Rhythm and rap

Percussion merged seamlessly with electronic music at a recent jugalbandi by Murali from Chennai and DJ Piyush Bajaj at Dublin.

MUSICAL DIALOGUE: Piyush and Murali in tandem. — Photos: P. V. Sivakumar

HE HAS BEEN playing Indian sounds of mridangam, pakhwaj and tabla on western acoustic drums, inspired by the rhythm of trains, sound of the sea, chirping of birds and rustle of leaves for the past 13 years. S. Murali Krishnan is the new hot percussionist from Chennai who performed at venues as diverse as the Festival of India, Sydney 2000 and the Visakha Beach Festival.

FROM SCRATCH: DJ Piyush Bajaj

Murali was in town recently for a jugalbandi with DJ Piyush Bajaj who learned his disc jockeying basics at the Razzberry Rhinoceros, Mumbai.

Piyush has performed at major cities in the country and has the twin cities dancing to his tunes at Where Else, the pub. He has been on the DJ scene for the past six years -- from cassette deck days to today's hi-fi DJ console and specialises in new generation rap rhythm as well.

PERCUSSION MAN: S. Murali Krishnan.

The Smirnoff Breakout at Dublin, ITC Kakatiya Sheraton Hotel and Towers recently was a dialogue between percussion and rap. The percussion paraphernalia of Latin timbales, Egyptian darabukka, Thai drums, Chinese gongs and cymbals with used film rolls and Pringles cans (there is music to be created and appreciated from unexpected quarters, according to Murali) produced a bhangra beat. The synthesis of techno beats and drums floored the audience. "The concept is to break up from normal routine," said Murali Krishnan who has earlier played with Japanese drummers. "Hyderabad is opening to new music as is the case with people around the world, with lots of new concepts coming in" adds Piyush. Here's to more such dos.

SYEDA FARIDA

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