Saturday January 19, 2013, at 8 pm, $12 advance, $15 door. “Experience World Music!” The Tribal Gallery presents a special CD release concert by vocalist Vandana Vishwas singing expressive songs based on East Indian classical music. Click here to download the poster Tribal_Gallery_Vandana_Jan2013_85x14new.pdf
One of the leading exponents of South Asian music in North America, Vandana is formally trained in North Indian classical vocal music. Vandana was an All India Radio and Indian National Television artist before she left India, and specializes in composing, arranging and singing North Indian classical music based expressive song forms such as Ghazals, Bhajans, Geet and Thumri. She is accompanied by Raya Bidaye (harmonium), Jasvinder Hunjan (tabla), Vishwas Thoke (acoustic guitar). Call Gwen at Tribal Gallery for tickets 905-385-1829. www.vandanavishwas.com
She is winner of Vox-Pop award for World Traditional Song of the year at the 10th US Independent Music Awards 2011 (IMA), Mississauga Arts Council’s 2012 Marty award for Establish Performing Arts and Toronto Best World CD Award by Toronto Exclusive Magazine 2010. The international success and critical acclaim of Vandana’s debut CD Meera – The Lover…, released in 2009, has catapulted her into the North American World Music scene, where within no time she has carved a niche for herself. “Vandana Vishwas’s tenderness toward melody and lyrics bring the songs on Meera – The Lover to life!” John Goddard, The Toronto Star. “Each Song features Vishwas’ expressive, crystalline voice …” Errol Nazareth, The Toronto Sun. What sets her apart are her flawless vocals, mesmerizing melodies and an extraordinarily crisp diction of Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi that is so rare to find outside of India. “I was impressed with the simplicity and sincerity in her voice, coupled with her ability to live up to the sheer poetry of the lyrics. I also love the fact that her pronunciations are right on target and didn’t miss a beat…” Savia Rajagopal, Mybindi.com, Ex-Times Of India feature writer. Apart from winning the US Indies Vox-Pop award, Vandana has been nominated for several other awards such as the Canadian Indies 2010, TIMA (Toronto Independent Music Awards) 2010, Mississauga art Council’s Marty Awards 2010 (honourable mention) and 2011, K.M. Hunter award for music by Ontario Arts Council 2011, to name a few. She has won honourable mentions for her tracks ‘Badara Re’ and ‘Chala Wahi Des’ at the 17th Billboard song contest and esongwriter.com song contest. She is presently working on her sophomore album which is due to be released next year.
Raya Bidaye (harmonium player) has been active in the areas of Northern Indian classical music, as a harmonium player, composer and concert organizer, for over 30 years. Raya has provided harmonium accompaniment for many leading vocalists including Dr. Prabha Atre, the late Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Misra, and Shrimati Laxmi Shankar; he accompanied Pandit Prabhakar Karekar for his CD released in New York, as well as during concerts in Canada and U.S. Some of Raya’s compositions are featured in a recent album released by Mr. Narendra Datar, and Mr. Rajendra Dixit
Jasvinder Hunjan (tabla player) has been a student of music since early childhood. Jasvinder works as a Design Engineer and also performs with renowned artists of Indian and Western music. His expertise on the tabla makes his fingers dance.
Vishwas Thoke (acoustic guitar player) is an architect by profession and got his basic training in Indian Classical Music from his father Mr. P. K. Thoke who was an expert of music and a flute player. In his teen years, Vishwas received intermediate lessons in Indian Classical Music from Daoo Maha Singh Chandrakar, who was a maestro of Indian Classical Vocal Music. as well as a well known composer and director of live theatre in central India. Vishwas has had the fortune of learning basics of Flamenco guitaring from Toronto based flamenco guitarist Jorge Miguel. He is the co-producer of Vandana’s debut and upcoming second album. He is also the lyricist and co-arranger of her upcoming CD.
