When Welsh music kept tune with Hindustani folk

Strains of modern Jazz amalgamated with folk music from Wales accompanied to tunes of Hindustani folk to create an exquisite medley in a unique collaboration between Indian and Welsh musicians.
The venture 'Khamira' witnesses guitar artiste Aditya Bilani, Sarangi virtuoso and vocalist Suhail Yusuf Khan and tabla player Vishal Nagar to fuse some Indian rhythms into Welsh folk and Jazz to create original and dynamic sounds.
"Cross cultural collaborations are always interesting. We have been touring India and enjoying tremendous Indian hospitality. The guitar came in our last three gigs when we performed in Mumbai and Pune," says Tomos Williams, the trumpeter in the band, which performed here at the British Council here late last evening.

Originally know as "Burum," which means yeast in Welsh, the band travelled India last year for a Jazz workshop at the Global Music Institute in Delhi and fermented something new and fresh combining the musical instruments - sarangi and tabla with drums, bass and keyboard.
"I was very fortunate to meet Aditya Bilani when we were in Burum and visited India last March. We did a Jazz workshop at Jazz college Global Music Institute in Delhi. We remained in touch and that is how this all happened," says Williams.
"I felt there is potential for more creative music to happen. It was Suhail who recommended Vishal's name for tabla," William added.

The live musical concert left the audience tapping their feet, when traditional Rajasthani folk songs like - "Kesariya Balma Aavo Hamare Des" was set to the tunes of keyboard, sarangi and drums.
Vocalist Suhail gave a jugalbandi to the music of trumpet and guitar. Tabla player Vishal Nagar sang some traditional songs on the tunes of Suhail's sarangi and coalesced tabla with Mark O Conner- the Welsh artist's drums to create several foot tapping tunes.
The band is scheduled to tour next to Bengaluru and Kolkata and will attempt to explore the vivacity of Indian and Welsh folk rhythms.