliance combined with a rare and exquisite emotional quality are the hallmarks of the style. She has completely revolutionized the technique of playing the violin by taking this instrument so close to vocal music that today her violin is called "the singing violin".Kala has performed at all major music festivals in India, such as the Dover Lane Music Conference and others.In 1984, she won the first prize in the prestigious AIR music competition. In 1988, she became the first ever-Hindustani musician and violinist to record for CBS India Ltd. Besides being a brilliant and charismatic musician; Kala has also an outstanding academic record. A University first in her graduation and post graduation, she won the junior and senior government scholarships in the year 1979 and 1984 respectively. She is also an A-grade artist in Radio and Television.KALA has won the acclaim of discerning audiences and critics worldwide. She has extensively toured the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Middle East, Mauritius, Nepal, Bangladesh etc. Her lecture demonstrations and workshops in Music have been highly appreciated in these countries. She is the principal of the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation in Tampa, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia and Los-Angeles, California. She is also a guest professor at the Sangit Academy, Brussels and Neufchâteau in Belgium.Exactly what happened when the violin fell into the hands of Indian musicians is a story that many of Jazzwise's readers will think they are familiar with, through violinists L. Subramaniam and his brother L.Shankar. As ever, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, for they represent but part of the tale. What they represent is what happened when the violin fell into South Indian hands. Kala Ramnath represents what happened when one multi-minded man called A. Narayana Iyer decided to steer two branches of his family in different directions, in order that they would not compete with each other. His son T.N. Krishnan took the southern path; his daughter N. Rajam the Northern one. Rajam's niece, Kala, follows the Northern tradition. If you have never heard violin played in the Northern Indian style, do yourself a favour and try Kala out. Her repertoire here comprises 'Jogkauns' played as three original compositions in, respectively, a slow, medium and fasttempo. A 10-minute 'Bhatiyar' concludes the proceedings. If Mozart had been transported to the South Asian subcontinent this is what he and improvised Western classical music might have sounded like.The comparison is not thrown in to befuddle or impress. Kala Ramnath is a musician of giant-like qualities. - Ken Hunt


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