Jodhpur RIFF presents a varied and wondrous morning of music, dance, storytelling and more for Jodhpur’s young ones, featuring:

Kathputli - String puppetry using wooden dolls or marionettes, the kathputli goes back 1500 years and is still performed on a miniature stage with highly dramatic narration and music, retelling stories that reflect pertinent social concerns or the valour of erstwhile kings. It used to be the most popular form of children’s entertainment and though there are very few accomplished practitioners left today, it continues to hold an iconic status in Rajasthan’s culture.

Ghoomer - Initially introduced by the Bhil tribe of Rajasthan and then gradually adopted by other communities, ghoomer is a dance where women in their traditional ghagra (long swirling skirt) and choli (blouse) pirouette while moving in and out of a wide circle, to the tune of traditional songs and the rhythm of hands clapping. The word ‘ghoomna’ describes the twirling movement of the dancers and is the basis of the word ‘ghoomer’.

Kachchi Ghodi – A novel dance form performed on colourful dummy-horses in which men in elaborate and embellished costumes dance rhythmically to beating drums, under a large umbrella chhatarkotla- while a singer narrates the exploits of the Bhavaria bandits of Shekhawati.

Young Langa musicians – For our young audiences we present young sarangiya Langa musicians, who sing and simultaneously play the exquisite Sindhi sarangi as well as other instruments such as the algoza and morchang.

Rajasthani Circus – India's earliest circuses featured numerous traditional performing art forms from Rajasthan - acrobats, magicians, musicians, dancers and a variety of bhawai artists performing feats of daring. While it is rare to see such acts today, Jodhpur RIFF assembles some of the best artists still performing these forms, to re-create a traditional circus for our young audiences.

TeraahTaali – Created and traditionally performed by the Kamad community, the performers in teraah taali move to the reverberating sounds of teraah i.e. thirteen cymbals or manjira that are fastened to their waist, wrists, elbows, and hands. This dance form, an eclectic mix of movement and sound giving the unique impression that the dance itself is producing music instead of following music, is a unique demonstration of skill, agility and grace.

Marking the beginning of the festival, Jodhpur RIFF’s opening night concert presents a variety of riveting performances reflecting the diversity of traditional Rajasthani music, excerpts from our Main Stage performances and ending in an exhilarating finale with drummers and dancers. The concert opens with the mellifluous vocals of Sumitra Devi and other young women singers, who are breaking gender and social norms by reclaiming their space in folk music. ‘Nani’ Noam Vazana then takes us through a blend of Flamenco, North African music and Sephardic traditional song, with timeless melodies and fluid improvisation, as she recreates the musical sounds of the ancient Ladino (Jewish-Sephardic) language, the only woman bringing this remarkable legacy into the spotlight. The legendary Muzsikas follow, to enthrall us with their virtuosity and versatility, presenting a brief set of Hungarian folk music with some exceptional dancing; followed by Voita presenting energetic maloyan spell-binding grooves and contagious, exuberant moves. The finale then brings on Rajasthani Brass, celebrating Rajasthan’s vibrancy and colour as folk musicians collaborate with Mehrangarh’s own house brass band, presenting a heady, exciting musical reflection of this enchanting region, along with the popular and internationally known Dhol Drummers of Rajasthan, Ashok Pahadia, popular male dancer from Tonk (near Jaipur) and Agni Bhawai, a traditional fire eating and dance performance from the villages of northern Rajasthan! Be ready for a splendorous start to Jodhpur RIFF 2019!

PLEASE NOTE

-The Jodhpur RIFF program is subject to change, without prior announcement.
- For more information on the program, email: info@jodhpurriff.org.

Every year, the Meghwals of Marwar herald in the first dawn at Jodhpur RIFF. Under the first light of the rising sun on this cool, serene morning, the melodic drone of the tandura, the beat of the jhanjh/ manjira (small-paired cymbals) and the rhythm of the dholak create the mood for the meditative strains of the bhajan of the Meghwal community. Traditionally, weavers, Meghwal are not only known for their contribution to embroidery and the textile industry, but also for the rich folklore they nurture This year we have the exquisitely masterful Bhallu Ram and Teja Ram singing the poetry of popular poets of their community and the saint poets of Rajasthan.

PLEASE NOTE :
There will be free guided walks in the Rao Jodha Desert park after each dawn concert.

Discover the myriad hues of the traditional dance forms of Rajasthan, reflecting its distinctive root traditions, some popular and some rare, including:

Chang Nritya - a charming, captivating dance, with men swaying and grooving while playing a round frame-drum called chang;

Derun Nritya – dedicated to Gogaji (the folk deity of snakes), this is a pan-community dance tradition performed to the primal beats of the derun or damru, a small two headed drum;

Teraah Taali - known for agility and grace, where women move to and produce the reverberating sounds of teraah i.e. thirteen little cymbals or manjira that are fastened to their waist, wrists, elbows, and hands, simultaneously showcasing their skills of movement, balance and concentration;

Gavari – a troupe of Bhil performers from Mewar perform musical street theatre that explores themes of worship of their Devi (goddess), mythology, history and biting political satire, alongside the rising beats of madal (a hand drum);

Aangi-Baangi Gair - another visually mesmerising dance form originally performed by the Bhil community, gair is a martial-looking, robust dance with long sticks where men in wide skirts move and turn to the beat of a traditional rhythm, while striking their sticks with their partners’ and dancing for hours. Trance-like, the dance builds to a crescendo as the performers twirl and move faster and faster to the rich sounds of the dhol-thaali.

More ritual than performance, the priests and followers of Jasnath ji ke Bhope are believers in Shakti, the divine female energy principle expressed through their relation with fire. Unique to their tradition, their daily practice includes the control of senses, walking on burning cow dung in a trance-like state where their belief allows them to feel the energy of the universe flow through them. This community trains its priests from a very young age and is amongst the few in modern India who still observe their traditional fire walking culture. They first circle the burning coals in a dance and then, moving to rhythmic music, play with the burning embers. As a community they rarely perform or present their work as entertainment.We feel fortunate to be able to witness and share this remarkable spiritual practice with our audiences

Womanly Voices seeks to bring to the fore voices of women singers from the folk traditions of Rajasthan. While women from these traditions perform in their own communities, it is rare to see them present their work on mainstream stages. Artists like Sumitra Devi are remarkable in that she is one of the few singers who from an early age has regularly performed traditional folk songs in village jagran (all night vigils),played in festivals across Rajasthan, been on tour in Germany, performed in the Berlin Philharmonie and even collaborated with the likes of Mumford & Sons. Other artists include the equally versatile Mohini Devi, singing in both the jogi Kalbeliya tradition as well as in maand, Rajasthan’s unique contribution to the Hindustani music repertoire; and mother-daughter duo Ganga and Sunder, who sing spiritual songs in their own inimitable style.

Young and pathbreaking Israeli musician Noam Vazana, currently living between Amsterdam and Morocco and who goes by the stage name Nani, is an acclaimed singer, composer, pianist and trombonist who brings a breath of fresh air into the jazz and world music landscape with her hypnotic vocals - her timeless compositions blending Middle Eastern music, North African beats & her own Ethnic-Jazz songs. For the first time at Jodhpur RIFF, Nani presents songs in Ladino, her rediscovery of a dying Jewish-Serphadic language with fluid improvising, a warm charismatic voice and piercing melodies of joy and heartbreak… that will linger on long after the night has ended.

Citadels of the Sun is a new two-part creative collaboration that emerges from the many folk and historical connections between India and Ireland, from the origins of the Irish and Indian fiddle, to our shared colonial past. The band features some of the best musicians from Donegal and Rajasthan: Sarah E Cullen (Donegal fiddle, vocals), Martin Coyle (bouzouki), Paul Cutliffe (uilleann pipes, whistles) with Asin Khan Langa (Sindhi sarangi and vocals) and Sawai Khan Manganiyar (dholak, morchang, bhapang, khartal and vocals).

Sharing common themes and stories that connect the cultures of the two regions, the title Citadels of the Sun refers to a recurring edifice in both cultures: Mehrangarh fort (fort of the sun) in Rajasthan, and Grianán of Aileach, Donegal’s own fort of the sun. Bridging these two iconic locations a world apart, Citadels of The Sun is a coming together of diverse but connected voices, the result of which is a sound that transcends and braves new territories in music

Voita re-presents the maloya, Reunion Island’s vibrant symbol of creole culture. Banned until the 1980s, maloya’s strident vocal calls, chanted responses and complex percussion rhythms originated with the slaves brought to work on the sugar plantations and became a weapon of resistance. With a mix of African and Indian slave cultures and a deep respect for the traditions of the past, Voita’s music laces legacy with present-day Reunion Island relevance, opening traditional maloya to new and wider horizons. Presenting a mix of energetic spells and boisterous dances, the jubilation of this family band is known to be contagious and often turns the arena into a dance floor.

Citadels of the Sun is a collaboration between Eragail Arts Festival, Donegal (Ireland) and Jodhpur RIFF, supported by Culture Ireland.
Voita appears courtesy IOMMA of Reunion Island and Jodhpur RIFF, supported by Association Scenes Australes and Region Reunion.

Jodhpur RIFF presents a unique Desert Lounge in the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park - an unusual, moon-lit, rustic musical experience under the stars at midnight in the tranquility of a revitalised desert park. The night features a variety of traditional Rajasthani acoustic performances from the various jogi traditions of Mewat – a Mewati evening of original and traditional poetry, often satirical, sometimes cheeky and sometimes an unusual telling of epic myths and stories, featuring Babunath jogi, Yusuf Khan and others. Particular to these traditions is the bhapang, played by plucking a single-string stretched out from a leather and wooden frame. The evening then brings on a variety of regional, folk and sufi Qawaali renditions by Danish Husain Badayuni and his troupe of musicians and qawaal from the Rampur Seheswan gharana.

As the music is acoustic (non-amplified) and the space is intimate, the slightest noise distracts fellow audience members and makes it hard to listen to the performers. We would greatly appreciate it if the audience refrained from chatting and speaking during the performance.

PLEASE NOTE: The meeting point for the Desert Lounge for all audiences is in the Mehrangarh Fort lower car park at 11.15 pm or at the entrance to the Rao Jodha Park at 11.00 pm. The walk to and from the performance space is approximately 10-15 minutes from the lower car park: first on the road to the Rao Jodha Park entrance (5 minutes) and then in the park itself (5-8 minutes) – so please wear decent shoes for walking! Please carry something warm (it gets chilly); hot drinks & light refreshments are available for purchase.

PLEASE NOTE

-The Jodhpur RIFF program is subject to change, without prior announcement.
- For more information on the program, email: info@jodhpurriff.org.

A widespread but less understood aspect of India’s spiritual traditions are the numerous texts and poetry of the nirguni and saguni bhakti sects - such as poetry and teachings of Goraknathji, Sankarcharya, Ramananda, Guru Nanak and more recently that of Sri Aurobindo, the Radahswamis and Sadhguru (these are only a few!). The popularity of Kabir’s poetry of the 15th century only lends voice to this truth; even today he is easily the most popular of nirguni poet-saints.

Nirguni poetry offers a striking testimony to the idea that any attempt to construct a unified, homogeneous religious or social ideology is futile, even unnecessary for one’s well-being and one’s spiritual journey on this earth. And if we were to look closely at our own lives, we could all come to the same conclusion. At its core is the idea of a submission and devotion to a ‘higher’ entity not separate from us - an entity entirely devoid of form (nirguni = without characteristics, or formless). Interestingly, while the nirguni tradition is clearly an alternate to Vedic Brahmanism and sagun bhakti (devotion to a defined being) traditions, it has emerged from the concepts and sentiments of the same Veda, Purana and Upanishad that has conditioned so much of modern Hinduism.

Rajasthan has a rich culture of such poetry and Jodhpur RIFF brings a taste of this amazing tradition at our dawn session, led by the soft and lilting vocals of Bhaga Khan Manganiyar and Mahesha Ram Meghwal.

Discover the myriad hues of the traditional dance forms of Rajasthan, reflecting its distinctive root traditions, some popular and some rare, including:

Chang Nritya - a charming, captivating dance, with men swaying and grooving while playing a round frame-drum called chang;

Derun Nritya – dedicated to Gogaji (the folk deity of snakes), this is a pan-community dance tradition performed to the primal beats of the derun or damru, a small two headed drum;

Teraah Taali - known for agility and grace, where women move to and produce the reverberating sounds of teraah i.e. thirteen little cymbals or manjira that are fastened to their waist, wrists, elbows, and hands, simultaneously showcasing their skills of movement, balance and concentration;

Gavari – a troupe of Bhil performers from Mewar perform musical street theatre that explores themes of worship of their Devi (goddess), mythology, history and biting political satire, alongside the rising beats of madal (a hand drum);

Aangi-Baangi Gair - another visually mesmerising dance form originally performed by the Bhil community, gair is a martial-looking, robust dance with long sticks where men in wide skirts move and turn to the beat of a traditional rhythm, while striking their sticks with their partners’ and dancing for hours. Trance-like, the dance builds to a crescendo as the performers twirl and move faster and faster to the rich sounds of the dhol-thaali.

Jodhpur RIFF presents its first ever focus on the unique jogi music tradition of Mewat. Located in the east and covering the districts of Alwar and Bharatpur and a little part of Haryana, Mewat is a distinct cultural region of Rajasthan, with its own folklore and language - Mewati. Its contribution to the music of Rajasthan includes unusual instruments such as the bhapang, jogiya sarangi, singi, algoza, bakra mashaq (goat-skin bagpipes) and the chikara, believed to have been formed from the bow of Shiva

Widespread across Mewat and tracing their roots to Guru Gorakhnath (founder of the Nath sect) and Ismail nath, hailing from Bengal and guru of the Mev (Meo) Muslim jogi (also credited with having invented the bhapang), the jogi were healers as well, trained in magic and tantra vidya. They were the primary custodians of the music and storytelling traditions of the region under the patronage of a variety of Rajput nobility, both Hindu and Muslim. The Pandwand ka Kada - a garland of more than forty folk stories strung together and recited with music, is a unique product of this patronage. They were also social satirists and political commentators, something that they practice to this day.

At Jodhpur RIFF, we will hear their amazing music and meet the stalwarts among the jogi musicians, including Babunath Jogi, Ram Swaroop Jogi, Yusuf Khan, Mehboob Khan and others.

Jodhpur RIFF’s interactive session series give the audience a rare opportunity to meet fascinating artists from various root traditions. The sessions encourage audience members to engage and discuss challenges, forms and traditional practice through performances, lecture-demonstrations and facilitated conversations. As more and more of Rajasthan and India’s rich traditional cultural heritage disappears, Jodhpur RIFF puts the spotlight on some of its remarkable music forms and traditions nearing extinction and opens dialogue to surface and explore how these challenges could be addressed.

Hakam Khan Manganiyar comes from Sanawara in Jaisalmer, where most of the families are traditional folk musicians. Hakam ji was initiated into music by his forefathers at the age of three by a traditional sweetening of the tongue ceremony (“... so that he retains a melodious voice all his life”). Today he is a respected elder of the community and is a custodian of the rich repertoire of the Manganiyar vocal traditions, particularly that of the dingle, chhand and doha. He is a master of the jangda style of singing unique to his community, with his remarkable rendering of epic sagas and ballads. At the age of 72, he remains a master of the kamaicha - the earthy, string instrument of the Manganiyar, a teacher to younger musicians and a wonderful improviser in numerous collaborations with artists from India and abroad.

Rawata Ram Shekhawati Now well over 60 years old, Rawata ji is probably the only farmer to have showcased the dhol thali nritya with his group from Shekhawati, outside the region. A simple, improvised dance typically celebrating the success of a new crop or the beginning or end of a good season, it is performed only by senior farmers as a part-social, part-ritual to please folk deities and express gratitude for providing food and abundance to all. Rawata Ram ji is the torchbearer of this very raw and farmer-led dance form, keeping it alive by taking it to villages and regional cultural events across Rajasthan.

Kachara Khan Manganiyar Hailing from Jaisalmer, Kachara ji is a sufi folk singer from the Manganiyar community. Having performed at numerous sufi music festivals in India and across the world, his body of work and tremendous repertoire have had a significant contribution in sustaining the sufi traditions of Rajasthan. His vocals reveal a deep knowledge of traditional poetry and his compositions provide a rustic, yet lilting and melodious texture to his sufi renditions. Kachchra ji sings ‘Sufiana Sindhi’, and ‘Punjabi Sindhi’ styles, dotes on poetry by Bulleh Shah and loves singing extracts from the epic ballads of love and loss of Heer-Ranjha and Laila-Majnu. With his effortless singing and powerful compositions, accompanied by the rich music and rhythm of traditional instruments in the ensemble, Kachara ji is known to create a trance-like atmosphere in his concerts.

Jodhpur RIFF presents a special showcase of some of the most unusual, significant, and legendary songs of the desert regions of Marwar and its vicinity - Legendary folk songs of Marwar. Some of the regions’ master musicians such as Sugna Devi, Lakha Khan, Kadar and Asgar Langa, Daya Ram, Barkat and Talab Manganiyar share the stage, presenting a carefully chosen repertoire that will provide a rare glimpse into the richness of the home of Rajasthan’s professional musician communities - the Langa, the Manganiyar and the Jogi Kalbeliya

Malian virtuoso kora player and composer Ballake Sissoko, is considered to be one of the most important musicians of his generation. His performances are known to entrance, magnified by his talent as a melodist and an improviser. Having learnt the manding kora, a twenty-one-stringed harp at a very young age from his father Djelimady Sissoko, a renowned master, he became the first local kora player to master musical styles typical of the Western guitar while still being able to maintain the traditional West African rhythmic structures required for dancing.After a period of performing as a member of large ensembles and as an accompanist for Malian singers, he came to international attention by performing solo, in a duo with Toumani Diabate, with Taj Mahal and since 2009, with Vincent Segal on the album “Chamber Music” and the recent “Musique de Nuit”. At Jodhpur RIFF Ballake presents a virtuosic, solo set that takes us to the heartland of Mali’s traditional music and then emerges to reveal modern, original compositions by the maestro of the kora.

Karolina Cicha singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist and one-woman-orchestra, Karolina is known for her masterful vocals with accordion in one hand, keyboard in another and drums by her feet. Equally comfortable in singing in Yiddish and Esperanto (yes!), she is primarily committed to singing and performing tunes and songs of the Tartars - a minority Turkic and Finno-Ugric culture, sometimes understood as part Hungarian/ part Mongolian - and brings a Polish sensibility to her music. At Jodhpur RIFF, she presents some of her newer compositions, reflecting her current direction of musical exploration: the touchpoints between tradition and modernity as well as the ones between the music of the Podlasie minorities and modern poetry. Karolian has performed all over the world, including TFF Rudolstadt (Germany), World Music Festival (Slovakia), WOMEX 2015 Official Selection (Hungary), Sibiu International Theatre Festival (Romania) and La Mama Theatre (USA) among many others.

Legendary Hungarian folk band Muzsikas has pioneered the global popularity of Hungarian folk music that is now a well-established niche in the roots and world music scenes. In the 46 years of their unrivalled career, they’ve collaborated with various noted musicians and groups, from folk and world-music to classical, klezmer and jazz, and even to alternative rock music. The first Hungarian folk ensemble accepted by the classical music scene, Muzsikas have combined 20th century Hungarian classical and traditional Hungarian folk music and have preserved the legacy of both for future generations. They have presented their exceptional live performances at the greatest festivals and in the most significant concert halls in the world, such as the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Théatre de la Ville in Paris and Carnegie Hall in New York. The winner of WOMEX Award 2008 for World Music, their instrumental knowledge and musical versatility is a treat to experience!

Jose Marquez (latin and Afro-beat inspired electronic world rhythms) will perform at Club Mehran for the second consecutive year. Los Angeles DJ/Producer Jose Marquez’s musical influence is a result of being brought up on a staple diet of Latin and World Music. Always intrigued by electronic sounds, Jose's mission has been to fuse his love of world rhythms with the dance floor. He is a groovy, in-the-pocket, make-you-move DJ who gained notoriety when he burst onto the scene in 2010 with memorable remixes and edits of artists such as Celia Cruz, Nina Simone, Oumou Sangare and many others. Having performed at major clubs and events such as Djoon (Paris), Global Fantasy (Athens), Solid Garage (Toronto), DEEP (Los Angeles), Crossroads (NYC), etc. he continues to travel the globe uniting nations on the dance floor with his signature sound.

PLEASE NOTE

-The Jodhpur RIFF program is subject to change, without prior announcement.
- For more information on the program, email: info@jodhpurriff.org.

A true surprise at sunrise, the third dawn session at Jodhpur RIFF is presented by an enchanting line up of Indian and international musicians, including:

Valeri Tolstov of Armenian origin, a supremely adept multi-instrumentalist and composer that not only masters the flute and the organ but also plays keyboards, guitars and various ethnic wind instruments.

Andrew Cronshaw is an English musician, zither-player and multi-instrumentalist, heavily influenced by traditional Finnish, Scots Gaelic and North Iberian music.

Mahesh Vinayakram, Carnatic vocalist extraordinaire (and son of the ghatam legend Padma Bhushan T.H. Vikku Vinayakram)

Asin Langa, Rajasthan’s young vocal and Sindhi sarangi maestro

Darra Manganiyar, master of the kamaicha

PLEASE NOTE: There will be free guided walks available in the Rao Jodha Desert park after each dawn concert.

Discover the myriad hues of the traditional dance forms of Rajasthan, reflecting its distinctive root traditions, some popular and some rare, including:

Chang Nritya - a charming, captivating dance, with men swaying and grooving while playing a round frame-drum called chang;

Derun Nritya – dedicated to Gogaji (the folk deity of snakes), this is a pan-community dance tradition performed to the primal beats of the derun or damru, a small two headed drum;

Teraah Taali - known for agility and grace, where women move to and produce the reverberating sounds of teraah i.e. thirteen little cymbals or manjira that are fastened to their waist, wrists, elbows, and hands, simultaneously showcasing their skills of movement, balance and concentration;

Gavari – a troupe of Bhil performers from Mewar perform musical street theatre that explores themes of worship of their Devi (goddess), mythology, history and biting political satire, alongside the rising beats of madal (a hand drum);

Aangi-Baangi Gair - another visually mesmerising dance form originally performed by the Bhil community, gair is a martial-looking, robust dance with long sticks where men in wide skirts move and turn to the beat of a traditional rhythm, while striking their sticks with their partners’ and dancing for hours. Trance-like, the dance builds to a crescendo as the performers twirl and move faster and faster to the rich sounds of the dhol-thaali.

The Ghoomar of Rajasthan

Ghoomar is derived from the Hindi word ‘ghoom’ which literally means ‘to twirl’. One of the most popular dance forms of the country, as the name signifies, the chief movement of this form is pirouetting. The footwork and hand movements are always in synchronization with this spinning motion. Ghoomar is conventionally performed by women in groups, who wear colourful, mirror-embedded ghaghra (flowing skirts) and cover their faces with a matching coloured veil. The coordinated movement accompanied by the haunting music of Rajasthan’s folk musical instruments, this dance form is vivid and surreal. The fantastic Asha Sapera, kalbeliya dancer conducts the session to live music.

Jodhpur RIFF presents rustic dance ‘bootcamp’s, facilitated by legendary, noted trainers. Short, intense and very rigorous, these camps will give participants an experiential insight into the movements and practice of folk-dance forms.

Please Note:
The is the one-and-only, stand-alone session..
The boot camp will have limited capacity.
Please wear/ bring appropriate and comfortable clothing that allows free movement such as T-shirts, long, loose shirts or blouses, tights, stretchable and loose track or harem pants or long skirts.
Do carry your own wiping material (towel, wet wipes, etc.). Be prepared to sweat! It is a boot camp!!

Kahaniyan Kahan Hain?

Most of the songs sung by the folk artists of Rajasthan were written a long time ago - their most recent ones could be 20-30 years old. And while so many of these songs are popular and are cherished by musicians and audiences alike, there is little new writing in these traditions. Evoking the richness of contemporary Rajasthani poetry and traditional and epic folk songs, Aidan Singh Bhati (poet), Shankar Singh Rajpurohit (poet and translator), Monika Gour (poet), Kadar Khan Langa (Sarangi, vocals), Ghevar Manganiyar (Kamaicha), Sumitra Devi (vocals), Kachra Khan (vocalist) and Bhikhe Khan (dingle poet) and others, share and present glimpses of their work and talk about the intricacies of Rajasthani language, the interconnectedness of oral storytelling with poetry and music in Rajasthan and the possibilities of new words - beginning a fresh conversation and embarking on a journey together as they imagine a contemporary song-writing culture for the folk music of Rajasthan.

This session is presented in collaboration with Ramneek Singh and Ankita Shah of Poetry Local.

“Kahaniyan Kahan Hain” is our ongoing series that enquires into the processes and challenges that confront the spoken word in the traditional folk repertoire - be it chant, song or story.

Pushkar Lele, one of India’s young and sought-after North Indian classical vocalists from Gwalior gharana debuts at Jodhpur RIFF, under the rising moon. With rarely heard compositions in his rich and sonorous voice, Pushkar will uncover the deep intricacies of Kumar Gandharva’s unique gayaki acquired from over two decades of study and training. He also performs natyasangeet, bhavgeet, bhajan, tappa, thumri, dadra, hori, abhang, Malwi lokgeet and other semi-classical and folk forms with exceptional ease and mastery. In love with poetry, attentive to diction, ability to go beyond strict parameters of the bandish and over 30 years of being on stage make Pushkar a remarkable, veteran performer even at his young age. A post-graduate in music from Lalit Kala Kendra (Centre for Performing Arts), University of Pune he is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards such as Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Award, Gayanacharya Ramkrishnabua Vaze Puraskaar and the prestigious Sanatan Sangeet Puraskaar, whose past awardees include the likes of U. Shrinivas and A R Rahman.

Authentic Light Orchestra was founded 2009 by Swiss multi-instrumentalist with Armenian roots, Valeri Tolstov. Combining different musical genres - jazz, elements of Armenian folk and modern composition -the band brings a freshness to roots music with a new musical language and distinctive sound. ALO are fiddler and jazz and folk singer Veronika Stalder, Swiss percussionist Andi Pupato, guitarist Franz Hellmüller, bass player Thomas Tavano, percussionist Peter Somos, duduk maestro Emmanuel Hovhaniesyan and composer and tar player Michael Voskanyan.

Armenian melodies, classical influences, jazz and a touch of electronica mingle seamlessly in Authentic Light Orchestra’s creations. The resulting fusion is emotive, intelligent and playful.

Parampara… Pandit VikkuVinayakram is Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, and a Grammy Award-winning Indian percussionist (in 1991, for the album Planet Drum), has performed globally and is credited for popularising the ancient percussion instrument ghatam (an earthen mud pot) across the world. Over the past 60 years or more, he has played with all the leading Carnatic vocalists such as M. K. Thiagaraja Bagavathar, G. N. Balasubramaniam and M. S. Subbulakshmi. He has performed on global stages extensively as an integral part of ‘Shakti’, an innovative acoustic jazz/ Indian fusion band with guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar and Zakir Hussain on tabla.

This legendary percussionist performs at Jodhpur RIFF with his son Mahesh Vinayakram and Mahesh’s young children Guruprasad and Gurupriya, sharing and collaborating within three generations of the family.

Mahesh, who started his vocal career at the young age of twelve, he has performed extensively across continents with the likes of Ustad Zakir Hussain (Shakti), Talvin Singh and with American and European artists like Kai Eckhardt, Steve Smith, George Brooks, James Asher, Jonas Hellborg, Shawn Lane & Pete Lockett. He is the first Asian male vocal artist to be cast in Cirque du Soleil’s theatrical production ‘Luzia’. At JRIFF, Mahesh deftly produces both the traditional and music that re-interprets Carnatic music with infusions of contemporary flavours.

Rajasthani Brass - celebrates Rajasthan’s vibrancy and colour as folk musicians collaborate with Mehrangarh’s own house brass band - an ensemble on trumpet, trombone, euphonium, clarinet, bass and other instruments, presenting a heady, exciting musical reflection of this enchanting region. The ensemble of brass instruments was brought by the British in the 18th century and it’s believed that there were hundreds of brass bands in Rajasthan alone. However, the way of playing brass instruments and the compositions performed have evolved over time and are now strongly influenced by Indian folk music. With a diverse repertoire, the brass band and the collaborating folk musicians will cover the full spectrum of the evocative and joyous music that steers life in Rajasthan, facilitated by Hameed Kawa of the famous Kawa Brass Band of Rajasthan

RIFF Rustle is our largest, impromptu collaboration performance that concludes the festival's night time revelries. Every year, the festival appoints one musician as a 'rustler', who then rustles up other musicians from the festival to participate in this performance in pairs or quartets or all together. This year the young, highly skilled and accomplished Yissy Garcia will be our “rustler”. She will gather musicians to come and jam with her and compatriot Mary de La Paz, and will be collaborating with Rajasthani musicians and curating a set for the Rustle!

Born in the very musical neighborhood of Cayo Hueso, Yissy, a composer and drummer- is one of the most powerful artists of a new generation of Cuban musicians. With her creative impulses and grooves, her wide-ranging compositions and collaborations that run across different musical genres and styles, she knows how to create a rich sound that is both familiar yet distinct, that blurs the boundaries between tradition and the avant-garde. Collaboration comes naturally to Yissy, who has been involved with Maqueque – an all-female Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble put together by the Canadian soprano saxophone player Jane Bunnett — as well as Interactivo, the experimental band led by pianist Roberto Carcassés.

As Yissy leads a diverse group of musicians, something she’s done flawlessly several times before, expect to be excited and thrilled and very likely, to be on your feet and grooving and shaking throughout!

PLEASE NOTE
-The Jodhpur RIFF program is subject to change, without prior announcement.
- For more information on the program, email: info@jodhpurriff.org.

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