News
Wednesday | 30. 6. 2008
Grooving with Japaka Orchestra
(Article from Sri Chinmoy Inspiration Group, July 7th, 2008, original here)
This past weekend I spent grooving with the Japaka Orchestra in Bratislava. One quick phone call was all it took - "We are giving a concert, you want to come?" They were short of a bass player. Remembering the fun time I had had with them in New York and the impromptu concert last April it didn't take me long to decide.
We practiced at the Madal Bal warehouse, famous for its vast array of tools. The drills, screws and chainsaws provided a somewhat surrealistic backdrop to the soulful and cheerful melodies of Sri Chinmoy and Japaka's charming, upbeat arrangements of them. We had pizza for lunch.
The concert was scheduled in the evening. It wasn't a full house, but on a sunny Saturday evening fifty or so souls had preferred "meditation music in fancy arrangement" - as the poster had announced - to more exotic pastimes or locations.
It was a joy and delight to sing and play Sri Chinmoy's songs for a live audience. I am all admiration to the group both for their enthusiasm and their musicality. I wouldn't go the length of calling their arrangements "fancy"; "joyful" or "dynamic" would perhaps be more to the point. But that may be the language barrier.
When sheets of paper were handed out among the crowd and the band started the evergreen sing-along "Doubt is in the mind/Faith is in the soul/Love is in the heart/Bliss is in the goal", all hearts in the audience were won over. During the more soulful arrangements we could feel the harmony flowing, resonating and reverberating throughout the theatre. Fifty beaming smiles were our reward at the end of the night.
Perhaps the only person a little doubtful about our performance was the caretaker of the hall, a red-bearded, pony-tailed and somewhat heavily built gentleman, obviously used to a more down-to-earth type of music.
"It was very good music for sleeping," he remarked with a twinkle in his eye. Although he hastened to say that he understood we were of a different breed than his usual cup of tea and that was fine.
I took it as a compliment anyway.
Jai Japaka!
--Abhinabha
This past weekend I spent grooving with the Japaka Orchestra in Bratislava. One quick phone call was all it took - "We are giving a concert, you want to come?" They were short of a bass player. Remembering the fun time I had had with them in New York and the impromptu concert last April it didn't take me long to decide.We practiced at the Madal Bal warehouse, famous for its vast array of tools. The drills, screws and chainsaws provided a somewhat surrealistic backdrop to the soulful and cheerful melodies of Sri Chinmoy and Japaka's charming, upbeat arrangements of them. We had pizza for lunch.
The concert was scheduled in the evening. It wasn't a full house, but on a sunny Saturday evening fifty or so souls had preferred "meditation music in fancy arrangement" - as the poster had announced - to more exotic pastimes or locations.
It was a joy and delight to sing and play Sri Chinmoy's songs for a live audience. I am all admiration to the group both for their enthusiasm and their musicality. I wouldn't go the length of calling their arrangements "fancy"; "joyful" or "dynamic" would perhaps be more to the point. But that may be the language barrier.
When sheets of paper were handed out among the crowd and the band started the evergreen sing-along "Doubt is in the mind/Faith is in the soul/Love is in the heart/Bliss is in the goal", all hearts in the audience were won over. During the more soulful arrangements we could feel the harmony flowing, resonating and reverberating throughout the theatre. Fifty beaming smiles were our reward at the end of the night.
Perhaps the only person a little doubtful about our performance was the caretaker of the hall, a red-bearded, pony-tailed and somewhat heavily built gentleman, obviously used to a more down-to-earth type of music.
"It was very good music for sleeping," he remarked with a twinkle in his eye. Although he hastened to say that he understood we were of a different breed than his usual cup of tea and that was fine.
I took it as a compliment anyway.
Jai Japaka!
--Abhinabha
Thursday | 10. 4. 2008
Panorama chancelled
We are greatly sorry to announce that the concert in Panorama of My Silence-Heart Café had to be canceled because of a sudden family reasons of our group leader. The alternate term is in discussion.
Your's Japaka Orchestra
Your's Japaka Orchestra
Sunday | 30. 3. 2008
Again @ Panorama
"...Since Ketan's Panorama cafe is all the new rage, I have to mention it here too. I was breezing in and out of town so quickly that the only time I dropped in was when Japaka's music group was doing a live performance one Saturday afternoon. The scene was standing room (think sardines) only and the popularity of this dynamic jazzy group was wholly evident as cameras clicked away or were set on video to record the concert as it happened. At one point, I remarked to myself that Japaka must be like the Beatles in the context of the centre. People were so enthused for this concert and the lattes and coffees were flowing like water..."
- Sharani, August 30th, 2007
Last year we enjoyed our first concert at The Panorama of My Silence-Heart Café. Many of our fans came and there was very sweet family atmosphere. We are looking forward to see you again at Panorama this April!
- Sharani, August 30th, 2007
Last year we enjoyed our first concert at The Panorama of My Silence-Heart Café. Many of our fans came and there was very sweet family atmosphere. We are looking forward to see you again at Panorama this April!